Jackson Hits Homer in Debut, Dedicates Ball to His Mother

Bo Jackson hit a pinch home run in his 1993 debut, but it wasn’t enough to keep the New York Yankees from beating the Chicago White Sox, 11-6, on Friday.

Jackson sat out all of last season after having hip replacement surgery, last playing in a regular-season game on Oct. 5, 1991, at Seattle.

The last time he homered was Sept. 21, 1991, against the Angels. Jackson, who batted for Dan Pasqua on Friday, then took over in left field and made a running catch.

Jackson hit an 0-and-1 pitch from Neal Heaton deep over the right-field wall and was given a standing ovation from fans at the White Sox’s home opener.

“When I hit it, I knew it was something special,” Jackson said. “After I crossed home plate, I was a little misty-eyed. I wanted the ball back.”

Greg Ourednik, 16, of Crown Point, Ind., caught the ball and traded it for an autographed bat.

“I’m going to have it bronzed and put on my mother’s tombstone,” said Jackson, who promised his mother, Florence, before she died last April that he would play baseball again.

During the eighth inning, Jackson struck out swinging against reliever John Habyan.

Jim Leyritz broke the game open with a grand slam during the eighth inning against Bobby Thigpen.