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| '''Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson''' (born [[May 18]], [[1946]] in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania) is a Hall of Fame right fielder who played for the [[1967 Birmingham A's]] before starting a 21-year Major League career with four teams and earning the nickname "Mr October" for his late-season clutch hitting, including three consecutive home runs in the [[1977]] World Series. He was named to 14 All-Star teams and was the American League's Most Valuable Player in [[1973]]. He was also a two-time World Series MVP and has had his uniform number retired by the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. | | [[Image:Reggie Jackson 1967.jpg|right|thumb|Reggie Jackson in 1967]] |
| | '''Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson''' (born [[May 18]], [[1946]] in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania) is a Hall of Fame right fielder who played for the [[1967 Birmingham A's]] before starting a 21-year Major League career with four teams and earning the nickname "Mr October" for his late-season clutch hitting, including three consecutive home runs in the [[1977]] World Series. He was named to 14 All-Star teams and was the American League's Most Valuable Player in [[1973]]. He was also a two-time World Series MVP and has had his uniform numbers retired by the Oakland Athletics (9) and the New York Yankees (44). |
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| ===Early life=== | | ===Early life=== |
| Jackson was born in the predominantly-Jewish Wyncote neighborhood of Cheltenham Township, just north of Philadelphia], Pennsylvania. His father, Martinez Jackson, was a half-Puerto Rican tailor who had played in the [[Negro Leagues]] as a second baseman for the Newark Eagles. His mother, Clara, was full Puerto Rican. When they divorced in [[1950]], Jackson and one of his half-brothers stayed with his father while the other children remained with his mother. | | Jackson was born in the predominantly-Jewish Wyncote neighborhood of Cheltenham Township, just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Martinez Jackson, was a half-Puerto Rican tailor who had played in the [[Negro Leagues]] as a second baseman for the Newark Eagles. His mother, Clara, was full Puerto Rican. When they divorced in [[1950]], Jackson and one of his half-brothers stayed with his father while the other children remained with his mother. |
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| He attended Cheltenham High School and was a standout athlete on the school's football, basketball, baseball and track and field teams. He injured his knee playing football in his junior season, but was able to return for the final game. In that game he fractured five vertebraw and spent six weeks in the hospital and another month in a neck cast. He was a star batter and pitcher on the baseball team, batting .550 and pitching several no-hitters. During his senior year, his father was arrested for selling bootleg liquor and served six months in prison. He graduated in [[1964]]. | | He attended Cheltenham High School and was a standout athlete on the school's football, basketball, baseball and track and field teams. He injured his knee playing football in his junior season, but was able to return for the final game. In that game he fractured five vertebrae and spent six weeks in the hospital and another month in a neck cast. He was a star batter and pitcher on the baseball team, batting .550 and pitching several no-hitters. During his senior year, his father was arrested for selling bootleg liquor and served six months in prison. He graduated in [[1964]]. |
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| ===College=== | | ===College=== |
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| ==Birmingham A's== | | ==Birmingham A's== |
| Jackson was selected by the Kansas City Athletics as the second overall pick in the [[1966]] Major League draft. He signed with the A's for $85,000 and reported to training camp that June with the Single-A Lewis-Clark Broncs in Lewiston, Idaho. He spent his first season there, and with another Single-A team in Modesto, California. | | Jackson was selected by the Kansas City Athletics as the second overall pick in the [[1966]] Major League draft. He signed with the A's for $85,000 and reported to training camp that June with the Single-A Lewis-Clark Broncs in Lewiston, Idaho. He spent his first season there, and with another Single-A team, the Modesto Reds, in California. |
