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Say It Ain't So, Joe!: The True Story of Shoeless Joe Jackson

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Donald Gropman is the leading historian on the life of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. In his revised edition of the book, Gropman gives an objetive look at the life of Joe Jackson, including the scandal that ended his career. Gropman's argument leaves little doubt that this legend belongs in the baseball hall of fame. Quite simply, the hall of fame is incomplete without him.

The other members of the Black Sox sought to add Jackson to the fix. Jackson never committed. Jackson even went so far as to tell Sox owner Charles Comiskey and attempted to sit out the World Series to demonstrate his innocence. These actions which would have exonerated him were rejected. Comiskey just felt Jackson was hearing rumors. When the scandal hit full force, Comiskey tried to save his players. Unfortunately, Comiskey's lawyer was only interested in saving Comiskey, not the players. The great tragedy is that Comiskey, depite his Richard Nixon-like tactics, is in the hall of fame while "Shoeless" Joe Jackson is not.

Gropman lays out a tremendous amount of evidence that supports Jackson's innocence. Despite this mountain of evidence and growing support for Joe Jackson's reinstatement, baseball's commissioners have largely ignored the case for Joe Jackson.

This book sets the standard for "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's life as well as the case for his reinstatement into baseball and his induction into the hall of fame. With the additions of transcripts, letters, and other pieces of evidence, this book is more than worth its price. Gropman also provides information for joining the Shoeless Joe Jackson Society and fighting to clear his name. I would encourage you to join.

Mnay biographies focus on human interest rather than factual information. This is not one of those. This book is meticulously researched and presents all the facts Mr. Gropman came across. The reader can make his or her own conclusion based on the facts the author presents, but the facts will probably lead the reader to conclude that Joe Jackson was not involved in the Black Sox scandal that nearly ruined baseball.

Mr. Gropman clearly demonstrates what many authors are unable to do: the ability to present an opinion based on fact, rather than speculation. I was impressed with this book because it provided me with much information on Joe Jackson's life, particularly on whether he was or wasn't involved in the scandal. The facts lead to the conclusion, not the other way around, and I like that. Baseball fans interested in the history of the game should read this book. They will enjoy it.

Donald Gropman researched this book with a great deal of care. Afterall, we are talking about a truly gifted and loved baseball hero (to some, me included). The facts are undeniable and we likely will never know the actual truth about Shoeless Joe's (he never liked being called that) involvement in the Black Sox Scandal. I had a very difficult time accepting Gropman's sugar coating of Jackson and his involvement, and supposed guilt. The fact remains, he was involved! He took the money! He played the games! He told no one! He paid the price! As sad as all of this is, including the servere harshness in which he was dealt with, it had to be done. I just wish that Gropman made Commiskey out to be more than he wrote. Commiskey was the devil himself. It should be Commiskey that should be removed from the Hall of Fame for the disgrace that he was from day one in organized baseball. Jackson was just a poor, illiterate dupe that only wanted to play ball and make a reasonable living too. I expected more and got less from this book. I am no further enriched than I was before. Joe Jackson is still my hero, but I'm still looking for answers. Anthony DeMedeiros, Toronto, Ontario

Gropman states early on that he intends to provethat Jackson had no involvement in the Black Soxscandal of 1919 and succeeds. He demonstrates the hows and whys of Jackson's "involvement" and shows why Jackson took money when he didn't participate in the fix. Though Gropman goes out of his way to glorify Jackson in some instances, for the most part this is highly readable, well-researched bio of "Shoeless Joe" and demonstrates once and for all that Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame.

I loved this book! Joe Jackson should be in the hall of fame! After reading this book and all the insights to his life, I have become a huge fan of Shoeless Joe. This book will tell you all about his involment with the "Black Sox". Like how he tried to tell Comiskey about the scandle before the 1919 series. And, how he also tried to give the money to Comiskey before the news hit the papers. If you want to know about one of the best players you need to read this book. By the way it was a life time band from baseball....his life ended in December 1951.

Gropman's book is in part a biography of Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the best players in baseball history, and part a defense of his innocence in the 1919 "Black Sox Scandal" in which Jackson and seven teammates were involved in a conspiracy to throw the World Series. The book gives a good history of Jackson's sometimes troubled rise to big league stardom, then details the events surrounding the scandal. Very readable and containing good bits of baseball history. A must for baseball history buffs.

The book sheds tremendous light on shoeless joe jackson and his era. the book gives deeper insight into the black sox scandal of 1919.Jack M. Purvin,M.D.