Travis Jackson

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Travis Jackson

|position=Shortstop

|image=Baseball_player_Travis_Jackson,_New_York_Giants.jpg|alt=Travis Jackson playing for the New York Giants

|caption=Jackson in 1923

|width=260

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1903|11|2}}

|birth_place=Waldo, Arkansas, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1987|7|27|1903|11|2}}

|death_place=Waldo, Arkansas, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 22

|debutyear=1922

|debutteam=New York Giants

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 24

|finalyear=1936

|finalteam=New York Giants

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.291

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=135

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=929

|teams=

New York Giants ({{Baseball year|1922}}–{{Baseball year|1936}})

|highlights=

All-Star (1934)
World Series champion ({{wsy|1933}})

|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

|hoftype = National

|hofdate = 1982

|hofmethod = Veterans Committee

}}

Travis Calvin Jackson (November 2, 1903 – July 27, 1987) was an American baseball shortstop. In Major League Baseball (MLB), Jackson played for the New York Giants from 1922 through 1936, winning the 1933 World Series, and representing the Giants in the MLB All-Star Game in 1934. After his retirement as a player, Jackson managed in minor league baseball through to the 1960 season.

Jackson was discovered by Kid Elberfeld at a minor league baseball game at the age of 14. Elberfeld signed Jackson to his first professional contract, and recommended him to John McGraw, manager of the Giants. His exceptional range at shortstop led to the nickname "Stonewall."{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CiIbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1819,5614504&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Giants' Faith in Travis Jackson's Knee Vindicated|first=Chester L. |last=Smith|page=45|date=March 9, 1934|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|access-date=April 16, 2012}} Jackson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Early life

Jackson was born in Waldo, Arkansas, on November 2, 1903. He was the only child of William Jackson, a wholesale grocer, and his wife Etta, who named their son after William B. Travis, a lieutenant colonel who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Jackson's father bought him a baseball when he was three years old, and they often played catch together.{{cite news|title=Travis Jackson Began Tossing a Ball at Age of Three, Playing with Dad – and Kept on Until he Became Star|work=The Sporting News |date=June 6, 1930}}

Jackson's uncle took him to a Little Rock Travelers minor-league game when he was 14 years old. At the game, Jackson's uncle introduced him to Kid Elberfeld, telling Elberfeld that his nephew was a talented baseball player.{{cite web|first=Greg |last=Erion|url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/cf84ae81 |title=Travis Jackson |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=April 15, 2012}} Elberfeld observed Jackson in an impromptu workout, and asked Jackson to contact him when he was ready to begin his professional career.

Jackson attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he starred on the college baseball team. While there, he injured his knee, and this injury would recur during Jackson's career.

Professional career

=Playing career=

Following Jackson's collegiate career, Elberfeld signed Jackson to his first contract, and he played for Little Rock in 1921 and 1922. Jackson committed 72 errors during the 1922 season, which he considered the "world record for errors".

{{quote box|align=right|width=25%|quote="I guess I set a world record for errors. I had a pretty good arm, see, but I didn't have much control. A lot of those were double errors — two on the same play, a boot and then a wild throw. The people in the first-base and right-field bleachers knew me. When the ball was hit to me they scattered. 'Watch out! He's got it again.'"|source= – Travis Jackson on his performance in the 1922 season}}

Despite this, Elberfeld recommended Jackson to John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants of the National League (NL), who was entitled to a Travelers player as he had lent a player to the team in 1922. McGraw signed Jackson to a contract on June 30, effective at the end of the Southern Association's 1922 season.{{cite book|first=Noel|last=Hynd|title=The Giants of the Polo Grounds: The Glorious Times of Baseball's New York Giants|location=New York|publisher=Doubleday|year=1988|page=232}}

