From Fostoria to winning Game 7 of the World Series

Pirates manager Chuck Tanner had to be concerned. It was the bottom of the fifth inning of the seventh game of the 1979 World Series. A few days earlier, the Pirates chances for their first world title in eight years appeared on life support. It trailed the Orioles 3 games to 1. But the Pirates fought back, winning Games 5 and 6. Now, as the Orioles put two runners on with two out in the fifth, the Pirates were flirting with disaster. They trailed the Orioles 1-0. The next hitter was Al Bumbry, a .285 batter with speed. But he also batted from the left side. So, Tanner made a slow walk from the Pittsburgh dugout and signaled for a southpaw reliever to replace Don Robinson. Grant Jackson. 'He was good at whatever he did' Grant Jackson was a star athlete at Fostoria High School, so much so that the baseball team's field is named for him. The irony is that Jackson didn't play high school baseball. He couldn't -- Fostoria High didn't have a baseball program then -- but he still left an impression on the school and the community. Jackson was a star basketball and football player for the Redmen, as well as a star on the town's American Legion Baseball team. He also was a standout in track. Later, he went to Bowling Green State University before signing a professional contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was signed by scout Tony Lucadello, who, like Jackson, was a Fostoria resident. Jackson went on to pitch for six major league teams. Overall, he was in the big leagues for 18 seasons and had an overall record of 86-75 with a 3.46 earned run average and 79 saves. Jackson died Feb. 2 at 78-years-old. In talking about Jackson, Pat Sterling, a friend and high school teammate, spoke of Jackson's remarkable athleticism. "He was good at whatever he did. In my opinion, he could have been a (Division) I football player, basketball player, and obviously, he chose baseball," Sterling said. Harry Burd, a Bettsville High graduate who was later a teammate of Jackson's in the Phillies minor league system, said he met Jackson at the behest of Lucadello. Lucadello also signed Burd for the Phillies. (Lucadello) wanted me to go over with him to watch Grant throw," Burd said. "That was the first time I met Grant; he was a big kid… real affable, smiled all the time. We were in a park over there at one of the places they later named Lucadello Field." Obviously, Jackson made an impression on everyone because of his athletic ability. But he also was remembered for his kindness and for his unselfishness. "Grant was the kind of the guy who had a great smile and he was always in a good mood," Sterling said. "He was very competitive, but as good as he was ... he never let that go to his head." 'He didn't brag about anything' If Jackson was nervous, it sure didn't look like it. Sitting on a golf cart with his feet up, he looked more like someone about to enjoy 18 holes than a big league pitcher about to enter Game 7 of the World Series. In the late '70s, relievers often entered games in golf carts or from cars. Jackson appeared to be having a pleasant conversation with his vehicle's driver as he was escorted to the mound. "You see Jackson coming in," announcer Howard Cosell told the viewers. When the game returned from commercial break, Jackson's season stats flashed on the screen as he warmed up. The game's play-by-play man, Keith Jackson, reminded his audience that Grant had pitched for the Orioles against the Pirates in the 1971 Fall Classic. "Now," Keith said, adding just a little bit of drama to his delivery, "he's wearing the other colors." Jackson had appeared in two Fall Classics in career. He pitched for the Orioles in '71, and the Yankees in '76 against the Reds. His teams lost the Series each time. But in 1979, Jackson was a prominent figure in the Fall Classic. He was about to make his fourth appearance. Bumbry worked the count to 2-2 as ABC cameras focused on Jackson staring in for signs. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Bumbry lunged at a pitch and popped it foul, wide of third base. It was no problem for Pirates third baseman Bill Madlock to make the catch. The inning was over. Jackson did his job. But he wasn't done. Jackson was born in 1942, and grew up in Fostoria, the fourth of nine children. Sterling said it was a good time and place to grow up, and sports were a big part of things for Jackson, and those around him. "We all ran in the same crowds. Everybody played three sports a year," he said. "Grant, obviously, played baseball, basketball and football like his brother Carlos before him. (Carlos) was a wonderful athlete." So was Grant, who was a running back on the high school team while Sterling played guard. "Of course, it was fun to block for Grant," Sterling said. "He made us look pretty good." And not just in football. "Nobody could get any higher on the rim than he could," Sterling said of Jackson's basketball prowess. Jackson had been excelling in youth baseball for years. Though he didn't play high school baseball, Jackson was active in Little League, Pony League and American Legion ball, which was run by Fostoria native Andy Veras. "It was really almost like minor league baseball," Sterling said. "I mean, they were good teams. They traveled, and Grant excelled at that level." Burd said he was fortunate as a young pitcher to compete in American Legion ball. "Grant had the same opportunity," he said. "We had some great American Legion clubs here, and little league and pony league." It was from there – after a brief stint at BGSU – that Jackson signed with Lucadello and the Phillies. "He was in Spring Training with me," Burd said. "That's when we got close. We talked more then." Jackson reached the big leagues with Philadelphia in 1965 when he was 22. He pitched in parts of six seasons for the Phillies, and was selected to the All-Star Game in 1969. "I just saw he was a class act," Burd said. "He was a gentle guy, he didn't brag about anything." 'Made that look easy' By the time Jackson returned to the mound, his team had the lead. A two-run homer from Stargell in the top of the sixth put the Pirates up 2-1. Jackson retired the Orioles Kiko Garcia on a pop up to second. Blyleven was up in the bullpen for the Pirates, but Tanner stayed with the Fostoria native. It proved the correct move as Jackson quickly retired the next two batters. He returned to the mound for the bottom of the seventh. Once again, Jackson retired the side in order. "And so," Keith Jackson told the nation, "Grant Jackson's impressive." When Sterling talked about Jackson, he kept returning to the type of person he was. After his playing career was over, Jackson served as a coach for the Pirates and Reds as well as some minor league teams. Once, when Jackson's minor league team played the Toledo Mud Hens, Sterling and a group of Fostoria residents drove up to see their old friend. "Before the game started he walked over to our section in the stands over there, and probably spent a good 20 minutes, talking about the old days," Sterling said. "He was the same guy he was before his baseball career." 'Grant was a baseball guy' The Pirates were six outs from a championship, holding a tenuous one run lead. Jackson was still on the mound. Baltimore's second baseman, Rich Dauer, led off the top of the eighth. He quickly popped up to Pirates shortstop Tim Foli. "I'll tell you, this Jackson has come on and is doing some job," Cosell said. But Jackson walked the next two batters. Tanner came out to get Jackson and replace him with another Ohian, Kent Tekulve. "Jackson did a fine job when he was in there," Keith Jackson said. Tekulve, a Cincinnati native who played college ball at Marietta, got the final outs of the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Pittsburgh added two runs. It won the game 4-1, and the Series 4 games to 3. Jackson was the winning pitcher in Game 7. He ended up pitching for three more seasons. After stints in Montreal and Kansas City, he returned to Pittsburgh, making his final big league appearance on Sept. 8, 1982. He retired an All-Star, and a world champion. "He truly loved baseball," Sterling said. "Grant was a baseball guy."