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THE GIFT
and

THE CURSE



THE GIFT
and

THE CURSE

1st ROUND SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT CONSULTING, LLC

with

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE
THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

Published by
1st Round Sports
Entertainment Consulting, LLC

Copyright © 2018 by Author Jeff Jackson
All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. All reasonable steps have
been taken to contact copyright holders of material used in this book. The
publisher would be pleased to make suitable arrangements with whom it has not

been possible to reach.
This book is a work of non-fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations,

places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s personal
experience and/or memories.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact:
Email: [email protected]

(www.thejeffjacksonstory.com)

Book and Cover design by Jeff Jackson
Back Cover Photograph by Amy Stone

www.amystonephoto.com

First Edition: May 2018

THE GIFT and THE CURSE is a book that would not have
been possible to write if it wasn't for God, my family, friends,
and coaches that have contributed to my baseball career and

helped shape and mold my life in one way or another
throughout my years. I would like to take this time to

acknowledge and thank them for their guidance, support, love,
and friendship.

First and foremost I would like to thank My Heavenly
Father God for always watching over me and giving me
strength, guidance, protection and loving me unconditionally.
To my mom for always believing in me and encouraging me to
be the best person that I can be. To my siblings Keith, Katrice,
and Shonica thanks for always being there for me no matter
what, negative or positive. To my children Jeff Jr. and Asia

thank you for loving me unconditionally and showing me what
true love means. To the mothers of my two children, Maarha
and Theresa, I want to especially thank you for the memories,
and also raising our kids with lots of love and compassion.

To my friends, Patrick Magee and James Webb, thanks for
discovering me and teaching me how to play the game of
baseball. To the coaches that inspired me to be a great player,
as well as a man. I would like to thank Mr. Haley, Johnny
Burchett Sr., Coach Hamp, and Coach Frank for all that you
taught me about the game of baseball, as well as life.

To my friend Nancy for your friendship and support
throughout the years..... Last but not least to Dana for helping
me write this book. Thanks for all the long hours you spent on
this project and your time and patience with me during this
process...



DEDICATED TO
To My Entire Family and Friends

In Loving Memory of
Kenneth Rhymes



Chapter 1 Acknowledgements ………………. 7
Chapter 2 Introduction ………………. 13
Chapter 3 The Beginning of Baseball ………………. 15
Chapter 4 The Little League World Series ………………. 21
Chapter 5 A Star Was Born ………………. 37
Chapter 6 Life Changing Experience ………………. 57
The First Day On The Job ………………. 65
Chapter 7 The Wooden Bat, the Wrong ………………. 73
Chapter 8 Swing?
Chapter 9 Home Sick ………………. 83
Chapter 10 My Good Luck Charm ………………. 87
Chapter 11 My First Love ………………. 95
Chapter 12 Confusion ………………. 103
Chapter 13 Bad Shoulder ………………. 117
Chapter 14 Rule 5 Draft ………………. 123
Chapter 15 A Bad Attitude ………………. 129
Chapter 16 The Explosion ………………. 135
Chapter 17 Game Over A Peaceful Exit ………………. 145
Chapter 18 Encore ………………. 149
Maahra - My Lifesaver ………………. 155
My WHY ………………. 163



For many years, I heard the jeers. I read the newspaper
articles. I even got the calls about the books and newspaper
articles that told their rendition of what they considered to be
my truth and failure. I shook my head at the falsehoods that
they spread in the media. I humbled myself to any truths. I hid
from the notoriety when it became unbearable. I swallowed the
pain, and I proceeded.

For years, I let the media recount to the world what they felt
they knew about me and my career, but after retiring, I had to
do some major soul searching in order to get back to a happy
place. It took me a long time to come to the point, at this place
and time, in which I could finally tell the people what
transpired over the course of my career. So many years have
passed, and now I have finally reached the point that I am
ready to indeed share my story.

I am Jeff Jackson; Philadelphia Phillies Former 1st round
draft pick.



CHAPTER ONE

THE BEGINNING OF BASEBALL

My mom would probably say I wasn’t supposed to even
play baseball. I was born on the south side of Chicago on
January 2, 1972. I came into the world with a hole in my heart.
It was a congenital disability; an abnormal heart condition.
The doctors wanted to perform open heart surgery on me as a
newborn, but my mom was reluctant to do so until she got a
second and third opinion. Luckily, for me, she went to a doctor

that told her that the surgery would not be necessary and that I
would eventually grow out of the abnormality as I got older.

