St. John's University Athletics
Alfieri: The Great Tony Jackson
11/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Gus Alfieri
Nov. 4, 2005
QUEENS, N.Y. - Anthony Baxter Jackson, a name that sounded more like that of a Civil War general, passed away last week after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. Tony Jackson, or "TJ," as he was referred to in the late 1950s by the metropolitan New York sports world, is arguably among the top three basketball players to represent St. John's University all-time. I'm sure most people who read about Tony know little of him, but it's difficult to erase from my mind and the record books how great a player he was.
The word "great" is an abused one today. We saw a "great" movie, or went to a "great" restaurant for dinner. It's an overworked superlative that has lost its meaning because it's part of a culture that seems to refer to everyone, and everything as "great." But if all the great modern players were listed, Tony Jackson would be included. There was only one "TJ", and he earned the right to be called great.
At 6-4, 185 pounds, Tony was a graceful athlete, resembling a gazelle when loping up the court, who could sky four feet off the ground and snare all sorts of rebounds. His long range jump shots had the softest touch that seemed to melt like butter into the basket. Tony could pass, but by shooting the ball he helped the team more.
He joined the 1958-1959 St. John's team as a sophomore under Coach Joe Lapchick, and had to blend with a senior team that I also played on along with All-American Alan Seiden, Lou Roethel and Dick Engert. Tony's first game that year was in Madison Square Garden against a fine Providence team, and was part of a doubleheader that included NYU and highly rated Cincinnati, led by Oscar Robertson, maybe the finest basketball player of all time.
Realizing the pressure on a young player breaking in, Lapchick planned to start John Caso, but he hurt his knee and was out for the season. Reluctantly, Lapchick started Jackson, and the rest is history. Tony shot 10-for-14 from the floor in his first Garden game, finishing with 23 points and 16 rebounds, but there was more to the opening night story.
"I was coming off a broken foot," Seiden recalled, "And Tony had a big first half, scoring 16 or 18 points."
Knowing that Seiden was an All-America candidate, Jackson successfully spent most of the second half setting his senior teammate up for baskets so that he would score. Seiden ended up leading the team with 25 points. Since Oscar Robertson scored 45 points in the nightcap sportswriters compared the two superstars, with Tony more than holding his own. The 1958-1959 season was a Cinderella year for Tony, one of the finest in St. John's history. After an early season loss, we ran off five straight games, and swept through a competitive Holiday Festival in the Garden with a decisive victory in the final over St. Joseph's. Tony led the way with 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field and 11-for-12 from the charity stripe while grabbing a game high 22 rebounds. Jackson's spectacular play earned him the tournament's MVP.
Our team concluded the season by winning the 1959 NIT in overtime against Bradley, a tournament considered at the time equal to the NCAA. The NIT also awarded Tony its MVP cup after he scored 21 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in the championship game. I remember the team going to dinner in the Hotel Abbey to celebrate, and every player and his date drinking champagne from Tony's cup. It was one of my finest memories in sports.
Jackson had garnered two MVPs in one season, scored more than five hundred points, averaged more than twenty points and 14 rebounds a game, all as a sophomore on a top twenty, senior-dominated team.
But looking back the highlight of the tournament occurred during the quarterfinals when St. John's opposed a talented St. Bonaventure team led by future NBA pros Tom and Sam Stith, and Whitey Martin, and coached by Eddie Donovan. With the Redmen trailing late in the second half, Jackson spring-boarded the team into the lead with three long range jump shots against a difficult Bonnie zone defense. The Redmen went on to win, but would never have without the lights-out shooting of Tony Jackson.
I have some of the old films, and St. John's will soon have copies for historical occasions. Even on 40 year-old, 16 millimeter film, viewers will also conclude that Tony Jackson was a great, once in a lifetime player.
About the Author: Gus Alfieri was part of a St. John's team that piled up victories in the late 1950s under Joe Lapchick. He and his teammates starred in the 1959 NIT final with an overtime victory over Bradley.
