Ron Jackson (jacksro01)

Ronald Harris Jackson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 7", Weight 225 lb.
• School Western Michigan College
• High School Central High School
• Debut June 15, 1954
• Final Game May 15, 1960
• Born October 22, 1933 in Kalamazoo, MI USA
• Died July 6, 2008 in Kalamazoo, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ron Jackson was a 6' 7" first baseman who was signed to a $25,000 bonus contract by the Chicago White Sox in 1954. He had to remain on the big league roster for two years because of the bonus rule in effect at that time. Manager Paul Richards gave him a chance to play because of an injury to Ferris Fain, the regular first sacker, and the Western Michigan University baseball and basketball star responded with a .280 average in 40 games.

Jackson fell to .203 in 40 games in 1955, and was sent to the minors and hit .310 with 21 homers and 102 RBIs with the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association in 1957, also being chosen for the league All-Star team. This was followed by a late-season call to the White Sox in which he hit .317 in 13 games.

Jackson remained in the White Sox organization and the big first baseman was up and down between Chicago and the minors in 1958 and 1959 before being traded to the Boston Red Sox for Frank Baumann on November 3, 1959. He appeared in just 10 games for the Red Sox in 1960 to conclude a seven-year major league run of 534 at-bats with a .245 average and 17 home runs.

Ron concluded his pro baseball career in 1961 with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association after hitting for a .265 average with 25 round trippers. This ended his five-year minor league run with a .291 batting average with 99 home runs. Jackson retired at age 27 and entered the insurance business in his hometown of Kalamazoo, MI. Jackson died on July 6, 2008 at age 74.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• Ron Jackson at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors Page