Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Roy Lee Jackson

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Mets
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Roy Lee Jackson
vs. the Mets

Roy Lee Jackson
vs. Other Teams

Memories of
Roy Lee Jackson

Roy Lee Jackson
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 333 of 1252 players

Roy Lee Jackson
Born: May 1, 1954 at Opelika, Ala.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.02 Weight: 190

Roy Lee Jackson was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on May 1, 2008, March 30, 2014, December 30, 2014, May 1, 2020, and July 4, 2023.

First Mets game: September 13, 1977
Last Mets game: October 3, 1980

Share your memories of Roy Lee Jackson

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

paul
I actually remember that win in 1980, think it was his first start, he got the win, the broadcasters were all excited about it, and then my memory pretty much matches his stats - that he then lost a lot of games and wasn't heard from again. Though his career was longer than Sam Militello's with the Yankees (saw his first ML win in person) his success was equally as fleeting.

Mike
I think the game Paul is referring to was a 14 strike- out complete game win against the Reds.
Jackson was awesome for an inning, but would lose it the next inning; too bad the convention was to pitch relievers two inning instead of one like today.

Senor Joaquin
August 3, 2001
Pretty good pitcher. Not a bad singer either. His 1984 Fleer baseball card captures him singing the national anthem before a Toronto game.

Joe Figliola
August 10, 2001
Back in 1980, there was a PBS educational show called "3-2-1 Contact." It was a science show that featured three teens (two gals and a guy) and covered such topics as the weather and gravitational forces.
I'll admit, this then 17-year old watched the show because I thought one of the ladies, Trini, was kind of hot.
Anyway, one particular week's worth of shows (forces and motion) was supposed to feature Trini snorkeling in a bikini. When I tuned in to the show, I instead got to learn how a baseball curves. Demonstrating the art was none other than Roy Lee Jackson, who struck out Mark in the batting cage at Shea (he was the guy on the show; I think the other girl's name was Lisa). To me, that always will be Roy Lee's claim to Met fame.
By the way, I did get to see the snorkeling segment with Trini. Oh, to be 17 again...

Fr. Kaz
January 24, 2002
I have Roy Lee Jackson's card, and it's signed. Actually, that may lower the value even more.

Cliff Murphy
April 25, 2002
No way - I can't believe I just found a reference to the 3-2-1 contact episode!! I remember seeing that in 3rd grade at school, and going to brag to my brother that I'd watched the Mets at school that day.
I always thought the catcher had said "yo Steve, gimmie a fastball!" and I couldn't figure out who Steve was. Now I know! It was "Yo, Lee, gimme a fastball!"
Nice. You made my day, and answered a question that's been banging around my head for 20 years.

Teddy
July 19, 2002
He struck out something like 14 in a game once.

Joe Figliola
July 24, 2002
It's great that someone besides myself remembers Roy Lee's appearance on "3-2-1 Contact." Thanks, Cliff.
To set the record straight, seeing Roy Lee was an afterthought. I didn't think much of him as a pitcher. Also remember that I was 17 years old at the time, and a girl snorkeling in a bikini was much more eye-pleasing than some pitcher with a losing record throw a curve ball.
Too bad Trini didn't know how to throw a curve ball. The Mets may have been better off back in 1980.

Steven Gallanter
May 19, 2003
In the summer of 1984 I was in Ypsilanti, Michigan settling the estate of my father. 1984 was the year of the BLESS YOU BOYS Tigers who shot out to a 35-5 start that rendered the rest of the season moot.
In August of that year the Toronto Blue Jays made a little run at them and ABC had the Jays vs. Tigers on the old MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL.
Jackson had a 14 pitch at bat against Dave Bergmen of the Tigers that featured 10 fouls. I was in a state of grief and depression, (my trip to Michigan from Boston had endangered my employment), and that at bat was the first thing that had captured my imagination in days.
Roy Lee threw pretty hard as I recall and was rather muscular with a body type similiar to Tom Gordon.

Kiwiwriter
July 1, 2004
I remember one time Roy Lee Jackson was ordered to throw an intentional walk, and the first two pitches were wild, advancing the runner. Bob Murphy said on the radio, "So we're hoping that Roy Lee Jackson can finish this intentional walk...imagine such drama for an intentional walk!"
I had to agree. Only the Mets.

scott
May 14, 2007
I remember his first pitch in the Majors was at Montreal--and he threw it to the backstop. That was an omen. He was interviewed after his 14K performance against the Reds and said the main pitch he used to strike them out was "The Phantom." An appropriate name since it never worked again.
And then of course I happened to watch Ol' Roy Lee return to Shea as a member of the Padres, and he shut them out in the 2nd game of a big DH in August.

ger
October 6, 2007
I was at that game in 1985 too. The second game of a double header. The Mets got swept and Steve Garvey hit a homer in each game. I remember thinking "so this is where Roy Lee Jackson went?"
This game was notable also for Larry Bowa's debut as a Met. He went 0-4 and the first ball hit to him went through his legs.

Larry’s Memories,40 years Later
July 24, 2020
A perennial late season call-up, his Mets legacy is enshrined by a Saturday Night in Cincy (July19, 1980).I describe it as the precursor to Mike Scott & Dwight Gooden: one was Roy Lee’s teammate, both would pitch regularly at this level by the mid1980’s. The comparison to Scott is notable: the strikeout pitch that Jackson employed was identified by the announcers as a forkball. If only he could’ve taught the struggling Scott that pitch (whatever it was) before he learned it in an Astros uniform. Regrettably, it was RLJ’s only win of the year and last as Met. Like his fellow Saturday Night Hero Steve Henderson, would never again work for the Mets after 1980. However, both gave us a preview of what was in store for Mets fans in the new decade of the new ownership.