Former All-Star Edwin Jackson took to Instagram this evening to officially announce his retirement from Major League Baseball. The right-hander pitched parts of 17 seasons in the majors, getting to the highest level every year between 2003-19. Jackson suited up for 14 different MLB teams, setting the all-time record for most uniforms donned.
“19 years ago today I was blessed with an opportunity to tie up my laces and step on the field to make my debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Jackson wrote. “Today I am happily hanging up my cleats and closing a 22-year baseball career.” Jackson went on to thank his wife, parents, sisters, children and the rest of his family before expressing his gratitude to various coaches, trainers and doctors who assisted him. “This game has taught me many life lessons and allowed me to evolve into the person I am today! I will forever have memories that will live within me from the game I love and dedicated my life to. Thank you baseball for an amazing life experience I will never forget,” he concluded.
A sixth-round draftee of the Dodgers out of a Georgia high school in 2001, Jackson emerged as one of the sport’s best pitching prospects not long thereafter. He broke into the big leagues exactly 19 years ago on his 20th birthday, starting three of four appearances down the stretch. He bounced on and off Los Angeles’ active roster for the next couple seasons before being traded to the then-Devil Rays over the 2005-06 offseason.
Jackson worked primarily as a reliever for his first season in Tampa Bay, but he took a full turn of starts by the 2007 campaign. That kicked off a stretch of seven consecutive seasons in which he surpassed 30 starts and 160 innings. Jackson pitched in Tampa Bay through 2008 before being dealt to the Tigers for outfielder Matt Joyce. He tossed a career-best 214 innings the next year, posting a 3.62 ERA. Jackson earned an All-Star nod with a 2.52 mark through that season’s first half.
The next offseason, his nomadic career continued. Detroit flipped Jackson to the Diamondbacks as part of a three-team blockbuster that netted Detroit Max Scherzer and sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees. His stint in the desert was rather brief — he’d wind up traded again at that summer’s deadline — but it provided one of the more memorable moments of his career. On June 25, 2010, he tossed a no-hitter against his former team at Tropicana Field. He threw a staggering 149 pitches in the outing, striking out six but issuing eight walks. Then-manager A.J. Hinch stuck with Jackson despite his high pitch count, and he completed one of the more remarkable single-game performances by a player in recent memory.
Not long after, the last-place club dealt Jackson to the White Sox in a trade that landed Arizona Daniel Hudson. Jackson pitched well in 11 starts down the stretch, and he got off to another solid start in 2011. The White Sox fell out of contention the latter season, though, and he was on the move again. The Blue Jays acquired Jackson from the White Sox on the morning of July 27, but his stint in Toronto lasted only a few hours. Toronto promptly flipped him to the Cardinals in a deal that sent Colby Rasmus north of the border.
Jackson played in St. Louis for the second half, pitching to a 3.58 ERA through 12 starts. He made four starts in the postseason, and while his playoff numbers weren’t great, the Cardinals secured the World Series title in a dramatic series win over the Rangers. Fresh off winning a title, Jackson signed with the Nationals during his first trip through free agency. He spent the 2012 campaign in the Nats rotation, helping Washington to their first playoff appearance since moving to D.C.
The next winter, Jackson inked a four-year, $52MM pact with the Cubs. He continued to soak up innings but didn’t post especially strong numbers in Chicago. After two and a half seasons, he was released. That kicked off an even more rapid trip around the league, as Jackson suited up with the Braves, Marlins, Padres, Orioles, Nationals (again), A’s, Blue Jays and Tigers (again) over the next four years. He alternated between the rotation and the bullpen throughout that time, generally serving as a depth option.
While Jackson signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks in 2020, he didn’t make it back to the majors. He did appear on the U.S. Olympic team last summer and expressed a desire to get back to the big leagues, but he didn’t get another opportunity with an affiliated organization.
Altogether, Jackson pitched in 412 major league games. He tossed 1960 innings with a 4.78 ERA, striking out a bit more than 1500 batters and winning 107 games. According to Baseball Reference, Jackson banked upwards of $66MM in earnings and incredibly logged some action for almost half the league. MLBTR congratulates Jackson on his lengthy, accomplished career and wishes him all the best in retirement.
Best Edwin in baseball
Huh?
I’m just being facetious
Isn’t this the pitcher who pitched for every team in the majors?
If you can call what he did with half of them pitching
I think I would take Edwin Encarnacion over him.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Or Diaz too
Diaz…probably in time. But I don’t think he has done it long enough just yet. He definitely has the potential for a better career though.
I’ll always remember his MLB debut as a Dodger against the Dbacks where he was able to outduel Randy Johnson for 5 innings and get a win.
By far the best Edwin is Duke Snider whose first name was Edwin
Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. and Edwin Lee Matthew’s might have something to say about that.
But he needs to keep playing for new teams…
At this very moment Bloom is somewhere in Boston sulking about the missed opportunity to sign Edwin.
see you in cooperstown, edwin
Might get a name-drop somewhere in the Cooperstown museum for the record-setting amount of teams he’s been on.
