J
Jackson, Bo
Identification Professional baseball and football
player
Born November 30, 1962; Bessemer, Alabama
Bo Jackson became` one of the few athletes in modern times
to excel in two different professional sports; he was recog-
nized by fans of both as one of the greatest athletes in histor y.
After being drafted by the New York Yankees in the
second round of the amateur draft in 1982, Vincent
Edward Jackson opted to attend Auburn University
and play baseball and football. Nicknamed “Bo” by
his brothers, Jackson became a college legend,
amassing 4,303 career yards as a football running
back and winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP)
awards in the 1983 Sugar Bowl and the 1984 Liberty
Bowl. In 1985, he was a first-team All-American and
was named the Heisman Trophy winner. On the
baseball field, he hit with power and for a high aver-
age for Auburn.
In the 1986 National Football League (NFL) draft,
Jackson was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as
the number one selection. Since most baseball scoutsLos Angeles Raider Bo Jackson makes a 45-yard run against the Kansas City Chiefs during a home game on October 15, 1989.(AP/
Wide World Photos)