Michael Jackson, not to be confused with the late pop star of the same name, was a professional baseball player who played in the minor leagues for several years. He was born in 1969 in Texas and attended high school in Houston, where he played baseball and football. After graduating, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1987 MLB draft.
Jackson spent several years in the Mariners' minor league system, playing for teams such as the Bellingham Mariners, the Riverside Red Wave, and the San Bernardino Spirit. He was primarily a relief pitcher, although he did start a few games early in his career. He had a decent fastball and a good slider, but struggled with control at times.
In 1992, Jackson was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He spent the next few years bouncing around their minor league teams, including the Carolina Mudcats and the Buffalo Bisons. He had some success during this time, but never made it to the major leagues.
In 1996, Jackson signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and played for their Double-A team, the El Paso Diablos. He had a solid season, posting a 2.97 ERA in 57 innings pitched. However, he was released by the Brewers at the end of the season and signed with the independent Sioux Falls Canaries for the 1997 season.
Jackson had a great year with the Canaries, posting a 1.98 ERA in 50 innings pitched. He was signed by the San Diego Padres organization at the end of the season and spent the next few years playing in their minor league system. He played for teams such as the Mobile BayBears and the Las Vegas Stars, but never made it to the major leagues.
Jackson's last season as a professional baseball player was in 2004, when he played for the independent St. Joe Blacksnakes. He retired at the end of the season with a career minor league record of 23-21 and a 3.80 ERA.
After retiring from baseball, Jackson worked as a high school baseball coach and also served as a scout for the Kansas City Royals. He currently works as a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Overall, Michael Jackson had a solid career as a minor league pitcher, but never made it to the major leagues. He had some success at various points in his career, but struggled with consistency and control at times. Despite this, he continued to work in baseball after his playing career ended and has had success as a coach and scout.
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