Bo Jackson was an American baseball and football player. He also competed in track and field at Auburn University. He was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school. Unfortunately, his professional baseball career ended abruptly when he dislocated his hip following a tackle. In order to avoid another traumatic injury, he turned to track and field, completing a career in athletics. Read on to learn more about this fascinating American.
Bo Jackson was a baseball and football player
Bo Jackson was a college football and baseball player. He won the Heisman Trophy while playing for the Auburn Tigers. After college, Jackson played for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League. He also played baseball for the Los Angeles Angels and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The two sports are intertwined, and it’s difficult to say which was the more important.
The football part of his career was more successful. After turning pro in 1987, he played for the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals. He was named the 1989 All-Star Game MVP and hit 20 home runs in a single season. The following season, he had hip replacement surgery after suffering a fracture. He played parts of three more seasons with the White Sox and California Angels before retiring in 1995.
Played track and field at Auburn
Though he was most well-known for playing football and baseball in the Major Leagues, Bo Jackson also had a stellar track and field career at Auburn. The athletic center qualified twice for the NCAA indoor championships in the 60-yard dash and reached the semifinals in the decathlon during his career at Auburn. As an athlete, he probably would have enjoyed competing in individual events on the track, but he ultimately chose a career in team sports instead.
In addition to football, Bo Jackson also excelled in track and baseball. As a running back for the Tigers, he racked up 4,303 rushing yards while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. In addition to his stellar football career, Jackson also competed in track and field events, qualifying for the US Olympic team in the latter two sports. However, Jackson’s collegiate career wasn’t limited to sports. He also excelled in track and field, earning a scholarship to the University of Alabama in 1996.
Drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school
When Bo Jackson was in high school, he was a star athlete in three sports, including football. His skills attracted college coaches and the Yankees. The team offered him a six-figure signing bonus, but Jackson refused because he had vowed to attend college. Today, he is a member of the Hall of Fame.
In the 1989 season, Jackson hit three home runs and drove in 43 runs. His sophomore year was particularly memorable. During the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Jackson led the Auburn Tigers to victory with a four-for-five performance. He hit three home runs, including the last one, which he hit into a new light standard. Soon after, Jackson was on a plane to Florida for his physical with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Suffered a dislocated hip following a tackle
Bo Jackson suffered a dislocated hip during a playoff game in 1991 while playing for the Oakland Raiders. He felt his hip “pop out” during the tackle, which was a classic sign of hip dislocation. Unfortunately for Bo, his injury caused him to develop a common complication of hip dislocation: avascular necrosis of the femoral head. This is caused by the femoral head not being designed properly, and blood supply to it comes from the acetabulum and arteries.
In 1991, Bo Jackson, a former running back for the Los Angeles Raiders, suffered a dislocated hip after a tackle. The hip had been affected by a condition called avascular necrosis, which inhibits the flow of blood to the femoral head, and he had to be hospitalized. As a result of this dislocation, his football career was over, and doctors did not think that he would make it back to the NFL.
An actor and investor
The acclaimed actor is a multi-faceted businessman and philanthropist. His wealth is evident in his various investments, including an eight-thousand square-foot youth sports complex in Illinois, which he helped open. This facility receives sponsorship from Nike and Gatorade and generates more than $300,000 in sponsorship revenue each year, more than double the average sports facility in the US. Bo Jackson also earns money from business ventures, including a seat on the board of Burr Ridge Bank & Trust, which he uses to invest in local businesses.
Bo Jackson is a two-sport legend. The former football and baseball player was the first athlete to be named an all-star in two different sports. He has since gone on to become an investor and has even joined the board of directors of a Chicago-area bank. In addition to his numerous business ventures, he has invested in a bank and opened a youth sports training center called Bo Jackson Elite Sports.
Founded a sports complex
Bo Jackson founded a sports complex in Lockport, Illinois. The former baseball player and investor is an advisory director of Burr Ridge Bank and Trust. Bo also founded the Bo Bikes Bama fundraiser in 2012, which covers 300 miles across Alabama. Funds raised benefit the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund. After a successful basketball career, Jackson decided to turn his passion for sports into a business. He has since expanded his business to include a food company, N’Genuity.
Bo Jackson, who played basketball for the Chicago Bulls and basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers, is a cultural icon and active community member. He was once arrested for assault, robbery, and drug possession. Bo was a member of the board of Burr Ridge Bank and Trust, which was acquired by First Community Financial Bank in 2013 and Busey Bank in 2017. He left the board in 2017 when the bank merged with the Chicago Cubs. Bo threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game Two of the 2005 World Series. The Chicago White Sox won the series, clinching their first World Series Championship in 88 years.