Jackson debuted with the Giants on September 22, 1922, appearing in three games. With Dave Bancroft and Heinie Groh, the Giants' starting shortstop and third baseman respectively, sidelined with injuries incurred during the 1923 season, Jackson drew notice as a fill-in.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qwVhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1155,258796&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en |title=Travis Jackson Should Prove Good Utility Man For Giants in Series|page=13|newspaper=Providence News|date=September 28, 1923|access-date=April 19, 2012}} McGraw was confident enough in Jackson's abilities to trade Bancroft before the 1924 season, choosing Jackson to be the Giants' starting shortstop.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NyFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3859,6732727&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Jackson To Succeed Dave|page=10|agency=Associated Press|date=November 13, 1923|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel|access-date=April 19, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OLggAAAAIBAJ&pg=2728,3614675&dq=travis-jackson+dave-bancroft&hl=en|title=McGraw Staging Biggest Gamble in Young Jackson: Filling Shoes Left by Classy Dave Bancroft with 20 Year Old Boy |newspaper=The Lewiston Daily Sun|page=6|date=November 22, 1923|access-date=April 19, 2012}} Though there was doubt that Jackson could adequately replace Bancroft,{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xwMbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6808,7095220&dq=travis-jackson+dave-bancroft&hl=en |first=David J.|last=Walsh|title=Travis Jackson May Not Be Able To Fill Bancroft's Shoes Acceptably: Phenom Fails to Sparkle. Giants Will Be in Desperate Circumstances if Youngster Does Not Come Through in Style|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=27|date=March 19, 1924|access-date=April 19, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w91XAAAAIBAJ&pg=3296,6238849&dq=travis-jackson+dave-bancroft&hl=en|title=Thinks Giants Will Have Plenty to Worry About|first=Henry L. |last=Farrell|agency=United Press International|page=14|date=April 7, 1924|access-date=April 19, 2012|newspaper=The Toledo News-Bee}} Jackson played in 151 games during the 1924 season{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sXZOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4865,6008192&dq=travis-jackson+1924&hl=en|title=Young Shortstops Have Busy Season: Wright and Jackson Miss Few Games with Respective Teams in 1924|agency=Associated Press|date=December 31, 1924|access-date=April 19, 2012|newspaper=Ludington Daily News}} and hit .302 with 11 home runs. The Giants lost the 1924 World Series to the Washington Senators, with Jackson committing a key error in Game 7.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mitkAAAAIBAJ&pg=7282,1234059|title=Johnson, a Baseball Legend|first=Bob|last=Mamini|date=December 12, 1946|access-date=April 19, 2012|newspaper=The Calgary Herald}}

Jackson was considered one of the best shortstops of his era,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0JAWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6224,326103&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=The Best Shortstop|first=Grantland|last=Rice|author-link=Grantland Rice|date=March 3, 1931|access-date=April 19, 2012|page=2|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal}} and he led NL shortstops with a .970 fielding percentage in 1931. However, he missed considerable playing time in his career resulting from injuries and illnesses. Jackson reinjured his knee in 1925, missed significant time during the 1926 season{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/358489772.html?dids=358489772:358489772&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=May+17%2C+1926&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=GIANTS+LOSE+TWO+PLAYERS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715135624/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/358489772.html?dids=358489772:358489772&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=May+17,+1926&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=GIANTS+LOSE+TWO+PLAYERS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=Giants Lose Two Players|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=B2|agency=Associated Press|date=May 17, 1926|access-date=April 16, 2012}}{{subscription required|date=April 2012}} and had surgery for appendicitis during the 1927 season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7ccVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4114,166528&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Travis Jackson Under Knife; Lost to Giants|agency=Associated Press|date=April 2, 1927|access-date=April 16, 2012|page=11|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel}} He missed time with mumps in 1930{{cite news|last=Drebinger |first=John |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D15FE3E5C157A93C2AB178ED85F448385F9 |title=Crippled Giants Kept Idle By Rain — Prevented From Meeting the Braves, Who Lead, 3 Games to 1, in Series Thus Far. Jackson Has the Mumps: McGraw Considerably Alarmed Over Prospect That an Epidemic May Hit His Team|page=40 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 20, 1930 |access-date=April 16, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}} and influenza in 1932,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H1VZAAAAIBAJ&pg=7023,2760931&dq=travis-jackson+influenza&hl=en|title=Influenze Epidemic Hits Three Players|page=9|date=April 16, 1932|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=Rochester Evening Journal}} and he continued to battle knee problems, missing much of the 1932 and 1933 seasons. Jackson was said to "at 28, already [have] one foot in the minors".{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vaRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3007,4704338&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Travis Jackson's Putty Knee Big Question Mark of World Series|page=4|agency=Associated Press|date=September 27, 1933|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal}} Despite this, manager Bill Terry said that Jackson would "make or break" the 1933 season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2yJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3200,761241&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Jackson's Signed Contract Arrives at Giants' Offices|agency=Associated Press|date=February 4, 1933|access-date=April 16, 2012|page=2|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}} Though Jackson fell behind Blondy Ryan on the team's depth chart during the season,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HII_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3062,5360539&dq=travis-jackson+1924&hl=en|title=No 1924 Echo|date=August 2, 1933|access-date=April 16, 2012|first=Alan|last=Gould|page=8|newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator}} he returned in the 1933 World Series, which the Giants won over the Senators.

