Damian Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Damian Jackson |
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Jackson at Dodgers spring training in 2007
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| Second baseman / Shortstop / Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 16, 1973 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 12, 1996, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 23, 2006, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .243 | ||
| Home runs | 32 | ||
| Runs batted in | 198 | ||
| Former teams | |||
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Damian Jacques Jackson, born on August 16, 1973, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a second baseman, shortstop, and outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons. Damian played for nine different MLB teams during his career. He was known for batting and throwing with his right hand.
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Damian Jackson's Early Life
Damian Jackson grew up in Los Angeles, California. When he was in high school, his family moved to Northern California. He attended Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, California, starting in his junior year.
Interestingly, Damian only played baseball during his senior year of high school. He decided to try out for the team on a whim! He saw a friend walking to practice and thought it looked fun. That season, professional scouts noticed Damian because of his amazing speed and strong hitting.
Damian's Major League Baseball Career
Damian Jackson was chosen by the Cleveland Indians in the 44th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. He didn't play a full season in the MLB until 1999. That year, he joined the San Diego Padres. He quickly became a standout player.
Rookie Success and Key Moments
In 1999, Damian led all rookie players in stolen bases. This showed off his incredible speed on the field. In 2001, he had an injury when he was hit by a pitch during a game.
On July 14, 2001, Damian hit a special kind of home run called a grand slam. This means he hit a home run when all three bases were loaded with teammates. His grand slam helped the Padres beat the Houston Astros. The ball barely cleared the fence in left field at Minute Maid Park.
During the 2003 American League Division Series, Damian was playing for the Boston Red Sox. He accidentally collided with his teammate, center fielder Johnny Damon. Damon was knocked unconscious during the play.
Damian was released by the Washington Nationals on August 25, 2006. He then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but was released by them on March 11, 2007.
Playing in the Atlantic League
After his time in Major League Baseball, Damian Jackson continued to play baseball. On April 14, 2008, he signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. This team is part of the independent Atlantic League. Independent leagues are professional baseball leagues that are not directly connected to Major League Baseball teams.
Damian played for a few teams in independent leagues. He was released by the Blue Crabs on July 22. He then immediately signed with the Long Island Ducks. On August 2, he was traded to the Camden Riversharks. Later, he also played for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden Baseball League.
