Joe Jackson Game Used Bat Black Betsy White Sox MLB PSA 50% Donated to Hole In Wall Gang Fund Camps Charity Start Price USD 1,250,000.00 Current Price USD 1,250,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, October 09, 2008 End Time Sunday, October 19, 2008 Location Philadelphia See more about 'Joe Jackson Game Used Bat Black Betsy White Sox MLB PSA' Description Joe Jackson Game Used Bat Black Betsy White Sox MLB PSA andale andalegallery Click button to see all of my eBay items. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's infamous...Black Betsy Game Used Baseball Bat! Per the PSA/ DNA Letter of Authenticity...Black Betsy Was Used During &After Joe Jackson's Major League Career This is a a once in  lifetime opportunity to own one of Baseball's most storied and coveted pieces of memorabilia! The opening Bid is set at $1,250,000.00 If Black Betsy sells,  to the best of my public sale knowledge, the winning bidder will set a new record with the highest price ever paid for a game used baseball bat!  THIS AUCTION features A CHARITABLE DONATION OF         50%       of the Proceeds of the Final Bid that's at least $625,000.00 to charity via vwww.missionfish.org Ebays charitbale wing  The Donation will be made to  Hole In The Wall Gang Fund Camp Hole in The Wall Gang Fund is SUPPORTED BY CELEBRITIES Paul Newman & Julia Roberts... Hole in The Wall Gang Fund Mission Statement: "The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund was founded by Paul Newman in 1985 to serve children and families coping with cancer and other life threatening diseases. The Fund's primary activity is the operation of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. The Camp, in collaboration with its associated camps in the United States and abroad, provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions a camping experience of the highest quality, while extending year-round support to their families and health care providers. In addition, the Fund provides assistance in the form of grants and financial and other support to other camps and organizations in the United States and in other countries whose mission, objectives and operations are consistent with those of the Fund"!  We are not associated with Hole in The Wall Gang Fund Camps we are just making a 50% donation to this selected charity if the items sells and the final winning bidder pays for the item! Black Betsy was previously purchased by myself and my partner at auction for $577,610.00 in 2001. Black Betsy has arguably the most respected Provenance and ironclad Authenticity of all Shoeless Joe Jackson Game Used Bats to ever hit the public market for resale! Black Betsy has been referred by experts as the "Holy Grail" of bats and is storied as one of Shoeless Joe Jackson's most trusted tool of the trade. Quotes on Shoeless "I copied Jackson's Style becasue he was the greatest hitter I had ever seen, He's the guy who made me a hitter." Babe Ruth "The greatest natural hitter I ever saw." Ty Cobb "Jackson's fall from grace is one of the greatest tragedies of baseball. I always thought he was more sinned against then sinning." Connie Mack Everything he hit was really blessed. He could break bones with his shots. Blindfold me and I could still tell you when Joe hit the ball. It had a special Crack." Ernie Shore "God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise" Joe Jackson Joe Jackson Bio & Stats Joseph Jefferson Jackson BORN: 7/16/1888 Pickens Co., SCDIED: 12/5/1951 Greenville, SC Height: 6'1"       Weight: 200  THROWS: Right   &   BATS: Left        Proffesional Baseball DEBUT: 8/25/1908  Joe Jackson began his professional career with the Greenville Spinners in 1908...Later that year his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics.  Joe's Stay in Philadelphia with Connie Mack was short lived and he returned home to South Carolina to play ball until he was traded by Athletics and he reported to a minor League affiliate of the Clevenland Indians. 1911  for Cleveland Jackson Bats .408 during his first full major league season, highest batting average ever by a rookie.(Voted 2nd Best All Time Rookie Season by any athlete in history of sports) 1912  in Cleveland Jackson Bats .395 & leads American League in triples. 1913 Jackson Tops American League in hits 197 1915 Jackson is traded to the Chicago White Sox on August 20, 1915. The Sox gave 31,500 in cash and three players (Braggo Roth, Larry Chappell and Ed Klepfer) for Jackson. 1917  Jackson bats .307 helping the White Sox win the World Series over the New York Giants 4 games to 2. 1919 Jackson bats .351 during the regular season & posts .375 average at bat and a perfect 1.000 fielding average. Joe hits the only homerun of the series, scores 5 runs, has 6 RBI's in the World Series & the White Sox lose to Cincinnati Reds. 1920 Jackson Bats .385 during regular season & leads league in triples for third time; Joe is suspended after allegations that 8 members of the White Sox conspired together to throw the 1919 World Series. 1921 Chicago jury acquits Jackson of helping to fix 1919 World Series, however Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, first commissioner of baseball,  ignores the court ruling stating that baseball is perfectly capable of governing itself and bans Jackson & seven other Chicago players from ever playing professional baseball again. Up to the present Joe Jackson has still not been reinstated in Baseball and has not been honored with being placed in the Hall of fame although some of his effects are on display in Cooperstown. Jackson however is rightfully honored in Ted Williams Baseball Hall of Fame...Williams was a strong advocate and petioner to have Jackson reinstated to baseball and properly honored in the Hall of Fame. It is believed that the Petition started by Ted Williams & Bob Feller on behalf of Jackson to be reinstated has not been accepted or denied to the present day.  