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| In [[1967]] Jackson reported to [[Charlie Finley]]'s newly-created Double-A [[1967 Birmingham A's|Birmingham A's]], managed by [[John McNamara]]. It was the first racially-integrated professional baseball team to play for Birmingham and McNamara helped Jackson shrug off the lingering racism surrounding the club. He and fellow star [[Rollie Fingers]] helped the A's claim a [[Southern League]] title by three and a half games. | | In [[1967]] Jackson reported to [[Charlie Finley]]'s newly-created Double-A [[1967 Birmingham A's|Birmingham A's]], managed by [[John McNamara]]. It was the first racially-integrated professional baseball team to play for Birmingham and McNamara helped Jackson shrug off the lingering racism surrounding the club. He and fellow star [[Rollie Fingers]] helped the A's claim a [[Southern League]] title by three and a half games. |
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| ===Major Leagues===
| | ==Major Leagues== |
| After 114 games with the A's, Jackson made his Major League debut with Kansas City in a double-header on [[June 9]], [[1967]]. He recorded his first hit, a triple from Cleveland reliever Orlando Pena, in the second game. | | After 114 games with the A's, Jackson was called up to debut with Kansas City in a double-header on [[June 9]], [[1967]]. He recorded his first Major League hit, a triple off of Cleveland reliever Orlando Pena, in the second game. |
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| In [[1968]] Finley moved the Athletics to Oakland. During the [[1967]] season Jackson briefly outpaced Roger Maris' 1961 home run count, but finished with 47 to Maris' record of 61. Jackson approached Finley to ask for a pay raise in the off-season, but was turned down. In the [[1970]] season Jackson's batting dropped off significantly, ending up at a .237 average with 23 home runs. After a brief demotion to a Puerto Rican league, Jackson returned as an All-Star in [[1971]]. In the All-Star game he sent a Dock Ellis pitch soaring over Tiger Stadium's right field stands into an electrical transformer on the light standard. | | In [[1968]] Finley moved the Athletics to Oakland. During the [[1967]] season Jackson briefly outpaced Roger Maris' 1961 home run count, but finished the season with 47 to Maris' record of 61. Jackson approached Finley to ask for a pay raise in the off-season, but was turned down. In the [[1970]] season Jackson's batting dropped off significantly, ending up at a .237 average with 23 home runs. After a brief demotion, Jackson returned as an All-Star in [[1971]]. In the All-Star game he sent a Dock Ellis pitch soaring over Tiger Stadium's right field stands an into an electrical transformer on a light standard. |
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| In [[1971 Oakland Athletics season|1971]], the Athletics won the American League's Western Division title, their first first-place finish since [[1931 Philadelphia Athletics season|1931]], when they played in Philadelphia. They lost the [[1971 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] to the [[1971 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]. The A's won the Division again in [[1972 Oakland Athletics season|1972]]; their series with the Tigers went five games, and Jackson scored the tying run in the clincher on a steal of home. In the process, however, he tore a hamstring and was unable to play in the [[1972 World Series|World Series]]. The A's still managed to defeat the [[1972 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] in seven games. It was the first championship won by a [[San Francisco Bay Area]] team in any major league sport. | | In [[1971]] the Athletics won the American League's Western Division title, their first since 1931, when the team was still in Philadelphia. They lost the AL Championship Series to the Baltimore Orioles. When the A's returned to the ALCS in [[1972]]; their series with the Tigers went to five games, and Jackson scored the tying run in the clincher by stealing home. In the process, however, he tore his hamstring and was unable to play in the World Series. The A's managed to defeat the Cincinnati Reds in seven games without him. |
