Bo Jackson was a cultural phenomenon, a star both on the diamond and the gridiron. On this day in 1990, Jackson slugged his way into the Kansas City Royals history books.
The Kansas City Royals are not a team known for their power. After all, Steve Balboni still holds the season home run record, with his 36 homers in 1985. The Royals, in fact, are the only team in the majors that has not had a player hit 40 homers in a season.
Nonetheless, Kansas City has had some impressive power displays over the years. In their history, the Royals have had nine three homer games, and George Brett had one against Catfish Hunter during the 1978 ALCS. However, the most impressive performance of that grouping came on this day in 1990, when Bo Jackson battered the Yankees and Andy Hawkins.
It would be the second time in 1990 that Hawkins would become a part of history. Earlier in the year, he threw a no hitter, only to lose 4-0 as the Yankees woeful season reached its nadir. It did not take Jackson long to set the tone for the day, as he deposited Hawkins’ third offering of the at bat to straightaway center for a home run.
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Jackson came up again in the third, with a runner on first once more. Again, he took Hawkins’ offering deep, this time to right center. The blast was so obviously a home run that right fielder Jesse Barfield moved only to watch the ball in flight. Jackson again came to bat in the fifth, this time with two runners on. And again, he took Hawkins’ pitch deep, this time launching the ball down the right field line for his third homer of the game.
Just when it seemed possible that Jackson could make history, he was robbed of his chance. While diving for a line drive off the bat of another two sport star, Deion Sanders, Jackson dislocated his shoulder, leading to a five week stint on the disabled list. He did come back with a bang though, as the Royals superstar belted a home run in his first plate appearance off the list, tying the major league record with a homer in four consecutive plate appearances.
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The Kansas City Royals may not be known for their home run hitting, but Bo Jackson was not the normal player. On this day in 1990, Jackson slugged his way into the history books, even though his place in baseball history was interrupted by a stint on the disabled list.