My feeling is that Jackson should be reinstated and honored in his rightful place in the Hall of Fame. After all who is baseball punishing  with Jackson's banishment other than the fans and children who will  grow up loving the game and never know Shoeless Joe Jackson. Professional Acknowldgements 3rd Best Lifetime Batting Average....behind Cobb & Hornsby  Jackson Led the Majors in Triple 8 Times Jackson batted over .340 eight times Black Betsy Background Weight 40oz    Length 34.5 inches wood type unseasoned hickory color slightly darkened in color by oil soaking features slight handle crack repaired by jackson with tape shape slighty curved or sprung from seasoning of wood  In the early 1990's an old interview Joe gave to the Greenville News was re-discovered by Joe Thompson while doing research for his book "Growing Up With 'Shoeless Joe'". In the article Joe says that Captain Martin, who drove the trolley car that Joe often rode.......gave the bat to him. This original bat became known as "Black Betsy". The bat which gained its bowish curviture for which its is so distinguisgable due to its substance being made of unseasoned hickory was later sent by Jackson to Spalding where ot was shaped and stamped The Spalding Old Hickory Model No. 150 Black Betsy attaches much folk lore in addition to the facts but one thing remains constant in all fact and stories that Black betsy was not only one of Joes most prized Baseball Posseions but Black Betsy was almost like his good luck charm or confident thru the ride wild of baseball in which Joe lived his life by. Pictures of Black Betsy        Pictures of Joe Jackson with Black Betsy               Jackson Estate Provenance Joe Jackson Last Will & Testament Katie Jackson SC Probate Letter Katie Jackson Last Will &Testament Passing Black Betsy to previous owner Lester Erwin Funeral Home Belongings Transfer Letter Lester Erwin Consignment Letter with Real Legends South Carolina Piedmont Article Aout Jackson Using Black Betsy   Joe Thompson Publishing verification Letter to Print Article in South carolina Piedmont Paper About Shoeless Joe Jackson Using Black Betsy while Playing for Spinners Authenticity PSA / DNA Letter of Authenticity Dave Bushing Letter Vince Malta Letter of Authenticity Picture Not Available At This Time Mears Letter of Authenticity Media Blitz Pre Initial Sale of Black Betsy ebay promo card  ebay Black Betsy Sale Press Release Rob Mitchell & Black Betsy on Good Morning America with Bryant Gumbel Post Ebay Sale of Bat Co Owners-Rob Mitchell & Mandy Mitchell Unveil Black Betsy proudley upon her arrival in Pottstown, PA Black Betsy PSA SCD Hall of Fame Daily News Black Betsy Ebay Purchase Article Beckett Baseball Magazine Ebay Purchase Article  Black Betsy makes a stay @ Ripken Musuem   Black Betsy takes a visit to west coast on exhibition  @ Ronald Reagan Library Black Betsy Referenced in Sports Illustrated Good Wood Article Rob Mitchell with Black Betsy Fox 2005 American League Championship Series Pregame Show White Sox vs Angeles with Jeanne Zelasko & Kevin Kennedy     Rob Mitchell & Black Betsy Angeles Stadium prior to game 3 ALCS Credentials for Black Betsy to be on ESPN Baseball Tonight for the World Series Pre-game Show in Chicago with J. Kruk & H. Reynolds Sotheby's SCP Auctions Press Release Heavens To Betsy New York Post Pre Sothebys Newspaper Article Sports Collector's Digest Post Auction Artcile Discussing No Sale on Black Betsy due to Reserve Not Being Met  South Carolina The State Newspaper Artcile on Black Betsy in Hope of a return home to Greenville, South Carolina  Shipping & Insurance This item is pick up only! Our Accepted Payments We accept Bank Wire Transfers or Cashiers Check Only on this item!  & Payment in Full must be received within 3 business days from end of auction Our Auction Rules All Bidders must email us prior to bidding for authorization to bid! Only Pre Approved Bidders who have satisfied our Background Check and Financial Sufficiency Test...will then be approved to bid! Anyone who does not email us in advance for a background check of sufficient Financial where for all to make this purchase will have their bid canceled immediately and will be reported to ebay Thank You in adavnce for your cooperation!  Our Company Information Remember when Purchasing from Mitchell Marketing Your Collecting is Safe & Sound! & Your Choices Are Simply Awesome! We have over 4500 Positive Feedbacks and we are an Ebay Gold Power Seller Questions, Comments, own a collection you want to sell! Call Us Toll Free Inside the U.S. at 1-877-504-2653 or Write to us at PO Box 495 Pottstown, PA 19464 or Visit our gallery situated within our 30,000 square foot state of the art warehouse facility 212 Shoemaker Road Pottstown, PA 19464 Less than a mile from the intersection of Rt 422 & Rt 100 & Less than an hour from Philadelphia Airport!  Please don't forget to check out our other great auctions too! & Thank You for Viewing Our Auctions & Good Luck if you are Bidding! andale andalesell Payment Options:   PayPal I will ship to:   Will arrange for local pickup only (no shipping) Simply Awesome Simply Awesome appreciates your business. Winning Bidder: Click button on right to checkout now. andale andalecheckout More than just a pretty picture. Try Vendio Image Hosting. FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager. FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.   Over 100,000,000 served. 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