Though I’m an avid book lover, I’m not a stick in the mud when it comes to my leisure activities. I have other loves, as well. I’m the quintessential baseball fanatic when it comes to following my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, and movies have filled many an hour in my life. And for today’s journey of words, I’m going to create a savory stew with a mixture of all three of these loves of my life.
What prompted this recipe was my recent viewing, for probably the 20th time, of Kevin Costner’s movie Field of Dreams. It’s a wonderful, mystical work of fantasy and the supernatural which left me with the feelings of watching that Jimmy Stewart classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. But the other-world character in this one is not an angel, like Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life, but the ghost of a disgraced baseball player, Joseph Jefferson Jackson, who came to be known as Shoeless Joe. He got that nickname due to having blisters on a foot caused by a new pair of cleats. So he just took the cleats off, and after a fan yelled out, calling him a shoeless son of a gun, the name stuck throughout his career.
His disgrace came from being on the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox team which threw that year’s World Series to the Cincinnati Reds after accepting payment from bookies and gamblers, leading them to forever be known as the ‘Black’ Sox.
The irony is, Shoeless Joe claimed innocence to the charges. Yeah, he took the money, $5,000 dollars, but…during the series, he had 12 hits, at that time a record, batted .375, committed no errors and threw a runner out at the plate. The hits and batting average led the individual statistics for both teams. Though he did take the money, he turned his back on the crooks and played his usual stellar game. But his pleas were to no avail for the first commissioner of Major League Baseball, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned Jackson and seven other players from the game for life after the 1920 season.
Later on, in 1921, a Chicago jury acquitted Jackson and his seven teammates of wrongdoing. But Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the newly appointed Commissioner of Baseball, banned all eight players from ever participating in the game again, reasoning that even though they had been acquitted, none of them could ever be allowed to play again if the public image of baseball was to be cleaned up and trusted by the paying public.
The movie Field of Dreams is based on the book Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsela. Kevin Costner’s character is Ray Kinsela, using the author’s surname, and he’s an Iowa farmer who razes a large portion of his cornfield to build a baseball field after hearing a strange voice of a unseen being whisper to him, “If you build it, he will come.” He initially doesn’t know what he’s supposed to build until he sees a vision of a baseball field. What he then believes is that it’s to be built so Shoeless Joe can play again, Joe having been idolized by the father of Costner’s character. The thing is, the “he” that is supposed to come if it’s built wasn’t Shoeless Joe, and that’s the beauty of the entire film, a second chance given just as Clarence the angel gave as second chance to Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful Life.
Another beauty in this movie is the lyrical language used by Shoeless Joe and Archibald “Moonlight” Graham to describe what it felt like to be on the field and play a game they loved as much as life itself. “Moonlight” Graham, portrayed by Burt Lancaster in his final film role, is a true life individual who played in only one Major League game without ever getting a chance to bat, which is another second-chance opportunity given in this movie.
Along with Costner and Lancaster, another of my favorite actors is in this flick, James Earl Jones. He plays a radical author by name of Terence Mann, based on the real life author J. D. Salinger. Costner’s and Jones’ characters link up on a truly mystical journey of discovery with Jones’ character’s fate becoming one of the deep mysteries of the entire movie.
My well-worn copy of “The Natural”. I did read “Shoeless Joe”, the book “Field of Dreams” is based on, but I never had my own personal copy. ‘Twas a fantastic read, though!
In no way can any words I write convey what this movie means to me, other than saying that it fostered an even greater love of the game to me. There was another movie based on a book, The Natural, starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, a character loosely based on Shoeless Joe. Same scenario, trying to get him to throw a game. The similarities of Shoeless Joe and Hobbs were not only the throwing the game but they both also had special bats they had named. Joe’s was “Black Betsy”, Hobbs’ was “Wonderboy.” But not to be a spoiler, I won’t be. But that book and the movie had different endings, and of those two, I liked the movie the best.
Another movie dealing with Shoeless Joe was Eight Men Out, telling the story of the “Black” Sox scandal which portrays Shoeless Joe as a naïve southern boy and totally ignored documented history while attempting to portray Shoeless as a willing participant in the fix. That, I did not care for, a rewriting of history.
I know many folks think baseball is a totally boring game, but the history is fascinating and the possibility of more history being made occurs every time a game is played. And my love of the game has been infectious. When I brought Lynndee and Yogi here from the Philippines to create our new family, they were clueless about baseball for it’s not a sport played in their home country. But after hours of sitting in front of the TV with me watching the Atlanta Braves play, I took them to Atlanta where we got to see them play twice. And after getting an up-close-and-personal view of that part of my stew, they were hooked. And now, even Lynndee puts up with me watching Field of Dreams whenever it shows up on our TV screen.
As for Shoeless Joe, I can’t help but think he got a bum deal. Personally, I think he belongs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Though he remains on MLB’s ineligible list, which automatically precludes his election to the Hall of Fame, in 1999, then MLB commissioner, Bud Selig said that Jackson’s case was under review. But up to now, he still remains ineligible. I can only hope that an astounding career which was cut short by being in the wrong place at the wrong time can one day be untarnished and that future baseball nuts like me can see Shoeless Joe’s plaque hanging in in the halls of Cooperstown. Just like happy endings in movies and books, I believe there can be happy endings in life, as well as justice. But no matter what, Joe, you’ll always be in my hall of fame.