File:TravisJacksonGoudeycard.jpg baseball card]]

Terry stayed with Jackson as the Giants' starting shortstop for the 1934 season, in which he drove in 101 runs and was chosen to appear in the 1934 MLB All-Star Game.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E14F93958177A93C6A9178CD85F408385F9 |title=Terry and Cronin Select Squads For All-Star Game Here Tuesday — Six Yankees and Four Giants Among Forty Named by Rival Pilots — National and American League Teams Closely Foll |newspaper=The New York Times|page=21 |date=July 4, 1934 |access-date=April 16, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}} Jackson played third base in his final two seasons,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j3YbAAAAIBAJ&pg=4767,2180933&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Yanks Take Lead, Down Giants, 2 to 1|page=3|date=October 4, 1936|access-date=April 16, 2012 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press}} serving as team captain,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvE0AAAAIBAJ&pg=924,7146508&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en |title=Can Terry, Jackson Stand Series Gaff?|first=Alan|last=Gould|agency=Associated Press|page=14|date=September 25, 1936|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=Lewiston Evening Journal}} although he struggled in the 1936 World Series,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hMoxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4929,1415136&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en |newspaper=Reading Eagle|title=Series Highlights|agency=United Press International|page=16|date=October 6, 1936|access-date=April 16, 2012}} which the Giants lost to the New York Yankees.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1C5JAAAAIBAJ&pg=4147,1709636&dq=travis-jackson+world-series&hl=en |title=Yankees Blast Giants 13-5 to Capture World Series Championship in Six Games: American Leaguers Chalk Up Seven Runs in 9th Frame, Murphy Rescues Gomez to Aid in Triumph for McCarthymen – Set Records|page=14|first=Alan|last=Gould|agency=Associated Press|date=October 7, 1936|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator}} After the season, the Giants requested waivers on Jackson to assign him to the minor leagues.{{cite news|last=McGowen |first=Roscoe |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C1EF83C5E177A93C4A9178AD85F438385F9 |title=Waivers Asked on Jackson to Permit Giant Veteran to Manage New Farm Club — Jackson Accepts Jersey City Post|newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 6, 1937 |access-date=April 16, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}

Jackson batted over .300 six times, including a career-high .339 in the 1930 season, and hit 21 home runs in 1929. He was on four NL pennant-winning teams and a World Series champion (1933). Jackson finished his MLB career with 135 home runs, 929 RBI and a .291 batting average.

=Coaching and managing career=

Jackson signed a three-year contract with the Jersey City Giants of the Class-AA International League after the 1936 season. The team, which the Giants had purchased to become their farm team that offseason, was moved from Albany, New York, with Jackson to serve as player-manager.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3L0tAAAAIBAJ&pg=6719,3699591&dq=travis-jackson+jersey-city&hl=en|title=Giants Set to Buy Albany Franchise: New York Club Says Agreement Reached, But Owner Cambria Differs. Will Shift Franchise: Move to Jersey City With Travis Jackson as Manager Planned if Giants Acquire I.L. Club|agency=Associated Press|date=December 30, 1936|page=15|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette}}{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/440489022.html?dids=440489022:440489022&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+06%2C+1937&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Travis+Jackson+Signs+to+Manage+Jersey+City+Club&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713014930/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/440489022.html?dids=440489022:440489022&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+06,+1937&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Travis+Jackson+Signs+to+Manage+Jersey+City+Club&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |title=Travis Jackson Signs to Manage Jersey City Club |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=27|date=January 6, 1937 |access-date=April 16, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}} Jackson's knees prevented him from appearing in many games with Jersey City as a player, but he remained as the team's manager until July 1938, when he was replaced with Hank DeBerry. The Giants brought Jackson back to the majors as a coach for the remaining 18 months on his contract, succeeding Tommy Clarke, who became a scout.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0pEjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2103,1827336&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Travis Jackson Back With Giants As Coach|agency=Associated Press|date=July 16, 1938|page=12|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette}}{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/sf/history/coaches.jsp |title=Giants All-Time Coaches|work=MLB.com|publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media|access-date=April 16, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q3gtAAAAIBAJ&pg=6168,1777290&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Hartnet to Giants; Jackson is Retired|agency=Associated Press|date=December 11, 1940|access-date=April 16, 2012|page=17|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette}}

