Jacoby Ellsbury
Back to Ambassador IndexJacoby Ellsbury was destined for great things.
Born in Madras, Oregon, and a proud member of Colorado River Indian Tribe, Jacoby was a four-year letterman in both football and baseball at Madras High School. He played three years of baseball at Oregon State University before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox.
He is the first Native American of Navajo descent to reach the major leagues. Bringing speed, stellar defense and unstoppable enthusiasm to the diamond, Jacoby is the starting center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He led the American League in Stolen Bases during both the 2008 and 2009 seasons. This reflects his aptitude on the field, but his heart is in more than one place.
His support of the Navajo Relief Fund, which helps build self-sufficient Native communities, is unmatched by any other professional athlete. NRF provides support for isolated and impoverished Navajo Nation communities. Jacoby and NRF work to bring relief from harsh living conditions and to bring hope by building on the strong sense of Navajo pride and community.
He’s a team player in the truest sense.
