Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Jackson gets his World Series ring

Photo by Amanda Comak / Washington Times
Edwin Jackson's World Series ring arrived from St. Louis today.
A small, black box arrived at Nationals Park today and wound up in Davey Johnson's office. The Nationals manager then had the pleasure of presenting it to its true owner: Edwin Jackson, who at long last received his 2011 World Series ring.

Jackson, a member of the Cardinals' championship rotation last fall, became a free agent after the season and signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Nationals on Feb. 1. Unable to attend the Cardinals' official ring ceremony at Busch Stadium because he had to be with his new team, Jackson had the item sent to him in Washington.

Once he got his first actual look at the 2.62-carat ring, which boasts 50 rubies and 103 diamonds, Jackson experienced a rush of emotions.

"To hold it, not only getting to look at it in pictures, to hold a piece of history in your hand, it's in your possession finally," he said. "The waiting and anticipation is over."

Jackson proudly showed off the ring to teammates and reporters in the Nationals' clubhouse, most of whom have never owned one of their own. One of the few uniformed personnel who could relate, though, was Johnson.

A two-time World Series winner as a player with the Orioles in 1966 and 1970, and a winner as manager of the Mets in 1986, Johnson recalled how his old ring was so small it could fit comfortably on his pinkie finger. The 69-year-old skipper was taken aback by the 2011 ring.

"It was shockingly beautiful and big," he said. "That's what we're here for. That's what we're all dreaming about."

14 comments:

natsfan1a said...

Holy moley, that is some piece of jewelry! Almost jumps right off the page at you. Nice pic. Congrats to Edwin. Hope our guys will be sporting similar rings one day.

MicheleS said...

I can't believe they but the squirrel on the ring!

Good for EJax.. similar rings with a big Curly W will be ordered soon!

Mark'd said...

Sometime soon here in Washington

Anonymous said...

BB (Bodacious Bling) !

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

Goodness! What big diamonds!

Candide said...

So whose finger is that in the photo? Sure isn't Jackson's...

natsfan1a said...

Goodness had nothing to do with it. :-)

Isn't that the cardinal on a perch as opposed to the rally squirrel?

MicheleS said...

1A, They had other pictures of it with the squirrel on the side of the ring.

Side View

Scooter said...

I feel misled. I thought the Nats signed Jackson because he "[had] a ring." He didn't have a ring. He had a Ring Receivable, which is totally not the same thing.

Rizzo FAIL >:-(

natsfan1a said...

Thanks, Michelle. That is funny. And they even put Bob Carpenter's name on it. What? Oh. Never mind.

Whitey Ford said...

Those diamonds are great for cutting the ball -- then you can really make it sing.

carolync said...

The ring is beautiful and congratulations to Edwin! But as a long-time bird watcher, that bird looks more like an oriole than a cardinal. Heaven forbid.

natsfan1a said...

Carolync, the link from Michelle has a better likeness (me, too, on the bird watching).

Cwj said...

Congrats to Edwin!

On bird watching, I enjoy it as well here in the mountains. Actually nature watching in general is a part of daily life where I live.
Beautiful out here :-)

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