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| During spring training in 1972, Jackson showed up with a mustache. Though his teammates wanted him to shave it off, Jackson refused. Finley liked the mustache so much that he offered each player $300 to grow one, and hosted a "Mustache Day", featuring the last MLB player to wear a mustache, [[Frenchy Bordagaray]], as [[master of ceremonies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19840621&id=E2kaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DyoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4428,520941|title=Baseball Faces Hairy Situation|first=Tom|last=Flaherty|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=June 21, 1984|accessdate=December 9, 2011|page=1}}</ref>
| | Jackson reported to A's spring training in [[1972]] sporting a mustache. Inspired, Finley offered the other players $300 bonuses to grow mustaches and scheduled a "Mustache Day" with Frenchy Bordagaray as a special guest. The [[1973]] Athletics returned to the World Series and Jackson was named the American League's Most Valuable Player that year. Oakland beat the Mets in a seven-game World Series. In the final game Jackson and fellow Birmingham alumnus [[Bert Campaneris]] both hit two-run homers off Jon Matlack. Jackson was named the series' Most Valuable Player. The team repeated as World Champions in [[1974]], dispatching the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. |
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| Jackson helped the Athletics win the pennant again in [[1973 Oakland Athletics season|1973]], and was named Most Valuable Player of the American League for the season. The A's defeated the [[1973 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in seven hard-fought games in the [[1973 World Series|World Series]]. This time, Jackson was not only able to play, but his performance led to his being awarded the Series' [[Most Valuable Player]] award. In the third inning of that seventh game, which ended in a 5–2 score, the A's jumped out to a 4–0 lead as both [[Bert Campaneris]] and Jackson hit two-run home runs off [[Jon Matlack]]—the only two home runs Oakland hit the entire Series. The A's won the [[1974 World Series|World Series]] again in [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|1974]], defeating the [[1974 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in five games.
| | In [[1975]] the A's won their division, but were swept by the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Finley, knowing he wouldn't be able to match Jackson's salary demands in free agency, traded him on [[April 2]], [[1976]] to the Baltimore Orioles. Jackson helped them to to second-place finish. |
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| Besides putting up monster numbers during his nine years with the Athletics, including 254 [[home run]]s, Jackson was also no stranger to controversy or conflict in Oakland. Sports author Dick Crouser wrote, "When the late [[Al Helfer]] was broadcasting the Oakland A's games, he was not too enthusiastic about Reggie Jackson's speed or his hustle. Once, with Jackson on third, teammate [[Rick Monday]] hit a long [[home run]]. 'Jackson should score easily on that one,' commented Helfer. Crouser also noted that, "Nobody seems to be neutral on Reggie Jackson. You're either a fan or a detractor." One-time teammate [[Darold Knowles]] would seem to be in the latter camp. Once when asked if Jackson was a hotdog (i.e., a show-off), he famously replied, "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson."<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091981/index.htm "They Said It," ''Sports Illustrated'', January 24, 1977.]</ref>
| | During his nine seasons with the A's Jackson earned major accolades, but also gained a reputation as a showoff at the plate and as an underachiever on the bases. His former teammate Darold Knowles was asked in [[1977]] if Jackson was a hot dog and replied "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson."<sup>1.</sup> |
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| Perhaps the most notable off-field incident involving Jackson occurred on June 5, 1974, when outfielder [[Billy North]] and Jackson engaged in a clubhouse fight at Detroit's Tiger Stadium. Jackson injured his shoulder, and catcher [[Ray Fosse]], attempting to separate the combatants, suffered a crushed disk in his neck, costing him three months on the disabled list.
