Sonny Jackson
Born: 7/9/1944 in Washington, DC, USA
MLB Debut: 1963-09-27 | Final Game: 1974-07-09
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 150 lbs
Full name: Roland Thomas Jackson
Biography
Sonny Jackson was born in 1944 and enjoyed a professional baseball career that spanned from 1963 to July 9, 1974. Primarily playing as a position player, Jackson was known for his speed on the bases and defensive versatility. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 936 games, accumulating 767 hits, 7 home runs, and 162 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .251. His ability to steal bases was a standout aspect of his game, as he successfully swiped 126 bases, showcasing his agility and tactical acumen during a time when speed was highly valued in baseball.
Jackson's career unfolded during a transformative era in Major League Baseball, marked by the increasing integration of players and the beginning of a shift towards more athletic styles of play. He played for teams such as the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros, where he made significant contributions to the clubs' lineups. Jackson's combination of solid contact hitting and base-running prowess made him a valuable asset to his teams, and his legacy remains as a reflection of the dynamic changes in the game during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 936 | 3055 | 396 | 767 | 81 | 28 | 7 | 162 | 126 | 250 | 265 | 0.251 | 0.308 | 0.303 | 0.611 | -5122.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | HOU | NL | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 9 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.348 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 10 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.130 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 150 | 596 | 80 | 174 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 49 | 42 | 53 | 0.292 | -13.7 |
| 1967 | HOU | NL | 129 | 520 | 67 | 123 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 22 | 36 | 45 | 0.237 | -1356.1 |
| 1968 | ATL | NL | 105 | 358 | 37 | 81 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 35 | 0.226 | -799.5 |
| 1969 | ATL | NL | 98 | 318 | 41 | 76 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 12 | 35 | 33 | 0.239 | -626.8 |
| 1970 | ATL | NL | 103 | 328 | 60 | 85 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 45 | 27 | 0.259 | -258.9 |
| 1971 | ATL | NL | 149 | 547 | 58 | 141 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 7 | 35 | 45 | 0.258 | -929.0 |
| 1972 | ATL | NL | 60 | 126 | 20 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 0.238 | -204.5 |
| 1973 | ATL | NL | 117 | 206 | 29 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 22 | 13 | 0.209 | -933.7 |
| 1974 | ATL | NL | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.429 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | NLCS | ATL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 7 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 212 | 153 | 395 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| SS | 630 | 589 | 984 | 1801 | 149 | 282 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | HOU | SS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | HOU | SS | 7 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| 1965 | HOU | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | SS | 8 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 3 |
| 1966 | HOU | SS | 150 | 150 | 270 | 449 | 37 | 73 |
| 1967 | HOU | SS | 128 | 124 | 204 | 379 | 35 | 63 |
| 1968 | ATL | SS | 99 | 94 | 132 | 307 | 22 | 35 |
| 1969 | ATL | SS | 97 | 88 | 161 | 254 | 17 | 48 |
| 1970 | ATL | SS | 87 | 78 | 123 | 240 | 26 | 40 |
| 1971 | ATL | OF | 145 | 136 | 336 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| 1972 | ATL | 3B | 6 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | ATL | SS | 17 | 15 | 28 | 52 | 2 | 9 |
| 1972 | ATL | OF | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | ATL | SS | 36 | 27 | 42 | 88 | 5 | 10 |
| 1973 | ATL | OF | 56 | 12 | 51 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | ATL | OF | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 7 |
| Shortstop | 631 |
| Left Field | 49 |
| Center Field | 158 |
| Right Field | 6 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 2nd | 3.0 | 20 | 3 |