Bo Jackson

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I cam across this video of Bo Jackson. There is a part where Bo beats out a grounder to SECOND BASE! And he beat it with ease! I still can't believe it. Go to time 0:57.

[ipitch]

I'm not sure if I'd call it "routine" like the Youtube poster did, because it was hit pretty slowly, like a well-placed bunt. But, yeah, he could fly.

There's a similar video of Mickey Mantle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2lgYgio6Ok

(33 second mark)

[pheasant]

Based on the height of the bounce and the fact it was hit on turf, that wasn't that slow of grounder. That play is amazing.

Nice clip, Honus.

[Biggtone23]

I read that he will be getting the 30 for 30 treatment on ESPN when it begins it's second season this fall.

[ipitch]

Based on the height of the bounce and the fact it was hit on turf, that wasn't that slow of grounder.

The 2nd baseman charged it from near the white outfield line to the white baseline! A routine grounder doesn't require the fielder to charge the ball like that, no matter who is running.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I'm not sure if I'd call it "routine" like the Youtube poster did, because it was hit pretty slowly, like a well-placed bunt. But, yeah, he could fly.

There's a similar video of Mickey Mantle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2lgYgio6Ok

(33 second mark)

Very cool Mickey Mantle video! :applaud:

[csh19792001]

I cam across this video of Bo Jackson. There is a part where Bo beats out a grounder to SECOND BASE! And he beat it with ease! I still can't believe it. Go to time 0:57.

Thank you for supporting/providing just another piece of significant ammunition/tangible evidence that baseball players are small, weak, and unathletic compared to NFL guys. Most of my friends, who favor football over baseball......and don't think baseball is a "real sport" (by comparison), thank you vicariously!

(As if they didn't have enough evidence to back their perspective that football is a better/more entertaining spectator sport with much better athletes, as it is...)

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Thank you for supporting/providing just another piece of significant ammunition/tangible evidence that baseball players are small, weak, and unathletic compared to NFL guys. Most of my friends, who favor football over baseball......and don't think baseball is a "real sport" (by comparison), thank you vicariously!

(As if they didn't have enough evidence to back their perspective that football is a better/more entertaining spectator sport with much better athletes, as it is...)

Bo played more major league baseball than he did in the NFL. Also, despite what many may think, Bo played quite a bit of baseball as a teen. How many people know Bo was drafted out of high school by the NY Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1982 draft? He was drafted again after his junior year at Auburn by the California Angels in 1985 but he wanted to finish his education.

According to Baseball America Bo Jackson was the greatest tools prospect ever.

BO JACKSON

At Baseball America, we are always looking for the best tools. They are the essence of a player, the simplest way of breaking down their abilities on the field. We even have an issue devoted to them each year. And there has been no player with a better package of tools than Bo Jackson.

"I have seen a lot of great ones in my time," said Art Stewart, who was the scouting director when the Royals drafted Jackson. "I can't recall anyone who had greater tools than him."

Jackson had it all: the power of Mantle, the speed of Mays and the arm of Clemente. But he also had a five-year, $7.5 million contract offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1986 NFL draft. The fact that he began his career as a baseball player was shocking enough, but the Royals knew him better then anyone.

Royals area scout Ken Gonzales always stayed at the same Ramada Inn in Bessemer, Ala., where Jackson's mother worked. They became friends and would always get together for coffee when he was in town. He knew Bo was unsignable as a high school senior and as a college junior because he had promised his mother he would be the first in his family to get a college degree.

Jackson earned his fame on the football field and won the 1985 Heisman Trophy at Auburn, but he also starred for the Tigers on the diamond. He lost his baseball eligibility his senior year when Tampa Bay flew him in on a private jet to wine him and dine him.

This embittered Jackson toward the Buccaneers and opened the door for him to play baseball. When general manager John Schuerholz got a call from his agent the day of the draft saying, "If Bo plays baseball, he wants to play for the Royals," they decided to take a chance.

"Ownership or John never told me when to take him because it was still a risk," Stewart said. "To this day I can't tell you why, but I said to myself, a fourth-round pick is worth it. If Bo doesn't sign, the franchise is not going to fold."

Gonzales' groundwork paid off and Jackson signed a couple of weeks after the draft, and he was in the big leagues that September. His production over his first three big league seasons was not exceptional, but that is not what people remember. They remember the home run he hit to lead off the 1989 All-Star Game, him running up the wall in center field or his 300-foot lasers to nail a runner trying to score. After the 1987 season, he decided to play professional football as a "hobby" to become the world's most famous two-sport athlete.

By 1990, he was coming into his own as a baseball player, hitting .278-28-78, but he hurt his hip in a Raiders playoff game the next January and was never the same, though his career continued through 1994.

"Without a doubt to me he is the greatest athlete of the 20th century," Stewart said. "Because of all the football he played, he really learned to play baseball in the major leagues. That is how exceptional of a talent he was."

--MATT MEYERS

[Joltin' Joe]

Wow did he get to 1B in less than 3.00 seconds as a righty?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Bo had some serious wheels in his prime.

[torez77]

Baseball: All-or-nothing player.

Football: Maybe the greatest running back who ever lived.....

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Baseball: All-or-nothing player.

Football: Maybe the greatest running back who ever lived.....

No way is he even a top 10 running back of alltime. Maybe he had a top 10 season for a runningback but comparing him to guys like Payton or Sanders is way off. He had the talent to be one of the best but his career was way too short and he shouldnt be considered for the Football HOF either.

I never thought of him as a good baseball player either. He had some cool highlights but thats about it.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Thought Bo had his faults as a ballplayer he certainly wasn't an all or nothing player. His 1990 season was a very good season. Jackson's walk rate was increasing and his strikeout rate was decreasing at the same type. His 1990 season looks like a typical Daryl Strawberry in his prime season.

[torez77]

No way is he even a top 10 running back of alltime. Maybe he had a top 10 season for a runningback but comparing him to guys like Payton or Sanders is way off. He had the talent to be one of the best but his career was way too short and he shouldnt be considered for the Football HOF either.

Just throwing it out there as a what-if.....

[torez77]

Thought Bo had his faults as a ballplayer he certainly wasn't an all or nothing player. His 1990 season was a very good season. Jackson's walk rate was increasing and his strikeout rate was decreasing at the same type. His 1990 season looks like a typical Daryl Strawberry in his prime season.

For most of his career, he was a K waiting to happen. 841 K's in 694 games!

As WhiteSox1173 said he had highlights, but that's it. Had he played longer he may have developed into a borderline HOFer, but I doubt it.