Bo Jackson
Superathlete Bo Jackson knew enough baseball to forge an eight-year career with the Royals and White Sox, often breaking bats in frustration over his mammoth thighs when he struck out. A Heisman Trophy winner as a running back at Auburn, Jackson gained more than 4,300 yards and scored 43 touchdowns in his four seasons at the university. After his selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number one pick in the 1986 NFL draft, Jackson chose to sign a baseball contract with Kansas City. After less than a year in the minors, Bo found himself in the major leagues for good in 1987. He belted 22 homers and displayed his speed and amazing throwing arm as an outfielder. On one occasion he hurled a ball from the warning track to home plate on the fly. After his first full big league season, Jackson played for the Oakland Raiders, gaining nearly seven yards per carry while finding the end zone four times in seven games. He played both professional baseball and football for four seasons. In 1989, in his only All-Star Game, he crushed a home run in his first at-bat and was named MVP. In the 1990 NFL PLayoffs, he suffered a hip injury that ended his football career. Defying his critics, Jackson returned to baseball after the injury and miraculously played two more seasons for the White Sox and Angels after hip replacement surgery.
Played For
Kansas City Royals (1986-1990)
Chicago White Sox (1991-1993)
California Angels (1994)
Born
Vincent Edward Jackson was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, AL.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: DH
Primary Team: KCA
College: Auburn
Major League Debut
September 2, 1986
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1986
Rafael Palmeiro
Barry Bonds
Fred McGriff
Barry Larkin
Bobby Bonilla
Ruben Sierra
Mark McGwire
Greg Maddux
David Cone
Post-Season Appearances
1993 American League Championship Series
Awards and Honors
1989 ML AS MVP
Batting Feats
Notes
Jackson ran the ball 515 times for 2,782 yards, a 5.4 average, and scored 16 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career. He caught 40 passes for 352 yards, an 8.8 average, and a pair of touchdowns
All-Star Selections
1989 AL
Learn More about Bo Jackson
Search Amazon.com for Books about Bo Jackson ⇒
Search for Bo Jackson at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