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Lot Essay
The presentation inscription reads:
WON BY
JOE JACKSON
OF THE
WHITE SOX
THE WORLD'S GREATEST SLUGGER
FOR HEAVING A BASEBALL FARTHER THAN ANY OF THE STARS
AT THE TIM MURNANE BENEFIT EXHIBITION GAME
BETWEEN THE ALL STARS AND BOSTON
JACKSON 396 FT. 8 IN.
LEWIS 384 FT. 8 IN.
WALKER 384 FT.
As noted, this trophy was presented to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (1887-1951) in 1917 as part of the Tim Murnane Benefit Game events. Tim Murnane (1851-1917) was a revered sportswriter for The Boston Globe and a former professional player in the late 19th century. He passed away from a sudden heart attack leaving behind a wife and four children with minimal resources. As a result, the American League organized a benefit game to be played in support of Murnane's family on 27 September 1917. The game and related contests raised nearly $13,000, and included the elite baseball stars of the day, with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Joe Jackson fielding a fantasy outfield for the ages. In addition to the game, there were several skill related contests for hitting, fielding, and throwing, with Jackson capturing the title of 'Heaving a Base Ball Father Than Any of the Stars' as noted on the present trophy. Jackson threw a ball an amazing 396 feet and 8 inches, with Duffy Lewis finishing second at a mark of 384 feet. Jackson and his team the Chicago White Sox, noted on the present trophy with the 'Sox' team insignia on the reverse, would go on to win the World Championship shortly after the Murnane Game was played. The present lot was captured for history in a circa 1917 photograph by Paul Thompson showing Jackson holding this trophy as well as the other trophy on offer in the present sale, which was sold at Hunt Auctions, Exton, Pennsylvania, 25 March 2017, lot 441.
Over 100 years after his controversial banishment from Major League Baseball, Joe Jackson remains one of the most revered and yet mysterious figures in the history of the game. Artifacts with direct provenance to Jackson number in the single digits with very few ever becoming available to the public. The present trophy and its companion within this auction are being presented for the first time publicly. Exceptional Jackson presentational award of the highest scarcity. The notoriety of the Tim Murnane Benefit event, and the fact that Jackson received this trophy the same year as the White Sox winning the World Championship makes the present lot one of the most significant player award items to have ever been offered at public auction. Overall condition is very fine with some expected light/moderate wear to areas of the silver plating and general light/moderate wear to the black painted base. The lower portion of the columnar support to the trophy had some indentation that was expertly repaired to a degree of nominal visual impact.
WON BY
JOE JACKSON
OF THE
WHITE SOX
THE WORLD'S GREATEST SLUGGER
FOR HEAVING A BASEBALL FARTHER THAN ANY OF THE STARS
AT THE TIM MURNANE BENEFIT EXHIBITION GAME
BETWEEN THE ALL STARS AND BOSTON
JACKSON 396 FT. 8 IN.
LEWIS 384 FT. 8 IN.
WALKER 384 FT.
As noted, this trophy was presented to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (1887-1951) in 1917 as part of the Tim Murnane Benefit Game events. Tim Murnane (1851-1917) was a revered sportswriter for The Boston Globe and a former professional player in the late 19th century. He passed away from a sudden heart attack leaving behind a wife and four children with minimal resources. As a result, the American League organized a benefit game to be played in support of Murnane's family on 27 September 1917. The game and related contests raised nearly $13,000, and included the elite baseball stars of the day, with Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Joe Jackson fielding a fantasy outfield for the ages. In addition to the game, there were several skill related contests for hitting, fielding, and throwing, with Jackson capturing the title of 'Heaving a Base Ball Father Than Any of the Stars' as noted on the present trophy. Jackson threw a ball an amazing 396 feet and 8 inches, with Duffy Lewis finishing second at a mark of 384 feet. Jackson and his team the Chicago White Sox, noted on the present trophy with the 'Sox' team insignia on the reverse, would go on to win the World Championship shortly after the Murnane Game was played. The present lot was captured for history in a circa 1917 photograph by Paul Thompson showing Jackson holding this trophy as well as the other trophy on offer in the present sale, which was sold at Hunt Auctions, Exton, Pennsylvania, 25 March 2017, lot 441.
Over 100 years after his controversial banishment from Major League Baseball, Joe Jackson remains one of the most revered and yet mysterious figures in the history of the game. Artifacts with direct provenance to Jackson number in the single digits with very few ever becoming available to the public. The present trophy and its companion within this auction are being presented for the first time publicly. Exceptional Jackson presentational award of the highest scarcity. The notoriety of the Tim Murnane Benefit event, and the fact that Jackson received this trophy the same year as the White Sox winning the World Championship makes the present lot one of the most significant player award items to have ever been offered at public auction. Overall condition is very fine with some expected light/moderate wear to areas of the silver plating and general light/moderate wear to the black painted base. The lower portion of the columnar support to the trophy had some indentation that was expertly repaired to a degree of nominal visual impact.