He attended College at Daytona Beach, Florida getting selected as the New York Mets first round draft pick in 1983 (the twentieth pick overall). The outfielder was hyped up as the next Mets superstar in the shadows of Daryl Strawberry.
He was one of the fastest players the organization has ever had, clocked at 3.0 from home plate to first base in college. He had 120 stolen bases in his first three minor-league seasons, including an inside-the-park grand slam.
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He debuted in the big leagues on September 7th, 1986 batting lead off & center field. In his second at bat he was hit by a pitch from the Padres Dave LaPoint. He eventually scored on a Kevin McReynolds base hit & got a hit of his own later in the 7-1 Mets win. On September 20th, he hit his first career HR, it came at Shea Stadium against Tom Hume in a 9-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
After the Mets won the World Series he was sent to the San Diego Padres in the Kevin McReynolds-Kevin Mitchell deal that winter.
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In 1991 he tore his Achilles’ tendon which finished off his career. After a six year career, he batted .216 with 180 hits 16 HRs 25 doubles 67 RBIs & a .276 on base % in 296 games.
During the Players strike in the early nineties Jefferson became a replacement player for the Mets, sharing the outfield with ex-Met Herm Winningham. Eventually he obtained his Bachelor's degree at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
Retirement: In 1997 after his baseball career Jefferson joined the New York City Police Department. He was on duty during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and worked at Ground Zero after the collapse of the World Trade Center. He suffered health problems as a result of his time at Ground Zero, and was forced to retire being unfit for duty in 2004.
He then suffered from agoraphobia, panic attacks, depression & recurring nightmares. Jefferson still lives in Co-Op City with his wife Christie.
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