Jackie's decision not to play perplexed his fans. He had driven in more runs in the past six years than any other player in the majors. When a reporter asked Jackie if he felt he was leaving a hole in the Red Sox outfield, he simply stated that the team wouldn't have much trouble replacing him (Ted Williams, whom Jackie had replaced, was returning despite an injured neck). Jackie stressed that Zoe Ann had not influenced his decision-if anything, she thought it was too early for him to quit.

While looking for new avenues of employment, Jackie was intent on avoiding idleness. When Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer asked Jackie to serve as the state's March of Dimes chairman, he readily accepted. Unfortunately, Jackie and Boots Erb were unable to construct a Lake Tahoe restaurant in time for the 1960 Olympics. This was regrettable, for the Olympic events in nearby Squaw Valley attracted an average of more than 30,000 spectators, setting attendance records. However, the Jensen family-Jackie, Zoe Ann, sons Jon and Jay, and daughter Jan-were all avid skiers, and got to see most of the events.

Jackie visited his Oakland restaurant only occasionally to promote publicity, and he faded from public view during the spring and summer as he looked into how he might make a living in local enterprises. Throughout the year Jackie engaged in occasional house building with friend Ray Ehlers, from whom he had bought his most recent home, and he thought about speculating in homes in Tahoe City with Boots, but a market survey revealed that the area was already overbuilt. Options seemed to be running out, so Jackie started thinking about playing baseball again. Soon reporters were vying with each other to get the scoop on his possible return. Jackie's statement in a telephone interview, "I'm still in retirement but nothing says things can't change," was taken by many as proof enough that he would soon be on the playing field again. This assumption was supported by the report that Jackie was invited to Boston to attend the opening of the Brighton Bowling Alleys, run by Sammy White, a former catcher on the Red Sox with Jackie.

Before finally making up his mind, Jackie had a long talk with Dick Larner, a close friend of many years since their baseball days at Cal Berkeley. They discussed the financial aspect of rejoining professional baseball and how important the lucrative salary was to the Jensen family, grown accustomed to the good life. Although Jackie decided that night to rejoin his teammates for the 1961 season, soon afterward a reporter heard him say, "A return to baseball is highly improbable."

Apparently it took the Boston atmosphere to bring out Jackie's admission that he was returning to the sport. After baseball writers attending a meeting at Fenway Park officially learned of Ted Williams' retirement and the firing of General Manager Bucky Harris, Jackie announced that he wanted to play baseball again if a franchise was to be granted in the Bay area. Jackie had been authorized by friends to speak in favor of a team in the San Francisco/Oakland area. He knew all too well that his terror of flying and his uneasiness at being away from his family would be largely solved if he could play half his games close to home.

Concerning Jackie's fear of flying, an article by reporter Bud Tehaney recounted Jackie's interview with hypnotist Arthur Ellen, who had met with Jackie and Zoe after they had seen one of his stage acts at Lake Tahoe's Harrah's Club. Under hypnosis, Jackie had supposedly recalled a childhood incident when he and a friend had played crash-and-burn-the-model-airplanes. Ellen explained that when Jackie was reminded of this incident after the session, he admitted his fears were unfounded, and felt that he was cured.

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