I've been working on revising the book for the upcoming 5th edition (which will be out on Opening Day). Thought I'd share a few of these EveryCubEver entries with you while I worked...
His real first name was Ransom, and gosh darn it, he was kind of handsome, so
his teammates began calling him Handsome Ransom (His teammates thought he
looked like Gregory Peck). “Handsome Ransom” Jackson was one of the best
players on the Cubs in the early 50s — a National League All-Star third-baseman
in 1954 and 1955. He hit 19, 19, and 21 homers in 1953-55 (his three seasons on
the Cubs), and was a pretty good fielder too. (In 1955 he led NL third basemen
in double plays.) His greatest day in a Cubs uniform was April 17, 1954 against
St. Louis. Jackson had four hits — including a home run that hit an apartment
building on Waveland Avenue. With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, the
Cubs beat the Cardinals 23-13 in a National League record (at the time) three
hour and 43 minute game. The two teams combined for 35 hits — including five
homers. The Dodgers traded Walt Moryn, Don Hoak, and Russ Meyer to the Cubs for
Jackson and pitcher Don Elston after the 1955 season with the expectation that
the slugger would succeed Jackie Robinson at third base. Unfortunately for
Jackson and the Dodgers, he suffered a serious knee injury in 1957, and
Handsome Ransom never played regularly again.
Historical
note: On the day that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed (1953), Jackson
hit a grand slam for the Cubs in an 11-8 victory over the Dodgers.