I actually knew this story too (my dad and I love baseball). It seems that it was unfair to not let him play again in the Majors. I mean now a days there are SO many things that are WAY worse that is done sports.
For sure. Look at all the steroid use, which allowed one player to surpass Hank Aaron’s home run record. But in my book, Hank is, and always will be, the true home run leader in Major League Baseball, unless one comes along and does it honestly.
That was quite an interesting read. It seems like these guys got rail roaded. I’ll definitely be reading more about this.
In all honesty, Shoeless Joe was the one that got railroaded. The other seven guys were guilty beyond a doubt. Joe just took the money and run and played his heart out in that series, as his numbers prove.
I first heard of Shoeless Joe in the movie Field of Dreams. I love how he was intertwined in that movie. Thank you for a great read!
You’re welcome, Joann. I’m glad you enjoyed it for I certainly enjoyed writing it.
I remember hearing about Shoeless Joe before. Very interesting story. Thank you for sharing.
And I thank you for reading. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I never saw Field of Dreams nor had I heard of Shirtless Joe, but it was really interesting to read about it here today.
Field of dreams is one of my favorite movies! I always remind myself, if I believe, they will come too!
I remember seeing Field of Dreams when it first came out. It was the first baseball movie I ever liked. The history behind Shoeless Joe is really interesting!
I have not heard this story before! I think some of the history stories with baseball are amazing and so inspiring.
I loved that movie Field of Dreams. It was so inspiring. Kevin Costner really got into the role. Joe “Shoeless Joe” Jackson was indeed a great baseball player and personally, I think he deserves all the recognition for playing the sport very well.
Sounds like an interesting book. I’ll pass along this info to my mother/father in law. Maybe I can order one before they come visit us next month
I like watching baseball once in a while but not a fanatic. This is a first time I heard about Shoeless Joe. It’s sad that he is not allowed to play in major games again.
I totally agree with you, I definitely think Joe got a bum deal. I might have to go watch Field of Dreams again, myself.
Sounds interesting and like quite the read. One my husband may be interested in. I’d never heard any of this before! Never saw the movie either!
I have never heard of this, what an interesting read! I bet my husband knows all about it and will make for a great discussion tonight 🙂
What a great story!! I love to read and I’ve never heard of this before but it sounds like any to check it out !!
This is actually my first time hearing about this. I had never heard about Shoeless Joe before. This is a very interesting read and I’m sure the book is too!
This sounds like a great movie. I love finding great movies. Thank you for sharing.
Glad to share. Hopefully you’ll check the movie out for it is fantastic.
I have never heard of this story before. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame as well.
Wow I feel so lost, I haven’t heard of this before but that’s maybe because I hardly ever get time to read…. 🙁
I’ve actually never heard of Shoeless Joe before so this is all very interesting to me! You learn something new every day 😉
I loved the Field of Dream movie, but never read the book. I don’t think I ever really knew the stories behind them either. This was truly a wonderful post to read.
Thank you, Chrystal. I’m glad you enjoyed the read.
I’ve never seen Field of Dreams before. Or heard of Shoeless Joe for that matter. But I feel like I need to look into both after reading this.
We have a restaurant in our town called Shoeless Joes. I had no idea this was where it might have originated!
Well, he was from the Greenville, SC area, and after being banished from Major League Baseball he did play in many local teams in the south so he may have spent time in Florida.
I honestly don’t know much about baseball, but I have always been intrigued by the sport, especially since my childhood home was near some baseball fields. My best friend really, really gets into baseball, so he’d probably enjoy this book.
I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I did love the movie! What a great review you provided here!
Thanks, VIctoria. But me being a baseball fanatic made me love the movie even more.
I don’t know much about baseball and I had not heard of Shoeless Joe’s story. It’s good to learn about it here. Thanks for sharing this interesting story with us.
You’re welcome. I love to share history with others and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve heard of Field Of Dreams before but don’t think I have seen it. Thanks for sharing about Joe.
You’re welcome, Bonnie. You need to check the movie out now that you know a bit of the history.
The story of Shoeless Joe Jackson is one that is known with older baseball fans. I would enjoy reading this book.
I feel like I’m the only one here that has never heard of Shoeless Joe lol… I have seen the movie Field of dreams though!
I like to read books and information about real people from movies based on real life. I learned a lot more about the Shoeless Joe backstory from this post – I never finished watching the ‘Field of Dreams’ or ‘The Natural’ movies in their entirety – only bits and pieces.
Оne of those rare moments when I have seen the movie but haven’t read the book. Life really gives most amazing stories for artists to explore them. I loved Field of Dreams when I first saw it, one of the most emotional films.
Field of Dreams is such a good movie. I have a friend who watches it at least once a week. lol She just loves that movie. I had no idea that it was based on a book, though!