Zelman Jack

Zelman Lee Jack

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Pittsburg High School
• Born August 26, 1946
• Died December 23, 1971 in Guasave, Sinaloa Mexico

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

First baseman Zelman Jack played in the Pittsburgh Pirates system from 1965 to 1971. He briefly reached Triple-A, though never ascended to the major leagues.

Drafted by Pittsburgh in the 11th round of the 1965 amateur draft, immediately after pitchers Gary Gentry and Tom House, Jack began his career that year with a meager .190/.289/.343 slash line in 35 games for the Salem Rebels. He improved to 12 home runs with 23 steals in 1966 and, after a down 1967, hit .322/.424/.556 with 25 home runs, 75 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 121 games between two clubs, leading the Western Carolinas League in average by .016 over Jim Breazeale. Though he produced respectable power numbers in the succeeding seasons, he never again came near his 1968 totals. In 1970, he played at Triple-A for the only time, hitting .188/.278/.250 in 16 at-bats for the Columbus Jets.

Overall, he hit .268/.356/.451 with 93 home runs, 330 RBI and 99 stolen bases in 653 games over 7 seasons. While playing winter ball for the Algodoneros de Guasave, he died in December 1971 in Mexico, falling through the roof of a nightclub. He was 25 years old.

References

• Obituary