June 29, 2007

LEXINGTON, KY. - Former University of California football and baseball star Jackie Jensen has been named one of the 10 Best Collegiate Baseball Players of All Time by HallOfFameMagazine.com. Jensen, who was an All-American baseball player for the Golden Bears in 1947 and 1949, was No. 10 on the list. He is among an elite group that includes Phil Stephenson (Wichita State, 1979-82), Will Clark (Mississippi State, 1983-85), Mark Kotsay (Cal State Fullerton, 1994-96), Jon Olerud (Washington State, 1987-89), Fred Lynn (USC, 1971-73), Robin Ventura (Oklahoma State, 1985-88), Dave Winfield (Minnesota, 1971-73), Bob Horner (Arizona State, 1976-78) and top pick Pete Incaviglia (Oklahoma State, 1984-85).

One of the greatest athletes ever to play for Cal, Jensen helped the Bears to the first-ever NCAA College World Series title in 1947 in Kalamazoo, Mich. He went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI at the plate, and started game two on the mound in the 8-7 title-clinching win over a Yale team that featured future president George Bush. Jensen went on to have a distinguished pro baseball career as an outfielder and was selected as the American League MVP while with the Boston Red Sox in 1958. He played in the World Series for the New York Yankees as well.

As a college football player, Jensen earned first-team All-America honors at running back in 1948 while becoming Cal's first-ever 1,000-yard rusher in a season. He rushed for 1,703 yards in his three years as a starter and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Jensen is one of the few athletes in history to play in both the Rose Bowl and the World Series, and was voted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1984. He was the head coach of the Cal baseball program from 1974-77.

http://www.hofmag.com/content/view/849/30/1/0/