Paul Douglas (Pete) Jernigan, one of the San Diego area’s most accomplished athletes and coaches, passed away recently at his home in Hereford, Arizona.
Jernigan, 75, played 10 seasons of professional baseball and later coached successful high school and Under 18 softball teams.
He was named “Mr. Youth Sports” by the El Cajon Parks and Recreation Department in 1984 for his contributions to girls’ athletics.
Jernigan’s teams at Santana and El Capitan posted a combined record of 118-41-4. Santana won the San Diego Section championship in 1984 and El Capitan was runner-up in 1987.
Jernigan was a standout in football, wrestling, and baseball at Mount Miguel High, class of 1959.
After a season at San Diego Junior College, Jernigan signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1960, and was one of the Red prize minor league prospects.
Jernigan hit .342 with 19 home runs and 77 RBI in 62 games for Alpine in the Sophomore League in 1960.
His average was a combined .347 at Waterloo in the Midwest League and Johnstown in the Eastern League in 1961.
Jernigan played most of his career with Seattle and Phoenix in the AAA Pacific Coast League.
He hit .303 in 115 games with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in for the Phoenix Giants in 1967 and retired after the 1969 season..
I once showed Ned Martin the page, from the 1961 Red Sox Yearbook, showing Carl Yastrzemski and Pete Jernigan on the same page, and remarked on how, back then, there was no way of knowing that one of them would be in the MLB Hall of Fame, and the other would toil in obscurity. “He hurt his arm,” said Ned about Pete.
Thanks for writing and remembering Paul Douglas (P.D.) Jernigan.
Dick Coxe was responsible for Mesa College to be nicknamed the “Olympians.”
When he retired in the 1980s, he was known for sail-boating all over the world.
Thank you, Holly. Wasn’t aware of either stat, although it made sense that Mesa be named the Olympians because it opened in 1964, an Olympic year. I had no clue that he was a yachtsman.
WOW! Pete was a one-of-a-kind guy. He was such an awesome person to so many due to his tremendous baseball prowess, outstanding coaching ability and warm, friendly, and humorous personality. We had a mutual admiration friendship as I officiated many of his games, made presentations to his teams in the early days of my team motivation career and often gathered to chew, spit and chat at Bully’s East in Mission Valley and other local watering holes. When we would happen to run into each other at Bully’s we would join with other friends to celebrate the spontaneous occasion and fill the building with roars of joy and happiness. So long, Pete, may you rest in peace and remember all the fond memories you so often shared with so many.
Well said, Hubba Jubba. I read where Pete never acknowledged a take sign from his third base coach. He always wanted to hack.