George Jackson (baseball)

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George Jackson
Runs batted in
73
Teams

George Christopher Jackson (January 2, 1882 – November 26, 1972), known also as "Hickory" Jackson, was a

minor leagues with the Jackson Senators
.

The majority of Jackson's career was spent in the minor leagues. In 1911, he broke into the major leagues as a member of the Boston Rustlers. He spent parts of the next two seasons with the Boston

El Dorado Lions
(1930–32). Over his career in the minors, Jackson batted .297 with 2,453 hits, 443 doubles, 74 triples, and 157 home runs in 2,365 games played.

Early life

George Christopher Jackson was born on January 2, 1882, in

farm hands.[2]

According to The Washington Post, Jackson displayed a "wonderful" ability to catch the baseball in his youth.[2] He would use a small branch as a baseball bat.[2] Jackson played with the Blum amateur baseball team when he was young.[2] He was given the carfare it took to get to the ballpark by his manager in exchange for playing.[2] Jackson worked as an acrobat at the age of 18.[1] He had five siblings; brothers William, Kennith, and Robert; and sisters Lula, and Elmyra.[1]

Professional career

Jackson's early career
The 1908 Dallas Giants
Jackson (labeled 12) spent the 1908 season with the Dallas Giants.
The 1909 Dallas Giants
In 1909, Jackson (labeled 1) spent his second season with the Dallas Giants.
The 1910 Dallas Giants
Jackson (labeled 18) spent his final season with the Dallas Giants in 1910.
The 1911 Memphis Turtles
Before making his MLB debut in 1911, Jackson (labeled 18) played with the Memphis Turtles.

Early minor league career (1906–1911)

Jackson's

Gulf Coast League, where he was used as a first baseman.[2] Jackson was the only player on the Lake Charles club to ever go on to play in the MLB.[4] On the season, Jackson batted .281 with 43 hits, six doubles, two triples, and one home run in 44 games played
.

A baseball card depicting George Ferguson of the Boston National League team
Jackson was sold to the Boston Rustlers during the 1911 season in exchange for George Ferguson (pictured), and cash considerations.

In 1908, the Dallas Giants, who had farmed Jackson out to the Lake Charles Creoles a year prior, asked him to report to the Dallas club.

runs scored, 117 hits, 21 doubles, three triples, six home runs, and 53 stolen bases in 129 games played.[2] He was tied for third in the league in triples.[6]
Jackson again joined the Dallas club in 1910. He batted .280 with 80 runs scored, 144 hits, 17 doubles, seven triples, five home run, and 55 stolen bases in 155 games played.

Towards the end of the 1910 season, Jackson was sold by the Dallas Giants to the

front office. He was ordered to sign Jackson.[2]
With Memphis that season, Jackson batted .260 with 78 hits, 17 doubles, four triples, and two home runs in 85 games played.

Boston Rustlers/Braves (1911–13)

In exchange for allowing the Boston Rustlers to sign Jackson, the Memphis Turtles was given cash considerations, and pitcher

runs batted in (RBIs), and 12 stolen bases in 39 games played. Jackson played in too few of games to qualify for the 1911 batting title.[10]

A baseball card depicting pitcher Nap Rucker.
Jackson hit his first career MLB home run, which was inside-the-park, off of pitcher Nap Rucker (pictured).

One month ago if you mentioned the name of George Jackson in the Hub, or, in fact, in most parts of this country, all hands would look with anxious eyes and listen with wide-open ears for some explanation. Now you can hardly find a fan in the country who cannot tell you not only what his full name is, but where he was born, and how many bases he has stolen since coming into the big show.

— —The Washington Post: August 27, 1911

Jackson joined the Boston club, now renamed the Braves, in March 1912 for spring training.[11] On May 30, Jackson hit his first MLB home run, which was inside-the-park, against Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Nap Rucker.[12] Jackson hit his second career MLB home run on June 17, against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bert Humphries.[12] Jackson's third home run was also against the Reds, this time off of pitcher George Suggs on August 6.[12] On August 26, during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jackson hit his fourth, and final home run of the season, which was inside-the-park off of King Cole.[12] It was also the final home run of Jackson's MLB career. On the season, he batted .262 with 55 runs scored, 104 hits, 13 triple, five triples, four home runs, 48 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases in 110 games played. Jackson finished the season tied for third with John Titus in hit by pitches (10), and fifth in strikeouts (72).[13] Jackson was also tied for third with Steve Evans, Josh Devore, Jay Kirke, and Mike Mitchell in errors by an outfielder (15).[14] Jackson played with the Boston Braves again in 1913, but appeared in just three games. In those games, he compiled two runs scored, and three hits in 10 at-bats.

Buffalo Bisons, and Texas League (1913–1923)

The 1916 Buffalo Bisons
After his MLB career was over, Jackson (labeled 8) played with the Buffalo Bisons for five seasons (1913–17).