| | As a free agent for [[1977]], Jackson was able to command a five-year, $2.96 million contract from the New York Yankees. He saw himself as the "straw the stirs the drink" that could help the Yankees break their 15-year championship drought. When he made that statement he also seemed to belittle catcher Thurmon Munson, further straining Jackson's relationship with manager Billy Martin and his teammates. The tension came to blows in a June loss to the Red Sox. Martin yanked Jackson out of the game after he allowed a Jim Rice fly ball to drop in front of him. Their subsequent argument in the dugout was televised nationally. Owner George Steinbrenner gave Martin an ultimatum to either leave Jackson in the cleanup spot for the season or lose his job. The Yankees finished strong with Jackson's bat leading the way, won their division by two and a half games, and claimed the pennant in a five-game series against the Kansas City Royals. |
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| ===Baltimore Orioles (1976)===
| | During an interview in the midst of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers, Munson suggested that the reporter should speak to Jackson, saying "go ask Mr October". With Jackson hitting crucial home runs in games four and five, followed by three consecutive homers on three different pitchers' first pitches in game six, the nickname stuck. Jackson became the first player to win the World Series MVP award for two teams. His 25 total bases in the series broke Babe Ruth's record and still stands. |
| The A's won the Division again in [[1975 Oakland Athletics season|1975]], but the loss of pitcher [[Catfish Hunter]], baseball's first modern free agent, left them vulnerable, and they were swept in the [[1975 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] by the [[1975 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]. With the coming of free agency after the 1976 season, and with team owner Finley unwilling to pay the higher salary that Jackson would ask for, Jackson was traded on April 2, 1976 along with minor leaguer Bill VanBommell and [[Ken Holtzman]] to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] for [[Don Baylor]], [[Mike Torrez]], and Paul Mitchell. Both his new team, the Orioles, and his former team, the Athletics, finished second in their respective divisions.
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| ===New York Yankees (1977–1981)===
| | Despite his heroics at the plate, manager Billy Martin never warmed to Jackson. He suspended the right fielder for disobeying a sign in July [[1978]]. Martin resigned the next day under pressure and was replaced by former White Sox manager Bob Lemon. At one point 14 games behind the Red Sox, the Yankees charged back to tie for first at the end of the season and won a one-game playoff at Fenway Park 5-4 with Jackson knocking in the winning run in the eighth. He helped the Yanks defeat the Royals in four straight to claim a third consecutive League Championship and a rematch against the Dodgers in the World Series. |
| The Yankees signed Jackson to a five-year contract totaling $2.96 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|2960000|1976|r=0}}}} in current dollar terms) on November 29, 1976.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qIAeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YMoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4845,4300271|title=Yankees to Sign Reggie Jackson|newspaper=[[Daytona Beach Morning Journal]]|page=1B|date=November 28, 1976|first=Murray|last=Chass|agency=New York Times News Service|accessdate=December 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c-YyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jwcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6835,79961|title=Reggie Jackson Homers in Hall|first=Jim|last=Donaghy|newspaper=[[The Free Lance-Star]]|page=C2|date=August 2, 1993|accessdate=December 2, 2011}}</ref> Upon arriving in New York, the number 9 that he had worn in Oakland and Baltimore was worn by third baseman [[Graig Nettles]]. Jackson asked for number 42, in memory of [[Jackie Robinson]]. But manager [[Billy Martin]] brought his friend [[Art Fowler]] in as [[pitching coach]], and gave him number 42. So, noting that then-all-time home run leader [[Hank Aaron]] had just retired, Jackson asked for and received number 44, Aaron's number. On his first day in spring training the following February, however, Jackson wore number 20 (the number of [[Frank Robinson]], who had also just retired) before switching to 44.
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| Jackson's first season with the Yankees, 1977, was a difficult one. Although team owner [[George Steinbrenner]] and several players, most notably catcher and team captain [[Thurman Munson]] and outfielder [[Lou Piniella]], were excited about his arrival, Martin was not. Martin had managed the Tigers in [[1972 Detroit Tigers season|1972]], when Jackson's [[1972 Oakland Athletics season|A's]] beat them in the [[1972 American League Championship Series|playoffs]]. Jackson was once quoted as saying of Martin, "I hate him, but if I played for him, I'd probably love him." | | Los Angeles won the first two games at Dodger Stadium, taking the second when rookie reliever Bob Welch struck Jackson out with two on and two outs in the ninth. The Yankees won the next three in New York, returning the series to the West Coast. Jackson hammered a two-run home run off of Welch in the 7th inning of a 7-2 victory for the championship. |
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| The relationship between Jackson and his new teammates was strained due to an interview with [[Sport (US magazine)|''SPORT'' magazine]] writer [[Robert Ward (novelist & screenwriter)|Robert Ward]]. During spring training at the Yankees' camp in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], Jackson and Ward were having drinks at a nearby bar. Jackson's version of the story is that he noted that the Yankees had won the pennant the year before, but lost the [[1976 World Series|World Series]] to the [[1976 Cincinnati Reds season|Reds]], and suggested that they needed one thing more to win it all, and pointed out the various ingredients in his drink. Ward suggested that Jackson might be "the straw that stirs the drink." But when the story appeared in the May 1977 issue of ''SPORT'', Ward quoted Jackson as saying, "This team, it all flows from me. I'm the straw that stirs the drink. Maybe I should say me and Munson, but he can only stir it bad."
