The phrase has roots in Saugerties, N.Y., where Hallion grew up. He would go after school to play baseball at a local field from 4 p.m. until it got dark. The only problem was that his mom would start making dinner around 5 p.m. As a result, his siblings would often ride their bikes to the field and yell to him that his “ass was in the jackpot” because their mom was angry that he wasn’t home.
– The inside story of ‘ass in the jackpot’ and its insights on umps and managers