On May 14, 1913, the Boston Braves traded Jackson to the Buffalo Bisons of the Double-A International League in exchange for Leslie Mannie.[15] In his first season with Buffalo, Jackson batted .260 with 110 hits, 15 doubles, seven triples, and three home runs in 116 games played. He re-signed with the Bisons in 1914; and batted .269 with 84 hits, 17 doubles, four triples, and four home runs in 97 games played. Jackson spent his third season with the Buffalo club in 1915. He batted .255 with 51 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, and one home run in 78 games played. In 1916, Jackson again played with Buffalo. In 116 games played, he batted .325 with 146 hits, 34 doubles, nine triples, and two home runs. Jackson led the league in doubles.[16] His last season with the Bisons came in 1917. Jackson batted .275 with 111 hits, 20 doubles, three triples, and three home runs in 112 games played.

George Jackson as a member of the Buffalo Bisons in 1913.
Jackson spent seven seasons (1918–1923) in the Texas League after leaving the Buffalo Bisons.

Jackson joined the

right field.[19]
He batted .333 with 164 hits, 31 doubles, nine triples, and six home runs in 133 games played.

Jackson re-signed with the Shreveport club in 1921.[20] On May 5, Jackson hit a single in the eight inning of a game against the Fort Worth Panthers to tie the game at 3–to–3, and later hit a triple in the tenth inning to dive in the winning run, giving the Gassers a 4–to–3 victory.[20] After 38 games that season, Jackson led the Texas League with 14 stolen bases.[21] On August 3, Jackson hit a walk-off home run, giving the Gassers a 12–to–9 victory over the Houston Buffaloes.[22] He batted .310 with 194 hits, 31 doubles, 11 triples, and 10 home runs in 160 games played that season. Jackson was tied for fourth with Joe Connolly in hits that season.[23] In 1922, Jackson batted .344 with 141 hits, 28 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs in 111 games played with the Gassers that season. He was tied for fourth with Tom Connolly in batting average that season.[24] In 1923, Jackson played with the Shreveport Gassers, and the Beaumont Exporters, both of the Texas League. Between the two clubs, he batted .250 with 64 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, and four home runs in 82 games played.

Later career (1924–1932)

In 1924, Jackson joined the

player-manager
for the Trojans in 1928. Jackson batted .331 with 105 hits, 17 doubles, one triples, and 13 triples in 87 games played.

In January 1929, Jackson attended a meeting consisting of managers of the Lone Star League.

El Dorado Lions. The Lions were members of the Cotton States League. Jackson batted .288 with 69 hits, nine doubles, three triples, and one home run in 72 games played. He re-signed with the Lions in 1931. He batted .296 with 37 hits, and eight doubles in 55 games played. His final season of professional baseball came in 1932 at the age of 50 with the El Dorado club. Jackson batted .230 with 20 hits, one double, and one home run in 34 games played. He was replaced as the manager for the Lions mid-season by Clyde Glass.[28]

Later life

Jackson resided in Blum, Texas, with his wife Elizabeth, and their children Finis, Jack, George E., and Evelyn.

oil fields of Texas.[29] By 1900, the Jackson family was living in Hill County, Texas.[1] Jackson died in Cleburne, Texas
, on November 26, 1972, at the age of 90. He was buried at Blum Cemetery in Blum, Texas.

References

General references
  1. "George Jackson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  2. "George Jackson Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
Inline citations
  1. ^
    U.S. Federal Government. 1900. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help
    )
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Jackson's Rapid Rise". The Washington Post. 27 August 1911. p. 20.
  3. ^ "1906 Jackson Senators". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  4. ^ "1907 Lake Charles Creoles". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  5. San Antonio Light
    . San Antonio, Texas. 29 July 1908. p. 7.
  6. ^ "1909 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Little Bits of Baseball". The Pittsburgh Press. 3 August 1911. p. 16.
  8. ^ "Jackson's Single Won". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. 25 August 1911. p. 2.
  9. ^ "Long Hits By Individuals". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. 28 August 1911. p. 8.
  10. ^ Moreland, George L. (8 October 1911). "Hans Wagner Is Once More Champion Batsman Of The National League". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 22.
  11. The Atlanta Constitution
    . 8 March 1912. p. 9.
  12. ^ a b c d "George Jackson Career Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  13. ^ "1912 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  14. ^ "1912 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  15. Reno Evening Gazette
    . Reno, Nevada. 14 May 1913. p. 8.
  16. ^ "1916 International League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  17. ^ "First Twin Bill Sunday". San Antonio Light. San Antonio, Texas. 22 June 1919. p. 8.
  18. ^ "Game Is A "Goner"". San Antonio Light. San Antonio, Texas. 12 September 1919. p. 10.
  19. Galveston Daily News
    . Galveston, Texas. 18 August 1920. p. 4.
  20. ^
    Wichita Daily Times
    . Wichita Falls, Texas. 5 May 1921. p. 10.
  21. ^ "Ol' Man George Jackson in Front". Galveston Daily News. Galveston, Texas. 29 May 1921. p. 8.
  22. ^ "Jackson's Homer Wins". San Antonio Light. San Antonio, Texas. 3 August 1921. p. 12.
  23. ^ "1921 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  24. ^ "1922 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  25. ^ "1924 East Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  26. ^ "1927 Lone Star League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  27. Brownsville Herald
    . Brownsville, Texas. 16 January 1929. p. 7.
  28. ^ "1932 El Dorado Lions". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  29. ^
    "1930 United States Census". U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Federal Government. 1930. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help
    )

External links
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