[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8143-S8144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 134--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT JOSEPH 
JEFFERSON ``SHOELESS JOE'' JACKSON SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY HONORED FOR 
                IS OUTSTANDING BASEBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. Thurmond, and Mr. Hollings) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 134

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ``SHOELESS JOE'' JACKSON 
                   SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS BASEBALL 
                   ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate finds the following:
       (1) In 1919, the infamous ``Black Sox'' scandal erupted 
     when an employee of a New York gambler allegedly bribed 8 
     players of the Chicago White Sox, including Joseph Jefferson 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson, to throw the first and second games 
     of the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.
       (2) In September 1920, a criminal court acquitted 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson of the charge that he conspired to 
     throw the 1919 World Series.
       (3) Despite the acquittal, Commissioner Landis banned 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson from playing Major League Baseball 
     for life without conducting any investigation of Jackson's 
     alleged activities, issuing a summary punishment that fell 
     far short of due process standards.
       (4) The evidence shows that Jackson did not deliberately 
     misplay during the 1919 World Series in an attempt to make 
     his team lose the World Series.
       (5) During the 1919 World Series, Jackson's play was 
     outstanding--his batting average was .375, the highest of any 
     player from either team; he had 12 hits, setting a World 
     Series record; he did not commit any errors; and he hit the 
     only home run of the Series.
       (6) Not only was Jackson's performance during the 1919 
     World Series unmatched, but his accomplishments throughout 
     his 13-year career in professional baseball were outstanding 
     as well--he was 1 of only 7 Major League Baseball players to 
     ever top the coveted mark of a .400 batting average for a 
     season, and he earned a lifetime batting average of .356, the 
     third highest of all time.
       (7) ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson's career record clearly makes 
     him one of our Nation's top baseball players of all time.
       (8) Because of his lifetime ban from Major League Baseball, 
     ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson has been excluded from consideration 
     for admission to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
       (9) ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson passed away in 1951, and 80 
     years have elapsed since the 1919 World Series scandal 
     erupted.
       (10) Recently, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig 
     took an important first step toward restoring the reputation 
     of ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson by agreeing to investigate 
     whether he was involved in a conspiracy to alter the outcome 
     of the 1919 World Series and whether he should be eligible 
     for inclusion in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
       (11) Courts have exonerated ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson, the 
     evidence shows that Jackson did not deliberately misplay 
     during the 1919 World Series, and 80 years have passed since 
     the scandal erupted; therefore, Major League Baseball should 
     remove the taint upon the memory of ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson 
     and honor his outstanding baseball accomplishments.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that Joseph Jefferson ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson should be 
     appropriately honored for his outstanding baseball 
     accomplishments.

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senators 
Thurmond and Hollings, I am submitting today a sense of the Senate 
resolution to right a wrong perpetrated against one of the greatest 
American baseball players of all time--Joseph Jefferson ``Shoeless 
Joe'' Jackson.
  In 1920 ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson was banned from the game of 
baseball, the game he loved. He was banned from Major League baseball 
for allegedly taking part in a conspiracy to throw the 1919 World 
Series, in what has become known as the ``Black Sox'' scandal. While 
``Shoeless Joe'' did admit that he received $5,000 from his roommate, 
Lefty Williams, to participate in the fix, evidence suggests that 
Jackson did everything in his power to stop the fix from going through. 
He twice tried to give the money back. He offered to sit out the World 
Series in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety. And, he tried 
to inform White Sox owner Charles Comisky of the fix. All of these 
efforts fell on deaf ears.
  Perhaps the most convincing evidence of Jackson's withdrawal from the 
conspiracy was his performance on the field during the series. During 
the 1919 World Series--which he was accused of conspiring to fix--
``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson's batting average was .375, the highest of any 
player from either team. He had 12 hits, a World Series record. He led 
his team in runs scored and runs batted in. And, he hit the only home 
run of the series. On defense, Jackson committed no errors and had no 
questionable plays in 30 chances.
  When criminal charges were brought against Jackson in trial, the jury 
found him ``not guilty.'' White Sox owner Charles Comiskey and several 
sportswriters testified that they saw no indication that Jackson did 
anything to indicate he was trying to throw the series. But, when the 
issue came before the newly-formed Major League Baseball Commissioner's 
office, Commissioner Judge Kenesaw ``Mountain'' Landis found Jackson 
guilty of taking part in the fix, and he was banned for life from 
playing baseball. The Commissioner's office never conducted an 
investigation and never heard a hearing, thus denying ``Shoeless Joe'' 
Jackson due process.
  Major League Baseball now has an opportunity to correct a great 
injustice. I wrote recently to Commissioner Bud Selig urging him to 
take a new look at this case. I was very pleased when the Commissioner 
responded to my inquiry by saying he is giving the case a fair and 
objective review. Restoring ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson's eligibility for 
the Hall of Fame would benefit Major League Baseball, baseball fans, 
and all Americans who appreciate a sense of fair play.
  ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson is an inspiration to people of all 
generations. Babe Ruth was said to have copied Jackson's swing. I was 
touched by Jackson's story through the movie ``Field of Dreams,'' which 
recounted his story. The movie was filmed in Dyersville, Iowa. 
Thousands of Iowans, young and old alike, have come to embrace 
``Shoeless Joe.'' In fact, there is an annual Shoeless Joe Jackson 
celebration and celebrity baseball game in Dyersville. This year it 
will be attended by a cast of baseball greats, including Tommy Lasorda 
and Bob Feller.
  Jackson's career statistics and accomplishments throughout his 
thirteen years in professional baseball clearly earn him a place as one 
of baseball's

[[Page S8144]]

all-time greats. His career batting average of .356 is the third 
highest of all time. In addition, Jackson was one of only seven Major 
League Baseball players to top the coveted mark of a .400 batting 
average for a season.
  The resolution we submit today states that Major League Baseball 
should honor Jackson's accomplishments appropriately. I believe Jackson 
should be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. If that 
is to happen, Jackson must first be cleared for consideration by the 
Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, which will stand as the jury which 
decides whether Jackson's accomplishments during his playing career are 
worthy of recognition in the Hall of Fame.
  Mr. President, we are involved in many important issues. Clearly, 
this matter will not and should not take up the same amount of time 
this body devotes to critical issues like health care, education, or 
national defense. But, restoring the good name and reputation of a 
single American is important. This resolution gives us an opportunity 
to right an old wrong. It gives us an opportunity to honor one of the 
all-time great players of America's pastime, ``Shoeless Joe'' Jackson.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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