Jackson missed the next five seasons as he battled tuberculosis, eventually returning to manage in the Boston / Milwaukee Braves system for the Jackson Senators in the Class-B Southeastern League in 1946. Jackson returned to the Giants to coach in 1947 and 1948,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x7hRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3557,4312349&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en |title=Travis Jackson to Coach Giants|agency=Associated Press|date=October 15, 1946|access-date=April 16, 2012|page=14|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} receiving his unconditional release following the 1948 season.{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20613FB3E59157A93C1AB178BD95F4C8485F9 |title=Gowdy And Jackson Released By Giants |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 23, 1948|access-date=April 16, 2012}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}

Returning to the Braves' minor league system, Jackson managed the Tampa Smokers of the Class-B Florida International League in 1949, but resigned in July during a losing streak.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1gtPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5097,4681463&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Travis Jackson Quits Smokers|agency=Associated Press|date=July 2, 1949|access-date=April 16, 2012|page=15|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}} He managed the Owensboro Oilers of the Class-D Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League in 1950, and began the 1951 season managing the Bluefield Blue-Grays of the Class-D Appalachian League, but was reassigned to the Hartford Chiefs of the Class-A Eastern League when Hartford manager Tommy Holmes was named the Braves' manager.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/892043762.html?dids=892043762:892043762&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+24%2C+1951&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Travis+Jackson+Named+Chiefs%27+New+Manager%2C+To+Take+Charge+Today&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717121552/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/892043762.html?dids=892043762:892043762&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+24,+1951&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Travis+Jackson+Named+Chiefs'+New+Manager,+To+Take+Charge+Today&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |title=Travis Jackson Named Chiefs New Manager, To Take Charge Today: Oldtime Star To Boss Club From Dugout 'Stonewall,' Promoted From Bluefield, W. Va. Of Appalachian League Congratulations Can Be Returned To Travis Jackson |first=Ronald|last=Melcher|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=June 24, 1951 |access-date=April 16, 2012}} Jackson managed the Appleton Papermakers of the Class-D Wisconsin State League in 1952 and 1953, the Lawton Braves of the Class-D Sooner State League from 1954 through 1957, the Midland Braves of the Class-D Sophomore League in 1958, the Eau Claire Braves of the Class-C Northern League in 1959{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5G9IAAAAIBAJ&pg=7409,3483597&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en |title=Travis Jackson Eau Claire Pilot|date=November 27, 1958|page=4|access-date=April 16, 2012|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel}} and the Davenport Braves of the Class-D Midwest League in 1960.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jackso001tra |title=Travis Jackson Minor League Statistics & History |work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 16, 2012}}

Personal life

Jackson and his wife, Mary, had two children, Dorothy Fincher and William Travis Jackson, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jackson died of Alzheimer's disease in 1987.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/29/obituaries/travis-jackson-a-shortstop-who-made-the-hall-of-fame.html|first=Robert|last=McG. Thomas, Jr. |title=Travis Jackson, A Shortstop Who Made The Hall Of Fame|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 29, 1987 |access-date=April 16, 2012}}

Honors

As defensive standouts have historically been overshadowed by power hitters in Baseball Hall of Fame voting, Jackson was not elected through the annual balloting process despite his record and achievements. But in 1982, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.{{cite news|first=Joseph|last=Durso|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/11/sports/chandler-jackson-to-join-hall.html |title=Chandler, Jackson To Join Hall |date=March 11, 1982|access-date=April 16, 2012}} He was also inducted in the Arkansas Hall of Fame.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BspaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2161,2058804&dq=travis-jackson&hl=en|title=Deserving Quartet Enter Baseball Hall of Fame: New Hall of Famers Travis Jackson, Happy Chandler, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=1–C|date=August 2, 1982|access-date=April 19, 2012}}

References

External links

{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|jackson-travis}}
{{baseballstats |mlb=116445 |espn=23278 |br=j/jackstr01 |fangraphs=1006314 |brm=jackso001tra |retro=J/Pjackt101}}
{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|cf84ae81}}
{{find a Grave|19921}}
{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=673 |title=Travis Calvin Jackson (1903–1987)|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture|publisher=The Central Arkansas Library System|access-date=April 12, 2012}}