What Position Did Bo Jackson Play In Baseball?

Did you know that Bo Jackson played both baseball and football? He is a rare athlete that was able to play two professional sports.

Bo Jackson’s Early Life

Bo Jackson was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama. Bo’s parents, Moses and Helen Jackson, worked in the local steel mill. Bo was the eighth of ten children. When Bo was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack.

Bo Jackson’s family

Bo Jackson was born in Bessemer, Alabama, on November 30, 1962. He was the youngest of six children. His father, Vincent Edward Jackson, was a steelworker, and his mother, Helen Willis Jackson, was a teacher. Bo’s parents divorced when he was in grade school, and his mother subsequently married a truck driver. Bo and his siblings were raised in a tough neighborhood and had to contend with gangs and drug dealers on a daily basis.

Bo excelled in both baseball and football at an early age. He played Little League baseball as well as Pop Warner football. He also ran track. In high school, he starred in both baseball and football. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1982 amateur draft but chose to play football at Auburn University instead.

Jackson originally wanted to play both baseball and football at Auburn but was told by then head football coach Pat Dye that he would have to choose one sport or the other. Jackson chose to play football but still pursued his dream of playing baseball professionally. In 1985, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the amateur draft. He played professional baseball while also fulfilling his commitment to Auburn University by playing football for them during the fall semester.

Bo Jackson’s education

Bo Jackson was born in Bessemer, Alabama, on November 30, 1962. He was named after his father, who died when Bo was only four. As a young child, Jackson loved baseball and dreamed of playing in the major leagues one day. He also excelled in football and track and field.

In high school, Jackson played both baseball and football. He was a star player on his high school baseball team, and he also set state records in the 100-meter dash and the long jump. After graduating from high school in 1982, Jackson enrolled at Auburn University on a football scholarship.

At Auburn, Jackson became one of the best college football players in the country. In 1985, he won the Heisman Trophy—an award given to the best player in college football each year. That same year, he also helped Auburn win the national championship. After graduation, Jackson was drafted by both the Kansas City Royals (baseball) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football).

Bo Jackson’s Athletic Career

Bo Jackson is a former professional baseball and football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football. Jackson played outfield for the Kansas City Royals and running back for the Los Angeles Raiders.

Bo Jackson’s baseball career

Bo Jackson’s baseball career began when the Kansas City Royals drafted him in the fourth round of the 1986 MLB Draft. Jackson played for the Royals from 1986 to 1990. He was named to the American League All-Star team in 1989 and won a Silver Slugger Award that same year. Jackson’s career batting average was .250 with 141 home runs and415 RBIs. He also stole 141 bases during his time with the Royals.

In 1991, Jackson signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox, but he only played in 24 games with the team before suffering a hip injury that ended his baseball career.

Bo Jackson’s football career

Bo Jackson played football for Auburn University from 1982 to 1985. Jackson was a two-time All-American running back, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1985. He also played baseball for Auburn, hitting .401 with 17 home runs in 1985. Jackson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1986 MLB Draft and by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL Draft.

Jackson chose to play baseball, and made his major league debut with the Royals in 1986. He hit .232 with 32 home runs and stole 36 bases in his rookie season. Jackson enjoyed his best season in 1989, when he hit .256 with 28 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He was named to the American League All-Star team that season.

Jackson’s football career began in 1987, when he joined the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL. He played sparingly as a running back during his first two seasons, but earned a starting role in 1989. That season, Jackson rushed for 975 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had a career-best year as a receiver, catching 31 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson’s baseball career ended after the 1990 season, when he injured his hip while running out a ground ball. The injury forced him to retire from baseball at age 28. He attempted to return to football in 1991, but was not fully recovered from his hip injury and was forced to retire from football at age 29.

Bo Jackson’s Later Life

Jackson was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1987 MLB Draft. He played for the Royals from 1987 to 1990. Jackson was then drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played for the Raiders from 1991 to 1994. Jackson’s baseball career ended in 1994 when he was hit by a pitch and broke his hip.

Bo Jackson’s post-athletic career

After his professional baseball and football careers ended, Jackson became involved in several business ventures, including auto dealerships, food products, and sporting goods. He also started the Bo Jackson Foundation to provide financial and motivational support to young people striving to succeed.

Bo Jackson’s family life

Bo Jackson is married to Linda Jackson, and the couple has three children: Garrett, Nicholas, and Leila. Jackson also has two sons from a previous marriage, Adam and Nathaniel.

Jackson’s family life was not always smooth sailing. In 2009, Jackson’s older son Adam was sentenced to 30 years in prison for armed robbery. Jackson has said that he still loves his son and visits him in prison regularly.

In recent years, Jackson has been working as an ambassador for Nike. He is also involved with several charities, including the Bo Jackson Foundation, which helps provide financial assistance to young athletes.