| | In [[1980]] Jackson averaged .300 for the first time in his career and tied the Brewers' Ben Ogilvie for the lead in home runs with 41. The Yankees were swept, however, by the Royals in the ALCS. [[1981]] was the final year on Jackson's contract, which Steinbrenner elected not to extend. The slight provoked a public dispute between the owner and his star right fielder that continued through the 1981 players' strike. When the season resumed Jackson's bat helped the Yankees win another pennant, but he missed two games of the World Series with a sore foot. Though doctors had cleared him to return, Lemon left Jackson on the bench for game three, which was a loss. The Dodgers went on to win the series in seven games. |
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| [[File:George Steinbrenner s life work 13july2010 000120 Reggie Jackson signs with the Yankees.jpg|thumb|left|Jackson signs with the Yankees.]]
| | California Angels owner Gene Autry signed Jackson as a free agent at the end of the season and gave him a five-year contract. He started the [[1982]] season in a hitting slump, but was energized by his [[April 27]] return to Yankee Stadium by knocking a home run off a Ron Guidry pitch. New York fans blamed Steinbrenner for losing Jackson and cheered the former Yankee in the game. The Angels won the American League's West Division that year and again in [[1986]], but lost both Championship Series. Jackson hit his 500th home run at Anaheim Stadium on [[September 17]], [[1984]], which happened to be the 17th anniversary of his first. |
| Jackson has consistently denied saying anything negative about Munson in the interview and that his quotes were taken out of context.<ref>Wayne Coffey, [http://www.nydailynews.com/features/bronxisburning/yankees/index.html "Bombers are champs again"] {{dead link|date=June 2012}}, ''[[New York Daily News]]''. Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> However, [[Dave Anderson (sportswriter)|Dave Anderson]] of the ''[[New York Times]]'' subsequently wrote that he had drinks with Jackson in July 1977, and that Jackson told him, "I'm still the straw that stirs the drink. Not Munson, not nobody else on this club."<ref>Anderson, D: "1977: Reggie", "The Baseball Reader", page 11. Lippincott & Crowell, Publishers, 1980</ref> Regardless, as Munson was beloved by his teammates, Martin, Steinbrenner and Yankee fans, the relationships between them and Jackson became very strained.
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| On June 18, in a 10–4 loss to the [[1977 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] in a nationally televised game at [[Fenway Park]] in Boston, [[Jim Rice]], a powerful hitter but notoriously slow runner, hit a ball into shallow right field that Jackson appeared to weakly attempt to field. Jackson failed to reach the ball which fell far in front of him, thereby allowing Rice to reach second base. Furious, Martin removed Jackson from the game without even waiting for the end of the inning, sending [[Paul Blair (baseball)|Paul Blair]] out to replace him. When Jackson arrived at the dugout, Martin yelled that Jackson had shown him up. They argued, and Jackson said that Martin's heavy drinking had impaired his judgment. Despite Jackson being 18 years younger, about two inches taller and maybe 40 pounds heavier, Martin lunged at him, and had to be restrained by coaches [[Yogi Berra]] and [[Elston Howard]]. Red Sox fans could see this in the dugout and began cheering wildly, and the [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] TV cameras showed the confrontation to the entire country.
