Not to be outdone by Chicago`s City Council members, Illinois legislators have announced that they`re loyal fans of Shoeless Joe Jackson, too.
A resolution was unanimously passed by both chambers of the General Assembly Tuesday that encourages baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent to review evidence indicating that Jackson wasn`t involved in throwing the 1919 World Series.
They`re all hoping that`ll lead to Jackson being eligible for the Hall of Fame now, 72 years after the Black Sox incident.
”It`s a justice thing. He was was set up,” said Rep. Myron Olson (R-Dixon), who sponsored the legislation though he`s a longtime Milwaukee Brewer fan. ”Hawaii has already passed the resolution, and North Carolina has, too.”
Jackson, the subject of numerous books, newspaper columns and movies recently, was barred from organized baseball by then-commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis, along with other members of the Black Sox, despite being acquitted of criminal and civil charges.
The non-binding resolution is similar to one adopted June 27 by the Chicago City Council.
It says Jackson ”deserves to be considered for the Hall of Fame, rather than condemned by the obvious chain of events, which, having been explored, lead many to believe in his innocence of any charges.”