Anderson Joes
Encyclopedia
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team in the South Coast League
South Coast League
The South Coast League of Professional Baseball , based in Conyers, Georgia, was a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Southeastern United States. It operated in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and was not affiliated with either. It folded...
, based in Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
,, USA. The team is not affilitated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. They play their games at Anderson Memorial Stadium
Anderson Memorial Stadium
Anderson Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Anderson, South Carolina. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Anderson Braves from 1980 to 1984, and the Anderson Joes in 2007. It is currently the home of Anderson University's baseball team....
.
History
The team is named after Shoeless Joe JacksonShoeless Joe Jackson
Joseph Jefferson Jackson , nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball in the early part of the 20th century...
, a baseball legend who was born in Pickens County and made his home in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. He was said to have got his nickname "Shoeless" while playing semi-professional baseball in Anderson. It is widely accepted that Babe Ruth was given hitting advice from Jackson on how to hit for average and power.
For the first half of their inaugural season the Joes were managed by former San Francisco Giant Desi Wilson. Eight games into the second half Wilson was activated as a player and was replaced as manager by Kash Beauchamp
Kash Beauchamp
James Kash Beauchamp is the son of Jim Beauchamp, and a former minor league baseball outfielder and manager. Beauchamp originally attended Grove High School in Oklahoma and then Bacone College...
.
The Anderson Joes currently only exist on paper. The entire 2008 season was cancelled due to economic conditions leading to extreme debt and all of the staff and management have been dismissed. The team is owned by the league which has no employees or President. The Anderson Joes office in Downtown Anderson has a "for sale" sign on it at the present time. It is unclear at this time if the Anderson Joes still really exist, as the extremely large amount of debt has meant the loss of all employees and assets.
Uniform
The Joes' uniform has sleeves hanging down to the forearm to represent the history of Jackson's baseball career in Anderson. The hat is green with a gold brim and an alternative logo of a gold "J" with old looking green cleats in front.The Stadium
The Anderson Memorial StadiumAnderson Memorial Stadium
Anderson Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Anderson, South Carolina. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Anderson Braves from 1980 to 1984, and the Anderson Joes in 2007. It is currently the home of Anderson University's baseball team....
is also home to the Anderson University
Anderson University (South Carolina)
Anderson University is a private comprehensive university located in Anderson, South Carolina, offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in approximately 60 areas of study. Anderson is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and is accredited as a Level V institution by the...
Trojans. The stadium (which opened in 1970) has been renovated and now is acceptable for play. It was home to the Anderson Mets, Rangers and Tigers from 1970 to 1975. From 1980 to 1984 it was home to the Anderson Braves of the South Atlantic League and many future Atlanta Braves stars such as Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby and Brad Kommisk played there. The Anderson Joes' arrival in 2007 was the first time that professional baseball had been played in Anderson since 1984. The city of Anderson (Mayor Terrance Roberts) invested a large sum of money into restoring the ballpark.
Efforts for Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame due to the Black Sox ScandalBlack Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
, when he and seven other players were accused of "throwing" the 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
.
At the stadium main entrance there is a booth set up with a petition labeled "Hall Yes! Induct Shoeless Joe". Thus far, the efforts have not been effective, as the debate has not been reopened.