The personal career scrapbooks of Shoeless Joe Jackson are selling with Lelands, in an online auction that ends January 16.
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The scrapbooks, described as the Dead Sea Scrolls of baseball memorabilia, give one of the greatest insights into Jackson's personal life and career known, including shedding light on the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal in which Jackson became embroiled, but protested his innocence.
The lot, in poor condition but nonetheless an outstanding piece of baseball memorabilia, is now selling for $9,748, with bids expected to rise as the sale draws to a close.
The first of the three books contains rare material from Jackson's days in Cleveland and Philadelphia, with a typed invitation to the 1908-1909 Victor Mills team reunion highlighting.
A photo of Jackson with Boston Americans manager Bill Carrigan that has never been seen before highlights the second book. Also starring is a letter from 1917 - before the Black Sox Scandal - in which an "unknown friend" references inside information for gambling, and requests "a line from you on what is the dope that is going on up there in Chicago".
The third book contains a brilliant photo of Jackson in his White Sox uniform with chewing tobacco in his mouth, showing a number of vintage outfield cigar ads.
Pasted over a book of civil war photogravures, the books contain numerous items of ephemera from Jackson's outstanding career, with posters, tickets and advertising cards abound.
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