Al Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Al Jackson |
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Jackson in 1963
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 26, 1935 Waco, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: August 19, 2019 (aged 83) Port St. Lucie, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 31, 1959, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 26, 1969, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 67–99 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.98 | ||
| Strikeouts | 738 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Alvin Neill Jackson (December 26, 1935 – August 19, 2019), known as "Little Al," was a talented left-handed pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1959 to 1969. He was especially known for his time with the New York Mets. Al held the Mets' record for most wins by a pitcher for a long time. In 2021, he was honored for his 50 years of dedication to the Mets team.
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Playing Career Highlights
Al Jackson was born in Waco, Texas. He started his baseball journey when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him in 1955. His first big chance in Major League Baseball came in 1962. He joined the very first New York Mets team. That year, the Mets had a tough season, losing many games. Al was a starting pitcher for them. He even pitched a very long game in 1962, which lasted over four hours!
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After playing several seasons with the Mets, Al was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1966, he had one of his best seasons. He was among the top pitchers in the National League for his earned run average. He also completed many games, meaning he pitched the entire game himself.
Even though he had a good year, he was used more as a relief pitcher in 1967. This means he would come into the game after the starting pitcher. That year, the Cardinals won the 1967 World Series. Al was part of that championship team and earned a World Series ring!
After the 1967 season, Al was traded back to the New York Mets. He continued to pitch from the bullpen, ready to come into games when needed. He was with the "Miracle" Mets team in 1969. This team famously won the World Series that year. However, Al was traded to the Cincinnati Reds before the playoffs. He finished his playing career with the Reds in 1969.
Al Jackson held several records for the Mets during his time there. He had 43 wins and 10 shutouts. A shutout is when a pitcher doesn't let the other team score any runs. He even threw a "one-hitter" game in 1962. This means he only allowed one hit in the entire game!
Life After Playing Baseball
After his playing days, Al Jackson became a baseball coach. He spent over two decades helping other players. He worked as a pitching coach for teams like the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. He also spent a lot of time as a coach in the Mets' minor league system. He even returned to the Mets' main team as a coach in 1999 and 2000.
Personal Life
Al Jackson was married to Nadine, and they had two sons, Reggie and Barry. He also had two grandsons. Al was an elder in a Presbyterian church. He passed away on August 19, 2019, at the age of 83, after a long illness.
Images for kids
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Jackson in 1963
See Also
- List of New York Mets team records
