Iron City Legends: Honoring Ron ‘Papa Jack’ Jackson and His Enduring Legacy

birminghamal.gov

The Center for Negro League Baseball Research, in partnership with the Negro Southern League Museum and Jefferson County District 2 Commissioner Sheila Tyson, will honor Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson with the Enduring Legacy Award on Thursday, November 5, recognizing his decades of dedication to preserving Birmingham’s rich baseball heritage and creating opportunities for future generations.

Birmingham’s baseball legacy runs deep, from the Negro Leagues and Industrial Leagues to the extraordinary athletes who emerged from communities throughout Jefferson County. Raised in Birmingham’s Powderly neighborhood, Jackson represents an important bridge between that storied past and the future of a sport that has become increasingly difficult to access for young athletes in underserved communities.

Jackson played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball with the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and Baltimore Orioles. He later coached at both the major and minor league levels, including serving as the Boston Red Sox hitting coach during the club’s historic 2004 World Series championship season.

Since returning to the Birmingham area in the early 2000s, Jackson has remained deeply committed to community service and youth development. Among his many accomplishments, he coached Birmingham’s Willie Mays Youth Baseball team to the 2014 RBI Classic Championship.

Through the Papa Jack Youth Baseball Foundation and his extensive relationships throughout the baseball community, Jackson continues to champion youth development and expand opportunities for aspiring players across Jefferson County, helping local leaders and organizations bring baseball opportunities to young people.

His commitment extends far beyond Alabama. Each year, Jackson travels across the country to coach and mentor young athletes through initiatives such as the Hank Aaron Invitational, held at historic Rickwood Field. The Major League Baseball-supported program provides vital exposure for many of the nation’s top minority baseball prospects.

Papa Jack also serves as a vital connection between Birmingham and Major League Baseball. His relationships help keep the city visible within the national baseball community, ensuring that attention remains focused on Birmingham’s extraordinary baseball history and the untapped talent still emerging from its neighborhoods.

As Jackson recently explained when discussing a youth baseball camp hosted by his organization

“You don’t have to make it to the major leagues or even get a college scholarship to be successful in baseball. Having discipline, knowing how to make adjustments, and keeping a positive attitude in life, that’s what I want them to learn, and that’s what we are going to show and teach them. Teach them the right way.”

The award will be presented by Dr. Layton Revel, Executive Director of the Center for Negro League Baseball Research, alongside Commissioner Sheila Tyson, a steadfast supporter of Birmingham’s baseball legacy, both past and present. A lifelong baseball enthusiast and former softball player, Commissioner Tyson is frequently seen attending local baseball events and has long been a strong advocate for maintaining Jefferson County’s reputation as a center of baseball excellence, including support for the upcoming HBCU Invitational Tournament.

The program will also feature the release of a commemorative booklet by Dr. Revel highlighting the life, career, and enduring legacy of Papa Jack. While Dr. Revel’s research has traditionally focused on forgotten figures from baseball’s past, he has chosen to spotlight a living legacy in this special publication.

The gathering will bring together former Negro League and Industrial League players, members of the museum’s research team, and supporters of the museum and Black baseball to celebrate a man whose influence reaches far beyond the diamond.

Iron City Legends: Honoring Papa Jack – An Enduring Legacy recognizes not only a lifetime of service to baseball, but also an enduring commitment to ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity to play the game.

Birmingham’s baseball history is legendary. Through the work of people like Papa Jack, its future remains full of promise.

Event Information

Iron City Legends: Honoring Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson – An Enduring Legacy

Thursday, November 5, 2026
11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Negro Southern League Museum
126 16th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35233

Program Highlights

• Enduring Legacy Award Presentation
• Commemorative Booklet Release
• Reception and Luncheon

Presented By:
Center for Negro League Baseball Research

In Partnership With:
Negro Southern League Museum and Jefferson County District 2 Commissioner Sheila Tyson