By MIKE FINNEY, The News Journal

Baseball legend ‘Spook’ Jacobs dies - he was a second baseman played for Athletics, Pirates.

Forrest “Spook” Jacobs made quite a name for himself by playing professional baseball for 17 seasons.

But perhaps it was his unique nickname that generated the most intrigue from fans. Jacobs was dubbed “Spook” for his uncanny ability to dump baseballs just over the heads of opposing infielders.

Jacobs, who was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, died at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford last Friday at the age of 85. He had been the oldest living major league player from Delaware.

Jacobs played for the Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates and several minor league clubs in Cuba and Panama in the 1950s and ’60s.Mike Lambert, who wrote “Eastern Shore League,” was an acquaintance of Jacobs for the past 20 years.

“Spook Jacobs was a great person,” said Lambert, of Seaford. “He was an honorable individual and a very good friend. My wife and I met Spook more than 20 years ago. I’m a baseball aficionado, so getting the chance to get to know Spook meant a lot to me.”

Lambert laughed as he recalled how he managed to get Jacobs in his book despite the fact that he never played in the Eastern Shore League.

“I had an old wire photo of Spook sliding into home plate for the Philadelphia Athletics, and the umpire that called him safe at home was an ex-Eastern Shore League umpire,” Lambert said. “I just had to get him in there.”

Jacobs began his major league career on April 13, 1954, and had hits in his first four at-bats. He made his major league debut at the age of 28, which prompted him to quip, “I was the only rookie who ever drew Social Security.”Jon Rafal, director of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame, said Jacobs’ debut was remarkable.

“He was the first player to have four hits in his first four major league at-bats on opening day,” Rafal said. “The funny thing is that [Seaford native] Delino DeShields also did it years later.

“So here you have two little infielders from about 18 miles apart in the state of Delaware accomplishing the same feat. It’s almost unbelievable.”Jacobs, a second baseman, was 5-foot-9 and his playing weight was 155 pounds. He batted .247 with a .971 fielding percentage in his three-year stint in the majors. He also stole 22 bases, 17 in 1954.

“I remember when Spook Jacobs was playing … that takes me way back,” said Ben Sirman, longtime athletic director and coach at Seaford High. “He was playing in the 1950s and I was listening on the radio.

“Spook told me he played against Ted Williams in about 21 games in his career, and he was a part of the Williams [infield] shift. He said that in the 21 games he played against him that no balls came to him — some whizzed past, but he never got a chance to field one.”

Jacobs got into a fight after being beaned by future Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda in a Pacific Coast League game. After tangling with Lasorda, he turned and went after second baseman Sparky Anderson.

Originally a Brooklyn Dodgers farmhand, Jacobs spent 14 years in the minor leagues, finishing with a career .300 batting average but only nine home runs.Legendary manager Casey Stengel once said of Jacobs, “He’s always been in our hair.”

Before baseball, Jacobs served as a sergeant during World War II. After baseball, he and his wife, Bobbie, owned and operated the Milford Bus Center and then the Mr. Donut/Donut Connection for 42 years before retiring.

Contact Mike Finney at 734-7945 or mfinney@delawareonline.com.

Forrest “Spook” Jacobs services

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Avenue United Methodist Church at 20 North Church Street in Milford. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the church. Burial will follow at the Milford Community Cemetery on U.S. 113.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 North Church Street, Milford, DE, 19963, or to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE, 19963.

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Forrest Vandergrift “Spook” Jacobs | Visit Guest Book

Of Milford, passed away Friday, February 18, 2011 at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. He was 85.

Mr. Jacobs was born on November 4, 1925 in Cheswold, son of the late Edwin F. and Norma C. (Willey) Jacobs.

He graduated from Salem High School, Salem, New Jersey in 1943. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a Sergeant during World War II.

Upon return from his tour of duty, Mr. Jacobs played professional baseball for 17 seasons, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, the Kansas City Athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates and several minor league clubs in Cuba and Panama. He was a speedy second baseman, known for his aggressive style on the base paths and unique hitting style, which earned him the nickname “Spook”. On opening day 1954, Spook had four base hits in his first four major league at bats. He was a superb contact hitter, striking out only 4% of his total plate appearances.

He is a member of seven Sports Halls of Fame - Delaware Baseball, Columbus Ohio, Cuban Baseball, Eastern Shore, Delaware, South Jersey and Salem County (NJ).

After his baseball career ended, Spook and his wife Bobbie settled in Milford where they owned and operated the Milford Bus Center then Mr. Donut/Donut Connection over a span of 42 years before retiring.

One of his proudest achievements was when his personal stamp collection was featured in 2008 at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Mr. Jacobs was a member of the Milford Lions Club, a long time member of the former Milford Kiwanis Club, a member of the Blue Hen VFW Post #6483 in Milford, the Milford Rotary Club, where he organized the annual Sports Banquet for 11 years, the American Legion Post #3 in Milford, and the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society.

Spook also coached baseball at Del Tech and the Milford Little League.

He was a devoted member of the Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Jacobs in 2010, a son Tommy Jacobs, a granddaughter, Dominique Nicole Jacobs and a brother, Edwin Jacobs.

He is survived by a son, Robert Forrest Jacobs; a granddaughter, Ashley Monique Jacobs of El Paso, TX; a great-grandson, Thomas Vincent Jacobs Wesley of El Paso; a sister-in-law, Shirley Orren of Abilene, TX and several cousins, nephews and nieces.

Friends may call from 6-8 pm on Friday, February 25, at the Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St., Milford. Services will be held at 1 pm on Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in the Milford Community Cemetery on Route 113.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, DE, 19963 or to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE, 19963.

Condolences may be emailed at www.delmarvaobits.com/rogers

Arrangements handled by ROGERS FUNERAL HOME, Milford

Published in The News Journal on February 23, 2011