I spent my early childhood with a server case of asthma,
having difficulty breathing. I would have to take a 'time out' to
catch my breath when playing outside, and if I went too hard, I
would vomit. I eventually taught myself how to breathe
properly, relax and pace myself while playing outside with the
other kids in the neighborhood. Somehow I would miraculously
grow out of asthma and handicaps that the hole in my heart
first presented as a newborn.

When I was 7, my family and I moved to the Fernwood Area
in South-side of Chicago. I remember we moved in the winter
because the weather prevented us from going out. And by
Spring, I began to plant myself on the front porch, as every
new kid would, too begin meeting people and making friends
in the neighborhood. One day, a group of about 8 or 9 boys
was walking down the street carrying baseball equipment in
their hands; they stopped in front of me. The leader of the
group was a guy named Patrick Magee. He walked up to me
with his group in tow.

"What's up Little Man?", he asked.
“What's up?”
“You new around here?”
"Yes", I replied.
“What you doing?”
“I'm just sitting here doing nothing...what's up with you
guy's?”
“Well we finna go play baseball across the street, you want
to come?”

“I don't know how to play baseball."
“Well come on anyway, I will teach you.”
And teach me, Patrick did.
That day I would play my first game of baseball, and also
gain a mentor and friend, Patrick Magee. He was the guy who
officially introduced me to baseball. From that point on, I
began to hang out with Patrick and his little brother, Alanzo,
every day. Patrick had taken me under his wing, and the rest
of the kids in the neighborhood who played baseball. Baseball
began as a way for me to be accepted. I didn't know it was
there to shape the pattern of my life.
Patrick and a guy named Jimmy Webb were pivotal to my
immediate grasp and love for baseball.

Patrick, Alanzo and I pictured after receiving our
All-Star jacket and trophy at the 1983 JRW Banquet...

They both had little brothers "Shaun Webb" and "Alanzo
Burton" around my age, who played baseball, and whom I
befriended. I remained close to Patrick and Jimmy because of
my friendship with their little brothers. They both helped to
increase my skills in baseball, by teaching me what they knew.
Patrick, in particular, worked with me for about 3 years, and I
caught on pretty quickly by playing in neighborhood pick up
games, and playing with the Fernwood Park Expos.

However, by the time I was about 10, Patrick had thought I
was ready to play for Mr. Haley. Mr. Haley was the founder of
Jackie Robinson West Little League and coach for the
Dodgers, or better known as the Infamous ‘Haley Dodgers',
that met up at Mount Vernon Park in my neighborhood on the
south side of Chicago. In little league, if you played for Mr.
Haley, it's like playing for the Chicago Cubs. He had the best
players, and if you played on his team, you had to be a darn
good athlete!

Mr. Haley, Founder, and President of Jakie Robinson
West Little League and coach of the Haley Dodgers...

So, Patrick proceeded to take me, his little brother Alanzo and
a couple of other kids from my neighborhood to try out for the
team the day before the season opener. Mr. Haley was
impressed with all of us and the way we played so he placed us
on his team -"The Dodgers". When Mr. Haley found out I was
only 10 the youngest one out of the crew, he got excited about
having me on his team for the next 3 years...He was so
impressed with my ability that he made me the opening day
starting pitcher on "Parade Day" which was a very big deal in
the Jackie Robinson West League!

Coincidently, that was the day I would begin to make a
name for myself throughout the league, by pitching a shutout
and winning the game, and also being 10yrs. old playing on
"The Haley Dodgers" was rare, if at all.

Photographed in my Dodgers uniform right
before a game on "Parade Day"...



CHAPTER TWO

THE LITTLE WORLD LEAGUE SERIES

As far as I can remember, as an all-black baseball little
league organization, 'Jackie Robinson West' was always a
big deal. They got their greatest accolades, in 2014, when they
won at Williamsport, the Little League World Series. In the
celebration of their victory, I actually saw old pics of me as a
kid, being splattered across the television as part of an
editorial that they were doing on the team. The news had
begun to showcase the records of the last time this team made
it to the World Series in 1983. That was the year that I was on

the team! It was the first time that Jackie Robinson West made
it to The Little League World Series.

It was my very first experience away from home, signing
autographs, riding an airplane and traveling state to state I just
remember having a lot of fun that summer but we lost that
year, and without the social media that there is now, only
baseball enthusiasts knew of our plight. Even then, in 1983,
Jackie Robinson West was on the map, and so was I.

