Thursday, November 30, 2006 |
Today's Birthdays
Win Ballou BRO b. 1897, played 1929, d. 1963-01-30
Bo Jackson CAL b. 1962, played 1994, All-Star: 1989. Famously a two-sport star, in high school Jackson was encouraged to try out for the decathlon, but having never thrown a discus or pole vaulted before, he supposedly taught himself both in a day and won the state championship. He played for Auburn's football and baseball teams, and qualified for the school's track team as well; he won the Heisman Trophy in 1985.
Jackson was drafted by the Angels in 1985, but didn't sign; the Royals drafted him the next year, and he signed. Spending only 53 games in the minors, he came up to the big club the same year, though he didn't really start to hit well until 1988, striking out frequently. In the 1987/88 offseason, he announced his intention to play in the NFL as "a hobby", a hobby that ultimately cost him his hip, an injury incurred during a 1991 playoff game with the Raiders.
After hip replacement surgery, the Royals placed him on waivers; he was signed by the White Sox, and he homered in his first at bat on April 9, 1993, but his auspicious start wasn't matched by later performance. The Angels, mired in the awfulness of the early 90's teams, signed him for the next year. Jackson's hip injury had consumed his speed, though, and he retired in August 1994. Jackson is one of only six men to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same year.
Tacks Latimer BRO b. 1877, played 1902, d. 1936-04-24
Clyde Sukeforth BRO b. 1901, played 1932-1934, 1945, d. 2000-09-03
Craig Swan CAL b. 1950, played 1984
Gary Wayne LAN b. 1962, played 1994
It is also a tribute to his ability (in addition to being particularly tragic) that his injury is extremely uncommon in football, and from the things I have read it was precisely his speed that ripped the hip out of socket on that tackle. In addition, he was able to use his strength to pop the hip back in the socket (something a trainer on the sidelines said was impossible because nobody is that strong), which might have done even more damage, just so he could limp off the field under his own strength. I even remember that after the game, a reporter asked him about the injury and he claimed it was just a bruise and that he would be back the next week (which happened to be the AFC Championship game that the Bills won 51-3 en route to their first Super Bowl loss).
It was a huge loss to both sports, when Bo was injured, and it was a testament to his own mythic abilities that he did it in a way that would be nearly impossible for anyone else in either sport to do.
He hit a 450-ft HR in batting practice...LEFTHANDED...at the Metrodome.
: 11/30/2006 10:42:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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