4. 1910 Scorecard Highlights Early Jackson Photo (by John Esch)

In March of 1910 when 22-year-old Joe Jackson arrived in New Orleans to play for the city's franchise of the Southern Association, he had already experienced a few Major League games in each of the previous two years with Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's. But due to Jackson's less-than stellar performance along with his shy and sometimes unrefined character, Mack arranged for him to play for the New Orleans Pelicans--at least for the 1910 season--while still retaining rights to Jackson's contract.

Jackson rose to the occasion, leading the Pelicans to a league championship with a league batting high of .354 with 165 hits (also a league high).

In a surprise and questionable transaction, Mack traded Jackson to Cleveland near the end of the Pelican's 1910 season. Jackson would play for the Indians for the next five years before moving to the White Sox. The rest of the story, as they say, is now cast in baseball history.

A reminder of Jackson's early days with the minors is provided in the 1910 scorecard pictured below:

1910 New Orleans Pelicans. This century-old team photo/scorecard features the Southern Association's 1910 New Orleans Pelicans along with an early image of Joe Jackson. Included in the photo are (top row; left to right): Hank Butcher, Bert Maxwell, Otto Hess, Scotty Barr, George Rohe, Jim Lafitte and John Mitchell; (bottom row): John Weimer, Oscar Dugey, Ted Breitenstein, Pat Paige, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Bill Lindsay and Frank Manush. Photographer was L. F. Bouchereau.

While this is the only known scorecard picturing the 1910 Pelicans, the photograph is not unique. Cropped a little differently and with its background airbrushed out, the photo is also found in the "Book of Baseball: From the Earliest Day to the Present Season," published in 1911. The image can also be found in baseball guides of the period, also with the background detail removed.

Of the fourteen players pictured in the team photograph, eleven served at least a few games in the Majors. Jackson's teammate Frank Manush was the brother of Hall of Famer Heinie Manush.

The scorecard back (shown below) is preprinted for a game with a fellow Southern Association member, the Atlanta Crackers. Collectors of 1910 T210 Old Mill ("Red Borders") and 1910 T211 Red Sun ("Green Borders") sets will find many familiar names. In the lineup, Jackson is listed as batting fourth and playing centerfield.

Scorecard Back. The scorecard back is preprinted for a game with Southern Association rival, the Atlanta Crackers. Note: The photo-scorecard is displayed at approximately 80 percent of actual size; the original measures about 9-1/4 by 7-1/4 inches and is printed on rigid cardboard stock.

The fact that the opponent is the Crackers is significant to placing an exact date on the scorecard. Based on accounts from the New Orleans Picayune, the Pelicans clinched the pennant on September 10. Although Jackson was to go to Cleveland to join the Naps for the closing games of the season after the Pelicans clinched the pennant, he wasn't ready to go. The final home game of the season was played September 11 against, yes, the Atlanta Crackers. It seems clear that the program was quickly printed for that game.

Weather was inclement on September 11, which held the estimated crowd to about 2,500, further accounting for the scorecard's scarcity. Joe went an uncharacteristic 0 for 3 in what would be his final minor league game. The game was called due to weather after seven innings with the Pelicans winning 1-0. Despite the weather, there was apparently celebration throughout in true New Orleans style--complete with a brass band and enhanced concessions and refreshments!

Jackson did make it to Cleveland, however, in time to play 20 games with the Naps to close out the 1910 season.

In addition to Jackson, notable Major Leaguers who played for the Pelicans during the team's sixty years in the Southern Association include Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance, Joe Sewell, Bob Lemon, and Earl Weaver