Sonny Jackson autographed this 1967 Topps baseball card for me shortly after it was opened new in the pack.
Jackson had a twelve-year career in the major leagues, playing for a bit at age 18.
Although his major league debut was in 1963, he still qualified as a rookie in 1966 when he hit .292, led the league in singles and sacrifice hits, and broke the modern National League record for stolen bases by a rookie. He was a distant second in the Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1963 at age 18, he had been one of many young phenoms on the Houston Colt .45's team, including 19-year-old Joe Morgan, 19-year-old Rusty Staub, 20-year-old Jerry Grote, 21-year-old Jimmy Wynn and several other young players.
He was a shortstop, but was converted to the regular center fielder for the Atlanta Braves in 1971, and thereafter played both outfield and shortstop.
All told, his professional playing career lasted from 1963-76.
After his playing days, he stayed involved in professional baseball. He was a major league coach for 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants, and the Chicago Cubs.
Sonny was also a special assistant to Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker, with whom he played from 1968-74 on the Atlanta Braves.
Sonny Jackson was named to the 1966 Topps All-Star Rookie Team.
