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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

AUTHOR
Jeff Jackson
with Dana Jones

Published by
1st Round Sports &
Entertainment Consulting, LLC

Acknowledgements

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 there guidance, support,
love, and friendship.

Firsts 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 love means.

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:

                                     My Entire Family and Friends

                                           In Loving Memory of
                                              Kenneth Rhymes

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. Any mention of actual
persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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

First Edition: May 2018

INTRODUCTION C
O
Chapter 1. N
The Beginning of Baseball.............................................................................. T
Chapter 2. E
The Little League World Series................................................................... N
C.A. hSataprtWera3s. Born....................................................................................................... T
Chapter 4. S
Life Changing Experience..............................................................................
Chapter 5.
The First Day On The Job...............................................................................
Chapter 6.
T. he Wooden Bat, the Wrong Swing?.....................................................
Chapter 7.
HSiocmk..e.................................................................................................................
Chapter 8.
My Good Luck Charm.......................................................................................
Chapter 9.
My First Love.............................................................................................................
Chapter 10.
Confusion....................................................................................................................
Chapter 11.
Bad Shoulder............................................................................................................
Chapter 12.
Rule 5 Draft.................................................................................................................
Chapter 13.
A Bad Attitude..........................................................................................................
Chapter 14.
THE EXPLOSION...................................................................................................
Chapter 15.
Game Over. A Peaceful Exit...........................................................................
Chapter 16.
Encore............................................................................................................................
Chapter 17.
Maahra - My Lifesaver........................................................................................
Chapter 18.
MY WHY........................................................................................................................



Introduction

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

M         y 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 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 would have to teach myself how to relax and pace myself.
I would miraculously grow out of the handicaps that the hole in my heart
first presented.
When I was 7, my family and I moved to the Fernwood Area 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, to 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.

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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

"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.

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THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

Above left - Me pictured signing autographs at 12yrs. old at Little League Regional Tournament...
Right - Me and my father at the Jackie Robinson West Banquet...

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

Above left - Me pictured graduating from Fernwood Elementary School...
Right - Me photographed after winning the state tournament game...

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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

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 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!

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 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 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, also being 10yrs. old playing on "The Haley Dodgers"
was rare, if at all.

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THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

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

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

5.

Chapter Two  

  The Little League World Series

A        s 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 when I was 11
yrs. old, 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
World Series. 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. At
11yrs. old, I was already in the newspapers. A sports writer named Chevy
Cook, made that a reality, as he followed the team around reporting on our
games. I was already making a name for myself. My nickname became “All-
World” by being on that first Jackie Robinson West team to make it to the
Little League World Series; but to me, it was just baseball. My mind did not
associate all that was going on with a career necessarily.

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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

It was a game the boys in my 

neighborhood played. It was what

we did, so I did it. I think my early

notoriety, and the special treatment

that I began to receive at a very early

age, made me somewhat oblivious to

the significance of it all.  Jeff "All-World" Jackson
That sort of nonchalant perception never quite left me.

That would be a "gift and a curse".

I would always appear self-assured and in control. Internalizing my thoughts
and feelings gave everyone the permission to keep pushing me towards going
pro and remaining there, 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. 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. 

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THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

News article written by Chevy Cook about our 13yrs team advancing to the Jr. League 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...

8.

Chapter Two

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

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

9.

Chapter Two

The picture was taken in O'Hare airport after returning home from the
Little League World Series...

The photo was taken at Mt. Vernon Park on the same day...

10.

Chapter Two

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...

11.

Chapter Two

14-15yrs. old 1986 Senior League All-Star Team visit to Mayor Washington office...
13yrs. old 1985 Junior League All-Star Team visit to Mayor Washington office...

12.

Chapter Two

Certificate of Achievement Award from Mayor Washington

Certificate of Recognition Award from Mayor Washington

13.

Chapter Two

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

13yrs old Junior League World Series Plaque...

14.

Chapter Two

Congratulations letter from Mayor Harold Washington...

15.

Chapter Two

Letter to my Parents from Mayor Harold Washington...

16.

Chapter Two

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

17.

Chapter Three

A Star Was Born

M      y popularity grew with the coming years as I flourished in baseball,
but it took off at around the age 17. It was 1989. By now, I was in 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.
However, with what seemed like a snap of a finger, that all changed.
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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

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. 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.

19.

Chapter Three

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

20.

Chapter Three

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...

21.

Chapter Three

More random news articles after games...

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THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

I was constantly being singled out. Then one day, I showed up at a practice,
just like any other normal 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?”

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.  It meant
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.  

23.

Chapter Three

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

24.

Chapter Three

Picture of Gatorade Player of the Year plaque...

25.

Chapter Three

Chicago Tribune All-Area Award ...

Chicago Tribune All-State Award ...

26.

Chapter Three

State of Illinois Proclamation from Governor Jame Thompson, Jeffrey Jackson June 2, Day !...

27.

Chapter Three

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

28.

Chapter Three

Letter and picture of USA Golden Diamond Player of the Year...

29.

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

All-American Team Award Certificate"

All-District Team Award Certificate"

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THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

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 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 on the
planet.

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!”

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THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

News article speculations about where I may go in the draft...

32.

Chapter Three

News article after I was drafted by the Phillies...

33.

Chapter Three

News article about me and Micheal Chang...

News article with comments from my high school coach, Coach Franklin...

34.