After that amazing season and experience, I would go on to
play on four more state championship All-Star Teams and play
in the 13 yrs. old Junior League World Series. Nevertheless at
11yrs. old, I was already being introduced to the media. A
sports writer named Chevy Cook, made that a reality, as he
followed the team around reporting on our games. I was
beginning to make a name for myself. Around the league, My
nickname was “All-World” because I was on that first Jackie
Robinson West team to make it to the Little League World
Series as well as the 13yrs. old Jr. League World Series team;
I really never paid attention to any of the press or notoriety, it
was just baseball.

My mind did not associate all that was going on with a
career at this point necessarily. It was just a game the boys in
my neighborhood played. It was what we did to pass time, so I
did it. I think my early notoriety, the special treatment, and
attention that I began to receive at a very early age, made me
somewhat oblivious to it and nonchalant...

That would be a “gift and a curse”.

Jeff “All-World” Jackson at age 11

I would always appear self-assured and in control. which was
the blessing. Yet, later, I would lose the ability to understand
the significance of the gift I had been given.

Perhaps, it was a family trait to be so nonchalant. My family
never made a big deal of any of my baseball success, even
after I signed my professional contract with the Philadelphia
Phillies. It wasn't that they were not supportive or happy for
me - they indeed were!

They let me lead and make my own decisions, and I assured
them I could. They didn't treat me any different whether I was
playing baseball or not I still had to take out the trash and
clean my room. When I signed to play professionally, it was
my friends who began to treat me a little differently, but never
my family. In fact, they say one can gauge their success by
how others treat you. My friends were the only ones letting me
know I was somehow in a separate space.

*
*
*

News Article written by Chevy Cook...

\
11-12yrs. old Little league World Series Team
photographed at Mt. Vernon Park...

13yrs. old Junior League World Series Team
photographed outside of City Hall...

14-15yrs. old 1986 Senior League All-Star Team
visit to Mayor Washington office...

13 yrs. old 1986 Senior League All-Star Team
visit to Mayor Washington office...

13 yrs. old Jr. League team advance to the World Series…

11 & 12 yrs. old Little League team advance
to the World Series…

11-12 yrs. old Little league Team visiting Mayor Harold Washington
after returning from the Little World Series in Williamsport PA...

11-12 yrs. old Little league Team photographed at Mt. Vernon park
after returning from the Little World Series in Williamsport PA...

New article about me being the starting pitcher
to open the World Series in Taylor Michigan...

New article about me playing on
two different World Series teams...

11-12yrs old Little League World Series Plaque...
13yrs old Junior League World Series Plaque...

Certificate of Achievement Award from Mayor Washington
Certificate of Recognition Award from Mayor Washington

Congratulations letter from Mayor Harold Washington...

Congratulations letter from Mayor Harold Washington
about the Jr. League World series...



CHAPTER THREE

A STAR WAS BORN

My popularity grew with the coming years as I flourished
in baseball, but it took off in 1989 during my senior
year, playing baseball for the Simeon Wolverines. Looking
back, I have to mention it was Coach Hamp that prepared me a
few years earlier, for what was to come. Coach Hamp was my
coach at 13 yrs old at Jackie Robinson West and was
instrumental in getting me into Simeon. I was originally
enrolled in and had a scholarship to attend Mendel High
School. Hamp was the coach that instilled confidence in me,

helped me bring all my talent together, and motivated me to
play at my highest potential.

In High School, I was affectionately called „Cheese‟ due to
the pearly white smile that I displayed on a regular
occurrence. I was considered a good player on the Simeon
Wolverines, at the time, but I wasn't the star player of the
team. There was a teammate named Bryan Street who was my
homeboy. We grew up playing ball together. We even played
on that same little league team that went to Williamsport that I
mentioned earlier.

Scouts were coming to see him as he was the one that
seemed to have all the potential to go professional. He was
considered one of the top 10 players in the city and was
virtually "the man" on our team. I was a good player as well
but I wasn't receiving the kind of attention that Bryan was

receiving.
However, with what seemed like a snap of a finger, that all

changed.
One particular game, three or four scouts showed up to see

Bryan and a few other guys from the opposing team. No one
was there to see me particularly, but I had an excellent game
that day. I went 4 for 5 hitting that game and hit a towering
home run.

After the game was over, there was this older black man

with gray hair and glasses sitting in a lawn chair. I thought he

was there watching his grandson play ball. He looked like he
was in his 70s.

Letter from scout Charles Gault, he was
the first scout to discover me...

