Royals History: Remembering Bo Jackson 30 Years Later

Bo Jackson’s Debut In Kansas City

The KC Royals sent Bo Jackson to AA Memphis after signing him June 21, 1986. Even after accepting assignment to a minor league team, many skeptics still believed Jackson would sign Tampa Bay because most of the sports world was still unaware of why Jackson was angry with Hugh Culverhouse.

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The Kansas City Royals endured something of a disappointing season in 1986 after winning the World Series in 1985. On September 2, 1986, with the team out of contention at 60-71 and fourth place in the AL West, the Royals decided to call up rookie Bo Jackson. He had played 53 games at AA Memphis in which he hit .277/.368/.473 with 9 doubles, 7 home runs, and 25 RBIs.

The 23-year-old Bo Jackson delighted the Royals Stadium crowd by stroking his first career hit in his debut game by singling on a grounder up the middle against future Hall-Of-Fame pitcher Steve Carlton, who was pitching for the White Sox that day. Twelve days later, Jackson slammed the first home run of his career, by launching a 475 foot bomb over the left-center wall that landing high on the grassy embankment that used to reside behind the fence in Kansas City before the 2010 renovation.

By the way, that blast is still counted as the longest home run ever hit in Kauffman Stadium.

Next: Bo Jackson Decides To Play Football, Too