Chapter Four

Life Changing Experience

I     was 17 years old and my life had changed forever. It was the beginning of

June in 1989. I had just graduated from Neal F. Simeon High School only a day
before. The next day I was on a plane headed to Martinsville, VA, starting my
professional baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies rookie ball club, the
Martinsville Phillies. There were no goodbyes to my friends, no graduation
party, no time to take it all in. My career in pro baseball began just like that -
after years of hard work, a lot of prayers and a build-up of coincidences that I
"thought" prepared me for that moment...but it wasn't enough. I had absolutely
no idea what I was in for. At the time, I was just excited like any young man who
was handed a large paycheck, a travel schedule, and endless possibilities. 

As I mentioned, a week before, a group of baseball scouts from the Philadelphia
Phillies was sitting in my living room, along with my mom, step-dad, my H.S
coach Leroy Franklin, little league coach Mr. Haley, Chicago Sun-Times
reporter Clyde Travis and myself. We were throwing numbers around about my
signing bonus and making decisions regarding contracts, while I sat and did
what most 17-year-olds would do. I listened and took in the conversation that
they were having. After they all left, me and my mom had a conversation about
the meeting. I just remembered being super excited about signing the contract
and thinking about what kind of car I was going to buy.  After a few days of
talking it over with my parents, I told them I was very excited and that I wanted
to take this opportunity to play pro-ball. They agreed and I signed the contract. I
officially became the 1st round pick for the Philadelphia Phillies that day.

35.

Chapter Four

Graduation Day from Neal F. Simeon High School with Assistant Principle Mrs. Gahram

36.

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

The plane ride to Martinsville, VA made it real. Going by myself felt like an instant
introduction to adulthood. Being alone in a small town away from the tight-knit
family and friends I was used to, I was more aware of my race and my youth like
never before. I was handling the ups and downs of both my teenage hormones and
the duties of being the 1st round draft pick, a big title given to me, whether I had
earned it or not. It was all sealing its impact on my life.

Looking back, I remember praying to GOD to let me be drafted! I never asked to be
a 1st round pick. I just wanted the opportunity to play in the minors like a few guys
I looked up to from my area, Wes Chamberlin (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Darryl
Robinson (KC Royals). I prayed to God every night to be drafted, but you have to be
careful what you pray for. You have to make sure you are mature enough and
emotionally prepared to handle all that comes with what you request, because not
only does God answer prayers, but he tends to give you more than what you ask for.

I may have even manifested my future in pro baseball, or it was a combination of
both. One day at my mom's house, I was looking at baseball pictures from little
league and noticed how in pictures, years before I was drafted, I would hold up my
finger to represent the #1 sign.  Every picture would show me smiling and holding
that finger as if I was aware that I was something special. I didn't know it then, but
it actually manifested into me becoming a #1 draft pick.

I lied to my teacher once in high school, way before I was even on the baseball
scouts radar. I assured her that I was a top high school prospect in the city before the
scouts even knew my name; saying that I needed a passing grade in accounting or it
would affect my chances of getting drafted. I actually deserved to fail that year due
to an illness which kept me out of school for a week. I got lost in class after that, and
never caught back up - I didn't try to. Instead, for some odd reason, I would use the
time to practice writing my autograph. Accounting was hard, and if she had failed
me, I would not have been allowed to play baseball at all that year. Thank God she
gave me a passing grade.  

37.

THE GIFT AND THE CURSE

Me and my teammate Barry Freeman
pictured in this photo after advancing to

the Little League World Series...

Me throwing up the #1 sign after the victory...

38.

Chapter Four

Me pictured my first day in a Phillies Uniform with the Martinsville Phillies...

39.

THE JEFF JACKSON STORY

God definitely poured out his blessings upon my life. At the beginning of the
season, I was not even considered a top H.S. baseball prospect, in the city of
Chicago; but, by the end of that season, I was the number #1 H.S. player in the
nation!
It was a great experience to be drafted by a professional baseball franchise as a
young African American youth from the inner-city. Baseball to America is like the
holy grail of sports, a part of the quilt that makes America great - the National Past-
Time! For some, it is not a game, it is a religion. I was given an incredible task that
my entire personal and professional experience had not prepared me for. There is
really no one to blame - every occurrence/coincidence has its place in the creation
of my destiny. 
I was 17, a rookie, coming straight from high school versus others who were
college players like many of my teammates. Then, I was given the title of the 1st
round draft pick, representing the face, the brand and the top player for the entire
Phillies organization to watch.

The pressure would become real. If I could do it all again, I would have handled
things a lot differently, I did my best…it just was, what it was. 

40.

Chapter Five

The First Day On The Job

I   arrived in Martinsville, VA. the very next day after my graduation. That
evening I showed up at the ballpark.
Nobody was there except me, Roly DeAarmis (the manager), Craig Strobel (the
trainer) and I think someone from the front office. Roly introduced himself to
me as the man in charge. He showed me my locker and told me that I need to
be at the park the next day at 3 p.m.
The next day I arrived at the park at precisely 3 p.m. as instructed.
It wasn’t good.
When I showed up, I not only was surprised to see my other teammates already
on the field, practicing and running around, but I had been also met by what
seemed like a handful of reporters who were there waiting on me to ask me
questions and do interviews.
I was baffled, to say the least. However, no matter how confused, I made my
way down to the field while answering questions.
My manager asked, “Why are you late?
I replied, “I thought you said that I had to be here at 3 o’clock?”
He said, “I did, but in pro ball, 3 o’clock means be on the field ready to go, not
show up at 3 p.m.”
41.