Why?

Ty Cobb called him the greatest left fielder of all time.

He said his glove was the place where triples go to die.

- Could he hit? - Could he hit?

Lifetime average .356, third highest in history.

Why'd they call him "Shoeless Joe"?

When he was in the minors...

...he bought a new pair of spikes and hurt his feet.

In the 6th inning, he took them off and played in his socks.

The players kidded him, called him "Shoeless Joe" and the name stuck.

He's going to lose his farm.

Damned fool.

Then in 1919, his team the Chicago White Sox...

...threw the World Series.

- What's "threw"? - It means they lost it on purpose.

Gamblers paid them to.

Except Shoeless Joe.

He did take their money, but nobody ever proved he did one thing...

...to lose those games.

If he threw it, how do you explain that he hit .375 for the Series...

...and committed no errors?

I can't.

Twelve hits including the Series' only home run...

...and they said he's trying to lose?

It's ridiculous.

The commissioner of baseball suspended eight of the players...

...including the great Shoeless Joe Jackson, for life.

What's "suspend"?

It means they never let him play the game again.

My father said he saw him years later...

...playing under a made-up name in some 10th-rate league in Carolina.

He'd put on 50 pounds, and his spring was gone from his step...

...but he could still hit.

Dad used to say nobody could hit like Shoeless Joe.

I think that's the first time I've ever seen you smile...

...when you mentioned your father.

I have just created something totally illogical.

That's what I like about it.

Am I completely nuts?

Not completely.

It's a good baseball field, Ray.

It's kind of pretty, isn't it?