Joe Jackson, also known as “Shoeless Joe” Jackson, was one of the best hitters of the early 20th century. His involvement in the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal overshadowed his amazing on-field play and resulted in his banishment from Major League Baseball. As a result, Jackson only appeared in a handful of baseball card sets during his career in the early 1910s. In the decades since his death in 1951, collectors and card manufacturers have tried to further document and remember Jackson’s playing career through additional baseball cards featuring his image and statistics.

One of the earliest and most sought after Jackson cards is from the 1909-11 T206 series produced by the American Tobacco Company. Only around 50 copies of the infamous “Shoeless Joe” Jackson card from that set are known to still exist today in collectible condition. The cards featured images of players from the National League and American League on the front, with advertisements for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes on the back. Despite his talent and fame, Jackson’s limited appearance in early 20th century card sets is due to his career being cut short after only 8 seasons in the majors from 1908-1920.

Following his banishment, Jackson faded from the public eye but was not forgotten. In the 1930s, collectors and card manufacturers began recognizing the injustice of Jackson never receiving a proper send-off for his playing accomplishments. This led to him appearing in several retro-style card issues such as the 1933 Goudey Baseball Record Book set. Featuring stats and photos from throughout a player’s career, the Goudey set helped preserve Jackson’s legacy at a time when he had been officially kicked out of the game for over a decade. High grade copies of this specific Jackson card can fetch over $10,000 today.

As interest in vintage baseball cards grew exponentially in the post-World War 2 era, several additional sets were produced in the 1950s and 60s featuring photographs and statistics from Jackson’s major league playing days with the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. Sets such as 1954 Topps, 1963 Topps Golden Age, and 1966 Topps Baseball Album all included dedicated cards to Jackson near the set’s end, harkening back to his excellence on the field prior to the Black Sox scandal. For collectors seeking Jackson’s more desirable early 1910s cardboard, these retro issues helped satisfy demand while still celebrating his baseball accomplishments.

A major milestone and remembrance of Jackson came in the 1970s when several sets specifically honoring the 100th birthdays of historical players were released. As he would have turned 100 in 1978, Jackson was prominently featured that year in various sets like Sportflics Birthday Cards and Wm. Leisge 100th Birthday Collection. These dedicated birthday issues helped further cement Jackson’s place in baseball history books, especially for a new generation of fans who never got to see him play firsthand in the dead ball era. Some key visual differences in the 1970s birthday cards versus Jackson’s original 1910s tobacco issues are the use of color photos instead of black and whites.

In the modern era beginning in the 1980s, Jackson’s story and popularity have reached new heights. Reprints and high-end releases by companies like Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck have allowed collectors the chance to add a “Shoeless” Joe card to their collections at various price points. In 1991, the film “Field of Dreams” introduced Jackson to an entirely new audience by dramatizing his supposed return from the afterlife. This renewed widespread interest in his playing career and role in the Black Sox scandal. Luxury issues like 2009 Topps T206 Reprint have recreated the famed 1909-11 tobacco look with sharp vintage-style aesthetics to satisfy serious collectors.

Whether focusing on his skills, misdeeds, or enduring legacy over 100 years later – Joe Jackson’s presence in the baseball card collecting hobby demonstrates how one man’s controversial story can continue captivating fans old and new. From his exceedingly rare early tobacco cards to modern reprints, “Shoeless” Joe cards remain a highlight for any vintage or contemporary collection. While a ban from the national pastime might have attempted to remove Jackson from the history books, card manufacturers and their customers have continually worked to ensure his place in the story of America’s favorite pastime is never forgotten.