He might. Until Billy Hamilton breaks the record
He’s over half way there. If he plays at least four more seasons, playing with two teams in at least three of those seaosns, Hamilton may possibly reach it.
Very underated pitcher… Solid
EricTheBat. How? As the groundskeeper?
Happy Birthday and Happy Retirement!
Time to get him on the MLBTR chat!
This guy has played for so many teams and has had some really solid years. Can’t believe he’s only 35, been around forever it seems
Don’t believe it. He’s 39
Ah, you’re right. My bad. I was looking at baseball reference and it looks like the last time he’s played was at age 35. Just didn’t check the right year. So, it took him 4 years to retire.
He hasn’t played since 2019 so not a big announcement
In the sixth paragraph, the year should be 2011 rather than 2012.
Lol we know, Ed
Who’s Ed?
One of the Cubs’ finest signings lolol
It’s a shame he never got endorsement deal with Kingsford lighter fluid. Because when it came to getting lit quick….
Still baffles me 8 walks with that no hitter he threw.
Effectively wild that day
What’s baffling? Throw the ball so far off the plate that the other team can’t hit it. Or when they do, it induces weak contact.
it happens.
ubaldo jimenez walked 6 in his (bringing it up only because that was in the first 3 innings).
a.j. burnett in 2001, walked 9 in his (plus a hit batter), though he threw fewer pitches than jackson did, surprisingly (burnett struck out 7, only tossed 129 pitches, and did his in just his second start of the season after missing the first month of 2001 due to injury).
Could never understand why he kept getting signed. Same with Tommy Milone .
Jackson was fools gold! He made $66,000,000 with a career 4.78 ERA! Desperate GMs? I do not understand why he kept getting big money when he was that bad. He won 107 and lost 133!
“Jackson pitched in 412 major league games. He tossed 1960 innings with a 4.78 ERA, striking out a bit more than 1500 batters and winning 107 games. According to Baseball Reference, Jackson banked upwards of $66MM in earnings and incredibly logged some action for almost half the league.”
His retirement announcement was very classy !!
He always had an impressive repertoire of pitches. That kept evolving. And, he was never totally consistent with location. Flashes of absolute brilliance, which we all know can get you big money in pro sports.
The right handed Franisco Liriano.
Both even had painfully ugly no-hitters.
Great comp. I feel like Liriano was a bit more impressive when he had it all together, but part of that is probably aesthetic with him pitching next to Johan and also being a lefty.
Ironic he retired the same year as Ryan Fitzpatrick. Great career.
“The latter season” you realize this is America son?
Or should I say America this is son you realize?
Weird how 17 seasons and he earned 52 million from 4 of those years.
Nice Brother! I was wondering if I could borrow some money?
Still has 16 teams to play for. Watch he’ll become a coach and go to the rest of the organization in one coaching role or another.
His baseball reference page is like a Thanos Infinity Gauntlet of different uniform numbers and teams
Congrats on an accomplished career. All the best in retirement and going forward!
Edwin Jackson was instrumental in solidifying the Cardinals rotation for that 2011 stretch run, the one in which they secured the wild card on the last day. 8 games out on September 1st. If the Cardinals don’t trade Colby Rasmus 2011 would have been completely different. Congrats on the world series ring, and happy retirement Edwin Jackson
Nice career. Thanks for a big lift in 2011 with the Cards. All the best in retirement
The funniest thing to me about his BR page is that of all the bouncing around he had 10 different uniform numbers. I understand that some teams like the Yankees are on the verge of having to use area codes because they have retired so many numbers, but seriously couldn’t teams just give him his usual number?
hflew: On the other hand, does having 10 different uniform numbers say that he didn’t really have a “usual number?”
One of the better German born players in MLB.
Fred – ….that explains his classy retirement letter….
Great career, I remember him as being a highly regarded prospect when he entered the league, an all star team, a WS ring and a 149 pitch no hitter, fairly awesome.
I remember Jackson as the free agent I hoped my team’s GM would not sign.
His time in Arizona may have been short but he did toss a no no . With a grip of walks mixed in. I think Randy has the only other one. Thanks 36!
Edwin Jackson was actually teammates with Ricky Henderson. Wow.
Rickey and also Enos Slaughter I believe.
So it took him 19 years to win 100 games and he got paid 66 million to do it. Pathetic.
Know what else is pathetic? Using pitcher wins to grade the career of a pitcher. Here’s a record for you to judge. This pitcher had an 82-60 W/L record over a 19 year career. By your standards, he was pretty bad because he won so few games over that 19 year slog. Mariano Rivera says “Hi.”
Made eight figures, threw a no hitter, got a ring. I’d say that’s a pretty good career.
Congrats on your retirement to Edwin Jackson!!
Great player, fascinating career.
Jackson was very much “in demand” in trades.
He was a workhorse who helped a lot of teams in their push for the playoffs and to win championships!
Always wondered why some team did not keep him long term as he was a horse who ate innings and produced wins wherever he pitched.
I guess, Jackson’s highest value was that extra player that could put competitive teams “over the top” into the playoffs and deep into the playoffs!
What is next?! Broadcasting?! Coaching?! Golfing?!
15 teams and last of TB Devil Rays