Former Big League Reliever Grant Jackson Succumbs to COVID-19, R.I.P.

Former MLB pitcher Grant Jackson, the winning pitcher of Game 7 of the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, has died of complications of COVID-19. He was 78.

A native of Ohio, Jackson signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1961 reaching the big league club in 1965. Primarily a reliever, Jackson was converted into a starter in 1969 when he went 14-18 with a 3.34 ERA earning him his only All-Star Team selection.

The Phillies would trade Jackson to the Baltimore Orioles prior to the 1971 season and would pitch in the World Series for the AL champions falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games. In the middle of the 1976 season, the Orioles sent Jackson to the New York Yankees in a 10 player deal which included the likes of Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Elrod Hendricks, Rick Dempsey, Tippy Martinez, Rudy May and Scott McGregor. Jackson pitched effectively for the Yankees down the stretch going 6-0 with a 1.89 ERA in 21 appearances including two starts. The Yankees would win their first AL pennant in 12 years but would fall to the Cincinnati Reds in four games.

The Seattle Mariners would pick Jackson in the expansion draft but would quickly trade him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Craig Reynolds. In 1979, Jackson would serve as Kent Tekulve's set up man saving 14 games and would earn the deciding win in that year's Fall Classic. Jackson remained with the Bucs until late in the 1981 season when he was sold to the Montreal Expos. In 1982, the Expos would trade Jackson to the Kansas City Royals for Ken Phelps. Jackson would return to the Pirates for a second time during the 1982 season and then retired. In 18 big league seasons, Jackson went 86-75 with a 3.46 ERA in 692 big league appearances including 83 starts.

Jackson would remain with the Pirates organization serving as their bullpen coach from 1983 to 1985. He would also serve as the bullpen coach of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Jackson also served in a similar capacity in the Orioles and Cubs' minor league organizations before retiring in 2002. 

I leave you with Jackson's highlights from Game 7 of the 1979 World Series. R.I.P.