Conor Jackson
Encyclopedia
Conor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball
outfielder
who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M. Jackson
.
After graduating from El Camino Real High School
in Woodland Hills, California in 2000, Jackson proceeded to have a stellar collegiate career at the University of California (Berkeley)
as a third baseman
. He developed a reputation for a patient batting eye and led the Pac-10 with a .538 OBP in . Jackson was drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2003 MLB amateur draft.
Jackson switched to the outfield
shortly after being drafted. In his initial debut with Yakima
of the shortseason Northwest League
, he batted
.319 with a league record 35 doubles
. After his minor league debut, Jackson successfully climbed the minor league ladder. After fielding only .964 in the outfield in the minors, he was moved to first base, where his defensive struggles continued.
), where he batted .200/.303/.306 with 2 home run
s in 85 at bat
s. In he claimed the Diamondbacks' starting first base job. Jackson played a vast majority of first base for the D-Backs.
In , Jackson started the season with a hot bat as the Diamondbacks took an early lead in the NL West. Conor had the opportunity to hit for the cycle in a game against San Diego on April 18. Facing Greg Maddux
in his last at bat, Jackson hit a deep line drive
to center field, and instead of stopping at second base for the double and the cycle, he continued on to third base for his second triple
of the game. It would have been Jackson's first career cycle. He finished the game with four hits
, tying his career high, and was later named National League Player of the Week for his 12 hits, 10 runs
, 10 RBIs, and three home runs from April 14 through April 20. Jackson batted .300 in 540 at bats, and split the season between left field, where he had a .981 fielding percentage, and first base, where he had a .993 fielding percentage—again the best in the NL.
His season was stalled in May when he contracted Valley Fever
and lost approximately 35 pounds during the illness (per his interview on Chronicle Live 6/21/10). "I'm tired. I'm fatigued. Some days I feel like I'm able to do stuff, and I do stuff. I sleep 12, 13 hours and I'm exhausted." He did not return to the majors after problems in the minors. He hit with a .425 average and 2 home runs in the Dominican League.
for pitcher Sam Demel
. After the demotion of Daric Barton
in the spring of 2011, Jackson saw the majority of his starts at first-base until the call-up of trade acquisition Brandon Allen
.
for a minor league player. On September 19, he hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform, a grand slam
, in an 18–9 rout of the Baltimore Orioles
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M. Jackson
John M. Jackson
John Murice Jackson is an American actor, best known for playing Rear Admiral A. J. Chegwidden on the CBS series JAG....
.
After graduating from El Camino Real High School
El Camino Real High School
El Camino Real Charter High School is a public secondary school located in the Woodland Hills district of the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California...
in Woodland Hills, California in 2000, Jackson proceeded to have a stellar collegiate career at the University of California (Berkeley)
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. He developed a reputation for a patient batting eye and led the Pac-10 with a .538 OBP in . Jackson was drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2003 MLB amateur draft.
Jackson switched to the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
shortly after being drafted. In his initial debut with Yakima
Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
of the shortseason Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.319 with a league record 35 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. After his minor league debut, Jackson successfully climbed the minor league ladder. After fielding only .964 in the outfield in the minors, he was moved to first base, where his defensive struggles continued.
Arizona Diamondbacks
He received his first taste of the majors in (debuting July 28, 2005, in Wrigley FieldWrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
), where he batted .200/.303/.306 with 2 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 85 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. In he claimed the Diamondbacks' starting first base job. Jackson played a vast majority of first base for the D-Backs.
In , Jackson started the season with a hot bat as the Diamondbacks took an early lead in the NL West. Conor had the opportunity to hit for the cycle in a game against San Diego on April 18. Facing Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
in his last at bat, Jackson hit a deep line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
to center field, and instead of stopping at second base for the double and the cycle, he continued on to third base for his second triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
of the game. It would have been Jackson's first career cycle. He finished the game with four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, tying his career high, and was later named National League Player of the Week for his 12 hits, 10 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 10 RBIs, and three home runs from April 14 through April 20. Jackson batted .300 in 540 at bats, and split the season between left field, where he had a .981 fielding percentage, and first base, where he had a .993 fielding percentage—again the best in the NL.
His season was stalled in May when he contracted Valley Fever
Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. It is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and northwestern Mexico.C...
and lost approximately 35 pounds during the illness (per his interview on Chronicle Live 6/21/10). "I'm tired. I'm fatigued. Some days I feel like I'm able to do stuff, and I do stuff. I sleep 12, 13 hours and I'm exhausted." He did not return to the majors after problems in the minors. He hit with a .425 average and 2 home runs in the Dominican League.
Oakland Athletics
On June 15, 2010, Jackson was traded with cash considerations to the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for pitcher Sam Demel
Sam Demel
Samuel Vincent Demel is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Demel attended Texas Christian University, where he was a member of the 2005 Conference USA All-Tournament Team and the 2006 First All-Mountain West Conference team.-Draft and minor leagues:Demel was drafted in...
. After the demotion of Daric Barton
Daric Barton
Daric William Barton nicknamed "D.B.", is a Major League Baseball first baseman who plays for the Oakland Athletics....
in the spring of 2011, Jackson saw the majority of his starts at first-base until the call-up of trade acquisition Brandon Allen
Brandon Allen
Brandon Durell Allen is a Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder for the Oakland Athletics.-Arizona Diamondbacks:...
.
Boston Red Sox
On August 31, 2011, Jackson was traded to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for a minor league player. On September 19, he hit his first home run in a Red Sox uniform, a grand slam
Grand Slam
Grand Slam may refer to:-Card games:* In the game of contract bridge a bid to win all the tricks of that hand. By extension, the taking of all the important elements in an endeavour.-Equestrianism:...
, in an 18–9 rout of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.