With a few notable exceptions, Type 1 photographs showing on field action of baseball games before the 1920s are few and far between. This extraordinary photo, not only showing in-game action, but a World Series at bat by Shoeless Joe Jackson, is a rarity to behold. The photo was taken during the first inning of Game 4 of the 1917 World Series between the New York Giants and Jackson’s Chicago White Sox at the Polo Grounds. The photographer must have snapped the shutter upon hearing the crack of Jackson’s bat, as we see Shoeless Joe at the end of his follow through swing and vaulting from the batter’s box. Pitcher Ferdie Schupp watches as the ball clears the first base side of the mound, too far out of his reach for a play. Fred McMullin, who two years later would be accused with Jackson and six other teammates of throwing the 1919 Series, is on his way towards second. Giants second baseman Buck Herzog has sprung into action, arms outstretched, in the process of assessing whether to field the ball on the bounce or fly. The rest of the Giants infielders are captured on the move, adjusting to backup any play. According to the box score, the play ended with Herzog whipping the ball to first baseman Walt Holke to retire Jackson – yet for this magical split second, nothing was for certain, and anything could have happened. This sepia toned atmospheric shot evokes baseball’s Golden Era, from the outfield advertisements and bullpen pitchers watching the action unfold to the cigar smoke engulfed bowler hat wearing crowd. Measuring 10 ¼” x 13 ¾ inches, the photograph shows the expected edge wear and toning with triangular pieces of the upper right and lower left missing along with some smaller chips around the perimeter; none of which effects the action captured within. Stamping on the reverse describes the action and a Western Newspaper Union credit is present. This photograph comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1P17180) and has been designated as a Type I photograph.