| | In [[1987]] Jackson returned to the Oakland Athletics on a one-year contract, and then retired at the end of the season. |
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| Yankees management defused the situation by the next day, but the relationship between Jackson and Martin was permanently poisoned. However, George Steinbrenner made a crucial intervention when he gave Martin the option of either having Jackson bat in the fourth or "cleanup" spot for the rest of the season, or losing his job. Martin made the change and Jackson's hitting improved (he had 13 home runs and 49 RBIs over his next 50 games), and the team went on a winning streak. On September 14, while in a tight three-way race for the American League Eastern Division crown with the Red Sox and [[1977 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]], Jackson ended a game with the Red Sox by hitting a home run off [[Reggie Cleveland]], giving the Yankees a 2–0 win. The Yankees won the division by two and a half games over the Red Sox and Orioles, and came from behind in the top of the ninth inning in the fifth and final game of the [[1977 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] to beat the [[1977 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] for the pennant.
| | Over the course of his 21 season in the Majors, Jackson's teams won six pennants and five World Series. He was a 14-time All-Star and hit 563 career home runs (6th all-time in 1987) with a .490 slugging percentage. He was also the sport's all-time leader in strikeouts with 2,597. |
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| ====Mr. October==== | | ==Off the field== |
| During the [[1977 World Series|World Series]] against the [[1978 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]], Munson was interviewed, and suggested that Jackson, because of his past post-season performances, might be the better interview subject. "Go ask Mister October," he said, giving Jackson a nickname that would stick. (In Oakland, he had been known as "Jax" and "Buck.") Jackson hit home runs in Games Four and Five of the Series.
| | Jackson worked as a field reporter and color commentator for ABC Sports while still in the Major Leagues as well as after retiring from the game. He appeared as a guest on television series and in numerous films, including a major role in "The Naked Gun" ( ). He was reportedly considered for the role that went to LeVar Burton in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." |
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| Jackson's crowning achievement came with his three-home-run performance in World Series-clinching Game Six, each on the first pitch, off three Dodgers pitchers. (His first plate-appearance, during the second inning, resulted in a four-pitch walk.) The first came off starter [[Burt Hooton]], and was a [[line drive]] shot into the lower right field seats at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]. The second was a much faster line drive off reliever [[Elías Sosa]] into roughly the same area. With the fans chanting his name, "Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE!" the third came off reliever [[Charlie Hough]], a [[knuckleball]] pitcher, making the distance of this home run particularly remarkable. It was a towering drive into the black-painted [[batter's eye]] seats in center, 475 feet away. | | Jackson collects antique cars and owned a chain of automobile dealerships in California. He also ran a successful sports memorabilia business. |
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| Since Jackson had hit a home run off Dodger pitcher Don Sutton in his last at bat in Game Five, his three home runs in Game Six meant that he had hit four home runs on four consecutive swings of the bat against as many Dodgers pitchers. Jackson became the first player to win the World Series MVP award for two teams. In 27 World Series games, he amassed 10 [[home run]]s, including a record five during the 1977 Series (the last three on first pitches), 24 [[run batted in|RBI]] and a .357 [[batting average]]. [[Babe Ruth]], [[Albert Pujols]], and [[Pablo Sandoval]] are the only other players to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. Babe Ruth accomplishing the feat twice - in [[1926 World Series|1926]] and [[1928 World Series|1928]] (both in Game Four). With 25 total bases, Jackson also broke Ruth's record of 22 in the latter Series; this remains a World Series record, [[Willie Stargell]] tying it in the [[1979 World Series]]. In [[2009 World Series|2009]], [[Chase Utley]] of the Philadelphia Phillies tied Jackson's record for most home runs in a single World Series.
