A wave of controversy surrounded last season's MVP vote when Jackson received the most first placed votes but failed to win the prize as Dustland's Catcher Kian Lehn nipped him at the post with a stronger showing in the secondary votes.
This year, the choice was simple. Jackson was heads and shoulders above everyone else.
His league-leading home run total of 51 from 1920 actually dipped down to 46 but never fear, the slugging percentage improved as he hit more doubles and triples and hits in general over slightly fewer games.
It was a slow start for Jackson. If you want to call .298/.385/.484 at the end of May slow that is. But something started to click for Jackson once we moved into June. After hitting 10 home runs in the first two months of competition, Jackson hit 11 in June, 10 in July, and then 14 in August as we finished off the regular season. Over 3 months he improved his slash line to the .354/.436/.694 that we see today.
As Jackson's fortunes improved so did his teams. 29-29 at the end of May was 78-66 at the end of the season. A .500 record would have had them living life like the Amelia City Metropolitans but instead they got their first taste in the postseason and while they would ultimately lose their semi final series against the Dustland Sharks they were just one win away from sweet final action.
The big question for Jackson is where next? He'll be hitting the free agency waters this winter and should get a big payday.
Some of his highlights:
- A 3 home run game against the Sugar Factory Elephants
- Walk-Off Home Run against the Saffron Turtles
- 1x Grand Slam against the Spice District Roosters
- 2nd All-Star Selection
- 2nd Platinum Stick Award for RF
- Clutch Player of the Year
- Led the league in TB, EBH, SLG, ISO, WOBA, OPS, wRC+, and WAR
- Top 5 in Hits, Home Runs, RBIs, Runs, AVG, and OBP
- Top 10 in Doubles, Walks, and Intentional Walks