After the game, he approached me and handed me a card; he
was a scout for the Detroit Tigers. His name was Charles
Gault. He talked to me and wrote some information about me
down in this notebook he was carrying. He said he liked the
way I played and that he would enter my name on the prospect
list. He said he would keep an eye on me.

I said cool, and that was that. The Funny thing is that I
never saw or heard from him ever again. The very next game
the scouts who came to see Bryan originally now came to see
both Bryan and me. I had another good game. Now the scouts
started showing up at practice, and now, all of a sudden, they

were beginning to focus on me.
And it seemed, once I knew the spotlight had turned to me,

and the pendulum had swung in my direction, I got motivated!
It inspired me to play harder each time. My game and my
determination got stronger. I played better and better. As the
season progressed, there was a big write-up in the newspaper

about me. It introduced me as the star player of the team now!
It expressed how the scouts were coming by the dozens to see
me! After every game, a news article would follow. I was
constantly being singled out.

Then one day, I showed up at practice, just like any other
day, and we were all sitting around. My coach at the time for
Simeon was Leroy Franklin. He came and told the team that
he had some good news. The whole team was eager to hear

whatever it was. None of us had any clue as to what it could
be.

He said, “We want to congratulate Cheese…”
And I quickly asked, “For what?”

The very first news article introducing me as the
star player of the Simeon Wolverines baseball team...

News article featuring me after playing
Juarez High School...

And that is when he let me know that I was up for the Gatorade
National Player of the Year. I didn‟t even know what that was!
After the coach explained, I again, brushed it off as if it wasn‟t
a big deal and we all went back to practice as usual. But it
was. It was a big deal! Two weeks later, it was announced that
I was the winner, and by now I was beginning to understand
the significance of it all. I was the number one high school
player in the country.

I knew I was a big deal in Chicago, but in the country? That
was something I had to take in.

Next thing I know, I was being contacted by the national
press like USA Today. I made the USA Today National All-
American Team, then the Junior Olympic Team, and what
seemed like every All-American Team and so on and so on.
“Hell,” I was even given my own “day”. In the State of Illinois
and the City of Chicago, June 2nd is "Jeff Jackson Day".

The frenzy had begun. The media started coming to my
house and interviewing me. My phone was ringing off the hook
every day. I thought that was where it was going to end, but no!
Now the draft was coming up. It was then that what began as
whispers became louder and louder.

There was a chance I could actually become a #1 draft
pick! Once again, I know it was a big deal, but my focus was
just on the game. I was really not trying to get my hopes up too

high, or too distracted by the possibilities. Again, I was used to
being in the newspapers since I was 11 years old. I was
somewhat used to the attention. As it got closer and closer to
the draft, it was more media and more press. The scouts were

now coming to my house with promises of drafting me and
possible negotiations.

The craziest thing I remember reading during that time was

an article written by a Chicago Sun-Times reporter. He wrote
that Michael Chang (Tennis Player) and I had to be the 2 most
famous 17-year olds in the sports world at that particular time.

Wow! That kinda shook me up a bit. I was still processing
this as much as any 17 year old could. I can still remember the
day of the draft. I stayed home that day choosing to spend my
time in the family pool. No one was there but me. My parents
were at work. I got the call from the Phillies. It was official. I
was to be chosen as the #1 draft pick for 1989!

I was going to the Philadelphia Phillies.
I simply said, "Thank you".
I hung the phone up and went back to swimming. I realize
my calmness was just a coping mechanism for me. I was
processing it all so much so that I didn‟t even call my mom at
work to let her know the good news. The life-changing news. I
told her when she got home, and she too received the news
with a calm type of attitude although I am sure inside, she was
very proud and happy for me. We went on about our day.
Again, there was no big party or anything, but it was the
beginning of everything!
A day after graduating high school, I had a contract signed
and sealed from negotiations made in my living room with my
mom, stepdad, coaches and the Philadelphia Phillies present.
There was no time to wrap my head around the whole thing. I
was excited and nervous, and all I could remember thinking is
“NOW I have to live up to all the hype!”

*
*
*

Official Publicity Photo For Gatorade Player of the Year...

Picture of Gatorade Player of the Year plaque...

Picture of USA Golden Diamond Player of the Year...
Letter of USA Golden Diamond Player of the Year...

All-American Team Award Certificate…
All-District Team Award Certificate.

Chicago Tribune All-Area Award ...
Chicago Tribune All-State Award ...

The City of Chicago Proclamation from Mayor
Richard Daley, Jeffrey Jackson June 2, Day !...