3rd Anniversary Celebration and Historical Marker Dedication

The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum celebrated its 3rd Anniversary on Saturday, June 18, 2011 with several special events and special guests.   The festivities began with the dedication and unveiling of a beautiful state historical marker in front of Joe's house.   This monument to Joe was made possible through a generous donation by White Sox fans Mike and Lori Wallach of Chicago (and part-time residents of Greenville!) and the unveiling was preceded by local songwriter and musician Taylor Moore performing his touching new song about Joe Jackson entitled "Cotton-Dusted Ground."    Mayor Knox White joined museum president Arlene Marcley to comment on the national attention the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum has brought to Greenville and assisted the Wallachs in unveiling the marker to a large gathering of Joe's fans.

The unveiling was followed by the dedication of the late Gene Carney's collection of baseball books and research materials about Joe Jackson.   Mr. Carney, who was widely recognized as the pre-eminent authority on Shoeless Joe,  passed away in 2009 but the Museum was honored to have his daughter Mary Carney visit us for the dedication and speak about her father's passion for history and baseball. 

We were also honored to welcome Jacob Pomrecke, staff member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) in Phoenix, AZ and also Chairman of SABR's Black Sox Scandal Research Committee.   Jacob shared stories about the facts and fables about Joe Jackson and answered questions from our fans about the ongoing research about Joe and his years with the White Sox.   

For first-hand memories and reflections about their relationship with Joe Jackson, we were also honored to have Textile Leagues baseball authority and author Tom Perry introduce Cornell Blakely and Joe Anders.   Mr. Blakely fascinated our guests with his account of how Joe Jackson encouraged him as a talented young black baseball player in the 1940s to pursue a career with the Greenville Black Spinners, Negro League teams and Spring Training stints with the Brooklyn Dodgers where he was a teammate with legendary players Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and Sam Jethroe.  Mr. Anders then added his recollections of growing up in Brandon Mills with Joe Jackson as his mentor for his own professional baseball career and the honor he felt in serving as one of Joe's pallbearers on Joe's "last journey."   Mr. Blakely and Mr. Anders confirmed what all we Joe Jackson fans know to be true - that Joe Jackson was a truly honorable and generous man whose love of baseball and his fellow man knew no boundaries.  

 Taylor Moore performed his new song in honor of Shoeless Joe Jackson


 

 

The Unveiling of the Historical Marker by the Wallachs and Mayor Knox White 

 

 

 

Gene Carney's daughter Mary Carney and SABR member and employee Jacob Pomeroke discussing the rich history of Joe Jackson and the White Sox  

  

 

Textile Leagues expert and author Tom Perry introducing more of our special guests.

 

 

Mr. Cornell Blakeley sharing his memories of Joe Jackson and how Joe encouraged him in his baseball career with the Greenville Black Spinners, the Negro Leagues and the Brooklyn Dodgers spring training camp

 

 

Mr. Joe Anders sharing his memories of being mentored by Joe Jackson as a young baseball player and of Joe's later years.

 

 

For more Photos from the 3rd Anniversary Celebration, Click here for the Slideshow  !