John Adam "Jackie" Tavener (December 27, 1897 – September 14, 1969), nicknamed "Rabbit",[1] was an American professional baseball player from 1921 to 1934.

He played all or parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers (1921, 1925–1928) and Cleveland Indians (1929).

Tavener was known as one of the smallest men ever to play in the major leagues and was rejected for that reason by Detroit manager Ty Cobb after a two-game tryout in 1921.

He is also one of only four players in major league history (Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Max Carey are the others) to steal second, third and home in the same inning on more than one occasion.

[2] His range and skill at the shortstop position immediately earned him a reputation as "just about the sweetest fielder in the minors.

Interviewed in 1942, Tavener recounted Cobb's comments:Kid, you've come to us with a reputation of being a smart player and one of the best fielders in the minors, but your size is against you.

For the next three years, from 1922 to 1924, Tavener was the starting shortstop for teams that won three consecutive Texas League pennants and two Dixie Series championships.

Despite being a starter for less than the full season, Tavener was one of the defensive leaders among the American League's shortstops with a .963 fielding percentage (2nd), 73 double plays (4th), 229 putouts (4th), and 398 assists (4th).

At the end of the 1925 season, veteran Detroit sports writer Sam Greene was ebullient in his praise for Tavener's defensive performance:"The midget from Fort Worth proceeded to show Detroit fans the flashiest work at shortstop they had seen since Donie Bush was in his prime.

When occasion demanded, he roamed into left field for fly balls that previously had gone for base hits.

"[16] Moreover, Greene noted that Tavener had improved as a batter and had developed a knack for hitting with men on base, making him "a feared batsman in the pinch.

Under new head coach George Moriarty, the Tigers improved substantially, and in July 1927, The Sporting News credited Tavener as "an imposing factor in the recent climb of the club," as he consistently "provided exceptional strength on defense and recently his batting has become a menace to opposing pitchers.

"[17] However, Tavener missed some 40 games during the 1927 season, principally due to an off-the-playing-field injury that eventually cut short his major league career.

Tavener slashed the index finger of his throwing hand while "fumbling around in the ice box of his house one evening.

The condition handicapped his throwing ability and reportedly "provided a mental hazard that affected his general play.

He finished the 1927 season with career highs in batting average (.274), RBIs (59), stolen bases (19), and home runs (5).

And despite missing two months from the infield, he was still one of the leading American League shortstops with 79 double plays (3rd), a .948 fielding percentage (3rd) and a 5.28 range factor (4th).

Tavener's ability to collect extra-base hits was a function not only of his speed and strength, but also of opponents underestimating him due to his small size.

He also became only the fourth player in major league history (Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Max Carey are the others) to steal second, third and home in the same inning on more than one occasion.

[20] In December 1928, the Tigers traded Tavener with Ken Holloway to the Cleveland Indians for pitcher George Uhle.

The Indians sought to justify the trade by pointing out that Tavener had always hit well at Cleveland's Dunn Field with its short right-field wall.

Proving that he still had power in his swing, Tavener, at age 34, contributed 30 doubles, 10 triples and a career high 15 home runs in 1931.

He returned to the Fort Worth Panthers in 1933 and concluded his professional baseball career as a back-up shortstop during the 1933 and 1934 seasons.