Joseph S. Jackson (July 1871 – May 19, 1936) was an American

sportswriter Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on matters pertaining to sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism started in the early 1800s when it was targeted to the social elite and transitioned into an integral part of the n ...

and editor for the ''

Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, US. The Sunday edition is titled the ''Sunday Free Press''. It is sometimes referred to as the Freep (reflected in the paper's web address, www.freep.com). It primari ...

'', ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' and ''

The Detroit News ''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival ''Detroit Free Press'' building. ''The News'' absorbed the ''Detroit Tribune'' on Februar ...

''. He was the founder and first president of the

Baseball Writers' Association of America The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is a professional association for journalists writing about Major League Baseball for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying websites. The organization was founded in 1908, and is known ...

, holding the office from 1908 to 1919.

Early years

Jackson was born in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

in 1871. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, he was living in Providence and working as a reporter.Census entry for Joseph S. Jackson, born July 1871. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census atabase on-line Census Place: Providence Ward 10, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: T623_1509; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 91. He worked for six years for the Providence ''Telegram'' from 1895 to 1901 and became the newspaper's Sunday and sporting editor.

Sportswriter

In November 1901, Jackson was hired to replace Ray M. Ziegler as the sporting editor of the ''

'', a position he held until 1910. In addition to his editorial duties, Jackson published a regular column titled "Sporting Facts and Fancies", and feature stories on the major sports events in the city. He covered Michigan Wolverines football in the era of Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams and the Detroit Tigers during the early years of

Ty Cobb Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. He was born in rural Narrows, Georgia. Cobb spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the ...

's career in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

. Jackson is credited with having given Cobb the nickname, "The Georgia Peach". In 1910, he became the sports editor of ''

''. He published a regular column in ''The Washington Post'' called ''Sporting Facts and Fancies''. After three years in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, Jackson returned to Detroit as a sports writer and editor for '' The Detroit News-Tribune''. He subsequently returned to the ''

''.

Baseball Writers' Association of America

In 1908, Jackson and Jack Ryder of the ''

Cincinnati Enquirer ''The Cincinnati Enquirer'' is a morning daily newspaper published by Gannett in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. First published in 1841, the ''Enquirer'' is the last remaining daily newspaper in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, alt ...

'' organized the

(BBWAA). The BBWAA was established in response to ongoing disputes over working conditions in, and control over,

press box The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box and can be either enclosed or open to the e ...

es. The press boxes at many fields were cramped, and team owners had begun to offer seating in the press boxes to actors, friends and others who were not members of the working press. Frequently, there was no room for reporters from the visiting team. The issue came to a head during the

1908 World Series The 1908 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1908 season. The fifth edition of the World Series, it matched the defending National League champion Chicago Cubs against the American League champion Detroit Ti ...

between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs when visiting baseball writers in Chicago were seated in the back row of the grandstand and in Detroit "were compelled to climb a ladder to the roof of the first base pavilion and write in the rain and snow". The organization was established at a meeting held at the Pontchartrain Hotel in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

on October 14, 1908, following the 1908 World Series. Jackson was selected as the organization's first president and held that position for 11 years from 1908 to 1919. When Jackson stepped down as president in October 1919, the Association presented him with "a handsome traveling bag".

Later years and death

In 1921, Jackson moved to California and worked for several years there. He died in

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

, in June 1936. Edgar Guest, known as the "People's Poet", began his writing career with the ''Detroit Free Press'' in the early 1900s. After learning of Jackson's death, Guest published a poem titled "Joe S. Jackson" which provided in part:

"Joe wrote of baseball in the years gone by
And all the sports which men and boys enjoyed.
His was the nimble brain, the watchful eye,
Mine was the poor assistance he employed
* * *
Word comes that Joe is dead. The game goes on!
Before the march of time all champions fall.
Now those he lavished praise and help upon
Only the dusty record books recall.

Selected articles by Jackson

Baseball's Tangled Tale, Pugilism's Bright Vista
Detroit Free Press, December 15, 1901

Detroit Free Press, November 19, 1905 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1741974162.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+23%2C+1906&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=AN+OPTIMISTIC+VIEW+HUGH+JENNINGS+TAKES+OF+HIS+WORK+FOR+'07&pqatl=google An Optimistic View Hugh Jennings Takes of His Work for '07] (Hughie Jennings/1907 Detroit Tigers season, 1907 Detroit Tigers), Detroit Free Press, September 23, 1906
White Sox Conquerors
(1906 World Series), October 15, 1906
Darkness Stops Opening Contest
(1907 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 9, 1907
Opportune Hits Give Victory To Cubs
(1907 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 10, 1907

(1907 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 12, 1907 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1774795692.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+19%2C+1907&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=COBB+ALL+BUT+LOSES+CROWN&pqatl=google Cobb All But Loses Crown] (1907 AL batting crown), Detroit Free Press, November 19, 1907
Awful Ninth Beats Tiges
(

), Detroit Free Press, October 11, 1908
Tigers' Farewell Dinner Proves a Grand Success
(1908 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 18, 1908

Detroit Free Press, November 15, 1908 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1748333902.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+03%2C+1909&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=Game+Is+Peculiar+Medley+of+Hitting%2C+Erratic+Play+and+Reckless+Base+Running--Tiges+Go+at+Top+Speed+Until+They+Catch+Sox%2C+Then+Make+It+an+Easy+Finish.&pqatl=google Game Is Peculiar Medley of Hitting, Erratic Play and Reckless Base Running--Tiges Go at Top Speed Until They Catch Sox, Then Make It an Easy Finish], Detroit Free Press, October 3, 1909
Tiges Lose the First, But Still Look Good
(1909 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 9, 1909
Playing at Their Proper Gait, Tigers Take Second Game, 7 to 2
(1909 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 10, 1909

