BlizzardOfOzzie Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I adopted the Sox and started watching them hard-core in 1998 or so - so I'm a relative newbie. If anyone can answer this because I'm simply curious: How did Bo Jackson get to the Sox? Was there a big trade with the Royals? How did Reinsdorf so freely open his wallet, as I'm sure Jackson commanded some fat coin, even back then. Was he already retired from football when he got to the Sox? I seem to recall he got hurt against the Bengals (hip injury) in 1990 or so and then never played football again. If someone could brainstorm a bit and shed some light on this, that would be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 The Sox signed Jackson as a free agent. He wasn't too expensive as there were big doubts about his health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 He was signed as a FA, and he was relatively cheap as he had major health concerns due to his hip problem. I dont think he was ever really healthy with the Sox, but he was still a fun guy to have on the team. SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I was never a Bo Jackson fan. Just didn't like him at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 That HR in '93 coming off hip surgery and after his mothers death (I think) was HUGE! I can hear Hawk's call in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Bo Jackson and Carlton Fisk gave this team the character it needed to win. He was nowhere near healthy while he was here but he did add something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Lopez Ghost (old) Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Bo also hit the home run that won the game in which we clinched the division that year - the highest homerun I have ever seen. Hawk had about 20 seconds to decide the ball was gonna carry over the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Kickass Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 He also hit a rooftop shot at the old park during batting practice. In the Sox HOF gift shop/museum, they have the ball. I think Bo in a Sox uniform was worth it alone to see pictures of him running dragging his trainer behind him or a parachute or some other retarded thing. He was an asset to the clubhouse, more than on the field - and he was a steal, because of that degenerative hip thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Bo Jackson was the reason I started like the Sox. Whether that's a good reason or not, I've liked them ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 The Sox signed Jackson as a free agent. He wasn't too expensive as there were big doubts about his health. Wasn't that the hip injury that ended his football career? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Kickass Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Yes. Yes it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 First sox game I ever attended Sox vs Blue Jays Bo Jackson hits a HR that lands one row in front of us. I've been a die hard sox fan ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Bo also hit the home run that won the game in which we clinched the division that year - the highest homerun I have ever seen. Hawk had about 20 seconds to decide the ball was gonna carry over the fence. I was at that game and it seemed like it took even longer at the park, lol. There was a delayed reaction from the crowd, no one was really sure what had happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2499 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Bo Jackson was the reason I started like the Sox. Whether that's a good reason or not, I've liked them ever since. Whatever reason you have is good enough for me!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toasty Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 bo had replacement hip surgery but the sox signed him anyway, he played all his games with a replacement hip.... pretty good in my mind, even if he wasnt his old self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlizzardOfOzzie Posted December 28, 2004 Author Share Posted December 28, 2004 Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to get the scoop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Whatever reason you have is good enough for me!!!!!! you're right about that one. I love being a Sox fan just like mostly everyone on this board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Solid citizen. Exciting player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nokona Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Only thing I remember about the Bo Jackson era (i was a youngin' at the time) was that he didn't run a ball out and if i remember correctly was tossed. He hit it and walked away. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Only thing I remember about the Bo Jackson era (i was a youngin' at the time) was that he didn't run a ball out and if i remember correctly was tossed. He hit it and walked away. I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. That does sound really strange. The strangest thing that ever happened to me was when I was a bat boy for the local semi pro team. I was 8 at the time and this was in 1994. But anyways there was a brawl between the two teams. That was pretty exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 bo had replacement hip surgery but the sox signed him anyway, he played all his games with a replacement hip.... pretty good in my mind, even if he wasnt his old self. Bo did not embarrass himself, that's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Besides the pinch-hit HR in his first Sox AB (also his first AB since hip surgery and his first AB since his mother's death when he told her he'd play baseball again on her deathbed), I distinctly remember Bo playing RF in a substitution capacity with a runner on 2B (the visitor escapes me) at New Comiskey. The opposition's batter hits a flyball all the way to the RF foul-pole which BJ catches. The runner at 2B tags up and Bo Jackson, replacement hip and all, threw the tagging runner out at 3B ON A FRIGGIN' LINE!!!!! One of the greatest throws I've ever seen in baseball and I haven't seen any better since from as deep and with BJ's hip ailment at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Bo Jackson was a great athlete. That's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 Bo Jackson was a great athlete. That's for sure. One of the best ever. Achieving allstar status in two professional sports is an amazing accomplishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 One of the best ever. Achieving allstar status in two professional sports is an amazing accomplishment. Yes it is. He would've been a Hall of Famer in football if he didn't break his hip. Possibly in baseball also. That's my opinion though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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