Jackie Jensen
Born: 3/9/1927 in San Francisco, CA, USA
Died: 7/14/1982 in Charlottesville, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-04-18 | Final Game: 1961-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Jack Eugene Jensen
Biography
Jackie Jensen was a prominent American professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1950 to 1961. Born in 1927, Jensen established himself as a formidable presence in Major League Baseball during a time marked by the emergence of power hitters and the evolution of the game post-World War II. As a position player, he played in a total of 1,438 games, amassing 1,463 hits and 199 home runs. His offensive prowess also included 929 RBIs and a batting average of .279, showcasing his ability to contribute significantly at the plate. Jensen was known not only for his power but also for his speed on the bases, evidenced by his 143 stolen bases throughout his career.
Jensen's standout performances earned him three All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the top players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball history, where the sport was beginning to expand its popularity across the United States. Jensen's career left a lasting impact, as he exemplified the skill and versatility required of players in the increasingly competitive landscape of Major League Baseball. His achievements on the field have secured his legacy in the annals of the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1438 | 5236 | 810 | 1463 | 259 | 45 | 199 | 929 | 143 | 750 | 546 | 0.279 | 0.369 | 0.460 | 0.829 | 17089.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | NYY | AL | 45 | 70 | 13 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 0.171 | -365.6 |
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 56 | 168 | 30 | 50 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 25 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 0.298 | 588.9 |
| 1952 | NYY | AL | 7 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0.105 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 144 | 570 | 80 | 163 | 29 | 5 | 10 | 80 | 17 | 63 | 40 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 147 | 552 | 87 | 147 | 32 | 8 | 10 | 84 | 18 | 73 | 51 | 0.266 | 574.3 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 152 | 580 | 92 | 160 | 25 | 7 | 25 | 117 | 22 | 79 | 52 | 0.276 | 1748.6 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 152 | 574 | 95 | 158 | 27 | 6 | 26 | 116 | 16 | 89 | 63 | 0.275 | 2029.1 |
| 1956 | BOS | AL | 151 | 578 | 80 | 182 | 23 | 11 | 20 | 97 | 11 | 89 | 43 | 0.315 | 3049.4 |
| 1957 | BOS | AL | 145 | 544 | 82 | 153 | 29 | 2 | 23 | 103 | 8 | 75 | 66 | 0.281 | 1981.2 |
| 1958 | BOS | AL | 154 | 548 | 83 | 157 | 31 | 0 | 35 | 122 | 9 | 99 | 65 | 0.286 | 3615.5 |
| 1959 | BOS | AL | 148 | 535 | 101 | 148 | 31 | 0 | 28 | 112 | 20 | 88 | 67 | 0.277 | 2335.7 |
| 1961 | BOS | AL | 137 | 498 | 64 | 131 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 66 | 9 | 66 | 69 | 0.263 | 340.9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | WS | NYA | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1391 | 1021 | 2739 | 124 | 68 | 20 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | NYA | OF | 23 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1951 | NYA | OF | 48 | 0 | 106 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 1952 | NYA | OF | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | WS1 | OF | 143 | 0 | 283 | 17 | 7 | 1 |
| 1953 | WS1 | OF | 146 | 0 | 274 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| 1954 | BOS | OF | 151 | 149 | 331 | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| 1955 | BOS | OF | 150 | 149 | 281 | 11 | 7 | 3 |
| 1956 | BOS | OF | 151 | 150 | 291 | 13 | 12 | 2 |
| 1957 | BOS | OF | 144 | 143 | 251 | 16 | 11 | 4 |
| 1958 | BOS | OF | 153 | 153 | 293 | 14 | 6 | 3 |
| 1959 | BOS | OF | 146 | 146 | 311 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| 1961 | BOS | OF | 131 | 131 | 274 | 14 | 4 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 54 |
| Center Field | 158 |
| Right Field | 1205 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Gold Glove | RF |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1958 | TSN Player of the Year |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley | CA | 1947, 1948, 1949 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 40.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 233.0 | 336 | 9 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 15.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 39.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 17.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 12.0 | 336 | 0 |