The legendary Bo Jackson was officially inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Jackson, who grew up in Bessemer, went on to star at Auburn in football and baseball before becoming the first player to ever be named an All-Star in two major sports, a record he still owns.
Before the Royals played host to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, the organization honored Jackson, who delivered an impassioned speech in which he thanked fans for their support.
After being honored, the Heisman winner spoke with ESPN and was brought to tears as he reflected on his career and life.
"Well, it means that I'm not forgotten, in some ways," Jackson said of his Royals Hall of Fame induction. "It also shows me that, the short time I had here in Kansas City, the fans and the organization still appreciates me. And that gives me solace to always look at Kansas City as a starting space for me after college."
Jackson's legendary career was cut short due to a hip injury playing for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1991, which he described as a "stepping stone" in his life after injury.
"I think everybody has a speed bump in their road of life," he said of his injury. "And you just got to learn how to ... like I tell everybody, 'Slow down, get over that speed bump and get on down the road.'"
"I don't look back at that date as the end of my sports career," Jackson continued. "I don't look back as if it was a tragic day in my life. It was all a stepping stone for me. It wasn't meant for me to do no more than what I've done in sports. Period. And I've accepted that. And I've moved on. And my life is better for it."
He concluded, "But the thing that I cherish in this day and age is my friendship with all my friends, being a proud father of three wonderful kids, being a proud granddad of two beautiful boys and being with my wife, who is like the superglue of our family. That's what's important now. Baseball, football, all of that stuff, yes, that was great for Bo Jackson. i will never deny it. ... Life has other things in store for me like it does everybody else."
The two-sport star won the Heisman Trophy with Auburn football in 1985 and then spurned the NFL to pursue a career in baseball, signing with the Royals in 1986 after being drafted in the fourth round. Jackson made his Major League Baseball debut later that year and was an instant phenom.
He was named Most Valuable Player of the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, in which he hit a leadoff home run. He led the Royals with a career-best 32 home runs and 105 RBI during that 1989 season and then led the club again with 28 home runs the following season.
Watch the Royals' tribute to Jackson and his career:
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