(1909 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 15, 1909 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1748286022.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+16%2C+1909&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=GAME+TODAY+DECIDES+OWNERSHIP+OF+TITLE&pqatl=google Game Today Decides Ownership of Title] (1909 World Series), October 16, 1909
Tigers Loss Saw-Off Game in Big Series
(1909 World Series), Detroit Free Press, October 17, 1909

(Baseball in Cuba), Detroit Free Press, November 21, 1909 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1748037062.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=May+06%2C+1910&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=FIRST+TIME+AT+BAT+FOR+SCHMIDT+GIVES+DETROIT+A+VICTORY&pqatl=google First Time at Bat for Schmidt Gives Detroit a Victory: Sent Up With Bases Filled and Two Down, Coal Hill Boy Hits Two Home and Cinches It for His Team] (Boss Schmidt), Detroit Free Press, May 6, 1910
New Outlaw: Washington Reports Such a League Move; A Proposition to Revive Lawson's Union League Scheme With a Purely Eastern Circuit, Including Some Major League Cities
''Sporting Life'', December 1911, page 12
The Claims of the Lawyer-Leader of the Base Ball Players' Fraternity Riddled By a Scribe's Recital of the Cold Facts
(Dave Fultz), ''Sporting Life'', November 16, 1912, page 10
The Spurt of the Tigers Due Wholly to Great Batting -- Young Pitchers Who Look Good -- Infield Again Broken Up
(Detroit's "wrecking crew" outfield of Veach, Cobb, Crawford), ''Sporting Life'', May 1, 1915, page 7
Detroit Dash for the Pennant
(1916 Detroit Tigers season), ''Sporting Life'', September 23, 1916, page 6
President Navin Preparing for Real War -- Hold-Out Players Will Have Further Reduction in Salary to Face -- List of Players Signed
''Sporting Life'', February 10, 1917, page 7

(Terry Turner (baseball), Terry Turner), Detroit Free Press, August 27, 1918 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1782306272.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+28%2C+1918&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=Jimmie+Burke+Finds+Dying+Year+One+to+Recall+With+No+Regrets&pqatl=google Jimmie Burke Finds Dying Year One to Recall With No Regrets] (Jimmy Burke (baseball), Jimmy Burke), Detroit Free Press, August 28, 1918
With Vitt, Young, Burns, Bush: Infield in a Winter League Tale
(Ossie Vitt/Donie Bush), Detroit Free Press, September 18, 1918
Sob Story is Wasted On Ellison; Still On Ocean's Quieter Shore
(Babe Ellison), Detroit Free Press, September 20, 1918
House Cleaning of National Game Begins With Trial in Chase Case
(Hal Chase), Detroit Free Press, September 21, 1918
Can a Star Ball Player Come Back After Year Out? Cobb, Away Now After Best Season, May Answer
Detroit Free Press, September 22, 1918

(Ossie Vitt), Detroit Free Press, October 1, 1918 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1788370942.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+03%2C+1918&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=Into+the+Future+A+Cleric+Peers%3B+Vista%2C+Sad+to+Him%2C+Cheer+to+Sport&pqatl=google Into the Future A Cleric Peers; Vista, Sad to Him, Cheer to Sport], Detroit Free Press, October 3, 1918
Service Flag of One Detroit Team Shows 14 Stars, One of Them Gold
(Detroit Heralds), Detroit Free Press, October 4, 1918
Hughie's War Work Over the Seas May Mean End of Baseball Career
(Hughie Jennings), Detroit Free Press, October 5, 1918
Overlooked Because of General Strength of Nine, Bush and Veach Have Credit Due Not Often Given for Their Share in Wonderful Attack on Bengals
(Donie Bush/Bobby Veach), October 6, 1918
STANAGE CAN MAKE FOUR BOASTS SHOULD HE QUIT NOW TWO LEAGUE MARKS ARE SAFE IN MITT OF OSCAR VITT
(Oscar Stanage), Detroit Free Press, October 13, 1918
JESS' LAZING HURTING GATE OF BIG FIGHT
(Jess Willard/Jack Dempsey fight in Toledo), Detroit Free Press, June 25, 1919
SIGNS OF LIFE BEING SHOWN IN FIGHT CITY
(Willard/Demsey), Detroit Free Press, June 29, 1919

(Willard/Dempsey), Detroit Free Press, July 1, 1919 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1775008202.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+02%2C+1919&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=ALL+TOLEDO+HOT+ON+TRAIL+OF+ALIEN+COIN&pqatl=google ALL TOLEDO HOT ON TRAIL OF ALIEN COIN] (Willard/Dempsey), Detroit Free Press, July 2, 1919
SIDELIGHTS OF THE CONTEST ON SHORES OF MAUMEE BAY
(Willard/Dempsey), Detroit Free Press, July 5, 1919

(Ty Cobb), Detroit Free Press, August 10, 1919 *[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1789498112.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+05%2C+1919&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=Other+18+--+No+Title&pqatl=google Sidelights on Game] (1919 World Series), October 6, 1919

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Joseph S. 1871 births 1936 deaths Baseball writers Detroit Free Press people Writers from Providence, Rhode Island Sportswriters from Michigan The Detroit News people The Washington Post journalists