1977 Topps Baseball #153 - Ron Jackson

• Ron Jackson was drafted by the California Angels in 1971. he played in the minors from 1971-1975. Ron was called up late in the 1975 season and batted .231 in 13 games for the Angels.
• In 1976 Ron played in only three games in early April before being sent down to AAA Salt Lake City. After batting .364 in 18 games, Jackson came back to the Angels and started at third base for most of the rest of the season. He batted .227 with 8 HR and 40 RBI in 127 games for the Angels in '76. He spent two weeks in AAA Salt Lake City in April and May and batted. 364 in 18 games.
• Jackson and Dave Chalk fought for the starting third base job in spring training in 1977. Chalk won the job and Ron became a utilityman for the California Angels in 1977. He mostly played 1B and 3B and he also played a couple of games in the outfield and a couple of innings at shortstop. 
• In 1978 Jackson started at first base for about half of the season and also played some third base. He batted .297 with six HR and 57 RBI in 105 games in 1978. After the season Jackson was traded (with Danny Goodwin) to the Minnesota Twins for "Disco" Dan Ford.
• Jackson replaced the departed Rod Carew at first base for the Twins in 1979. Ron had career highs in several categories as he batted .271 with 14 HR, 85 runs scored, and 68 RBI in 159 games.
• Ron wasn't as productive in 1980. He batted .265 with 5 HR and 42 RBI in 131 games.
• Before the 1981 season Ron won his arbitration case with the Twins. Jackson spent the first part of the 1981 season with the Twins and batted .263 with 4 HR and 28 RBI. On August 23 Ron was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Tim Corcoran. Jackson batted .284 in 31 games for the Tigers.
• After the 1981 season Jackson was a free agent. He didn't accept the Tigers' offer and after the Tigers traded for Enos Cabell they informed Jackson that they were no longer interested in signing him. Ron tried out with the Angels, made the club, and batted .331 in 53 games as a backup corner infielder and pinch hitter. Jackson singled in his only at bat in the 1982 ALCS.
• Jackson was a utilityman in 1983 and batted .230 in 102 games.
• Ron started the 1984 season with the Angels. After batting .165 in 33 games Jackson was released on August 2. Ron signed with the Baltimore Orioles and batted .286 in 12 games. The Orioles released Jackson after the 1984 season. That was it for Ron's major league career.
• Jackson tried a couple of comebacks. In 1985 he played for AAA Louisville (St. Louis Cardinals organization) and in 1988 Ron played for AAA Vancouver (Chicago White Sox organization).
• After his playing career Jackson coached for several organizations. Ron was the hitting coach for the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox (he was their hitting coach from 2003-2006).
• 1977 Stats: .243, 8 HR, 28 RBI in 106 games
• 1977  Highlights:
• April 10 - Went 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI to help the Angels to a 12-5 win over the Seattle Mariners.
• June 26 - Hit a pinch single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game for the Angels.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983