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Bo

It’s an athletic and physical marvel when an athlete can train and shape his body into that of a professional baseball or football player. To become a great player at that level for either sport is incredibly hard and rare.

That said, to play both sports at the highest level in the world at the same time is, well, unbelievable. Bo Jackson was just that, an unbelievable human being.

Vincent “Bo” Jackson was born in Bessemer, Alabama on November 30, 1962. He was one of ten children, and constantly got into trouble. His mother nicknamed him the “Wild Boar,” which would later shorten to “Bo.”

While living with his large family in Bessemer, Jackson credits wrestling with his older siblings improved his athletic ability, especially for football and the grueling life of a running back.

The practice translated into 1,175 rushing yards for McAdory High School’s football team his senior year. Jackson also hit twenty home runs in only twenty-five games for McAdory’s baseball team.

In 1982, the New York Yankees selected Jackson in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft; however he decided to attend Auburn University instead.

Jackson was recruited by Auburn to play football, however he walked on the baseball team and hit .401 with 17 home runs. The following season, 1986, Jackson was declared ineligible when he took a physical for the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the football field, Jackson ran for 4, 303 career yards, the fourth most in SEC history. During his break out season, 1983, he rushed for 1, 213 yards on only 158 carries, resulting in an YPC of 7.7.

During the Iron Bowl of that year, Jackson rushed for 256 yards on only 20 carries, averaging 12.8 yards per carry. Auburn would make it to the Sugar Bowl that year, Jackson winning the Most Valuable Player.

In 1984, Jackson would win another MVP for his performance in the Liberty Bowl. The next season, his senior year, Jackson ran for 1, 786 yards-the second most rushing yards in SEC history behind Hershel Walker. Jackson would win the 1985 Heisman for his performance.

Jackson’s number 34 was retired-one of only three numbers retired in Auburn history-by Auburn in 1992.

While Jackson was already excelling at football and baseball, he got an offer to join the US Olympic team for the 60-Yard Dash out of college. Jackson declined to pursue football and baseball.

In 1986, Jackson was selected with the number one overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL Draft. But, Jackson decided to play for the defending world champion Kansas City Royals of the MLB.

He debuted for the Royals on September 2, 1987 and would begin regular play in 1987. During that season, he hit 22 home runs, had 53 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

A few years later, Jackson made it to the 1989 All-Star game. In his first All-Star at bat, he hit a 448 home run off pitcher Rick Reuschel. He would also have a stolen base and the game winning RBI.

While Jackson was improving as a ballplayer, his loyalty to football started to worry the Royals. Jackson took a step towards proving them wrong when he gunned down Harold Reynolds at the plate from the warning track.

Reynolds was running from first when the pitch was thrown, and recently admitted he refused to take the third base coach’s advice and slide because he thought the hit was so deep he could score easily.

A year later, Jackson made the highlight reel again. On July 11, 1990 Jackson caught a ball hit near the wall on a tilt. As he caught it, he looked forward and saw the wall, running onto it rather than into it. He ran parallel to the ground on the wall for a few strides, before landing back onto the ground.

Jackson is also famous for snapping his bat against his knee after a strike out. 

Jackson left the Royals in 1991 for the White Sox. Due to a hip injury, he was a designated hitter for the rest of his career. He would play two seasons with the White Sox before finishing his career in 1994 with the California Angels.

Jackson had a career .250 batting average with a .478 career slugging percentage. He had 141 career home runs, and earned honors such as the 1993 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

After rejecting the Buccaneer’s offer, the Oakland Raiders drafted Jackson in the seventh round of the 1986 Draft. Raiders’ owner Al Davis told Jackson he would give him first round money and let him come into the season late to play for the Royals.

During his rookie NFL season, Jackson rushed for 554 yards on only 81 carries. He would play for three more seasons and rush for 2, 228 yards and 12 touchdowns, all behind starter Marcus Allen.

In 1991, Jackson dislocated his hip during a game that would end his football career. Jackson got up, and popped his hip back into place, a feat his trainer refused to believe possible.

His football career over, the injury would later end his baseball career too. However, he continued to play for the White Sox until he retired with the Angels.

Bo was also an advertising star. Nike began running ads during the 1980’s and 1990’s with Jackson playing multiple sports, then saying “Bo Knows…” and the sport.

Jackson would release two video games, of mild success before moving on. He would be honored with the Tony Conigliario Award, and later try acting.

He appeared in popular shows like The Fresh-Prince of Bel-Air, The Adventures of Superman, and Married with Children. He also appeared in Spike TV’s Pros vs. Joes.

Bo Jackson remains one of the most gifted and talented athletes of all time, and one can only imagine what he could of achieved if it wasn’t for his injuries.

About the Author

Chiefsfan123888 is a huge nfl football fan and loves to rep his Kansas City Chiefs at rootzoo.com

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