| | Jackson spent some time in the Athletics organization as a coach, but was fired in [[1991]]. Eventually Jackson and George Steinbrenner buried the hatchet and Jackson took a job with the Yankees as Steinbrenner's "special assistant", helping develop players in the team's minor-league system. He was part of a group that made an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Angels in [[2002]]. |
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| An often forgotten aspect of the ending of this decisive Game 6 was the way Jackson left the field at the game's end. Ironically, despite everything Jackson had done for the Yankees that night, the uncontrollable behavior of Yankee Stadium fans left him feeling understandably worried for his safety. Fans had been getting somewhat rowdy in anticipation of the game's end, and some had actually thrown firecrackers out near Jackson's area in right field. Jackson was alarmed enough about this to walk off the field, in order to get a helmet from the Yankee bench to protect himself. Shortly after this point, as the end of the game neared, fans were actually bold enough to climb over the wall, draping their legs over the side in preparation for the moment when they planned to rush onto the field. When that moment came, after pitcher [[Mike Torrez]] caught a pop-up for the game's final out, Jackson started running at top speed off the field, actually body-checking past some of these fans filling the playing field in the manner of a football linebacker.<ref>ABC coverage of Game Six, as shown on the YES network.</ref>
| | Jackson was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1993 and is depicted in a Yankees cap on his official plaque. Another plaque at Monument Park at Yankee Stadium celebrates Jackson as "One of the most colorful and exciting players of his era," and "a prolific hitter who thrived in pressure situations." |
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| ====The Bronx Zoo==== | | ==Notes== |
| [[File:Reggie Jackson bats at Yankee Stadium.jpg|thumb|270px|Jackson bats at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], July 1979.]]
| | <small> |
| The Yankees' home opener of the [[1978 New York Yankees season|1978]] season, on April 13 against the [[1978 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], featured a new product, the "Reggie!" bar. In 1976, while playing in [[1976 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore]], Jackson had said, "If I played in New York, they'd name a candy bar after me." The [[Standard Brands]] company responded with a circular "bar" of peanuts dipped in caramel and covered in chocolate, a confection which was originally named the "Wayne Bun" as it was made in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]. The "Reggie!" bars were handed to fans as they walked into Yankee Stadium. Jackson hit a home run, and when he returned to right field the next inning, fans began throwing the Reggie bars on the field in celebration. Jackson told the press that this confused him, thinking that maybe the fans did not like the candy.<ref>http://www.kevinbaker.info/a_nyt_tdircb.html {{dead link|date=December 2013}}</ref> The Yankees won the game, 4–2.
| | # ''Sports Illustrated''-1977 |
| | | </small> |
| But the Yankees could not maintain their success, as manager Billy Martin lost control. On July 23, after suspending Jackson for disobeying a sign during a July 17 game, Martin made a statement about his two main antagonists, referring to comments Jackson had made and team owner George Steinbrenner's 1972 violation of campaign-finance laws: "They're made for each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted." It was moments like these that gave the Yankees the nickname "The Bronx Zoo."
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| Martin resigned the next day (some sources have said he was actually fired<ref>{{cite web|last=Friedman |first=Ian C. |url=http://www.iancfriedman.com/?p=1561 |title=“One’s a born liar, the other’s convicted.” – Billy Martin, July 24, 1978 » IAN C. FRIEDMAN – WORDS MATTER |publisher=Iancfriedman.com |date=July 13, 2010 |accessdate=February 6, 2014}}</ref>), and was replaced by [[Bob Lemon]], a Hall of Fame pitcher for the [[Cleveland Indians]] who had been recently fired as manager of the White Sox. Steinbrenner, a [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]]-area native, had hired former Indians star [[Al Rosen]] as his team president (replacing another Cleveland figure, [[Gabe Paul]]). Steinbrenner jumped at the chance to involve another hero of his youth with the Yankees; Lemon had been one of Steinbrenner's coaches during the Bombers' pennant-winning 1976 season.
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| After being 14 games behind the first-place [[1978 Boston Red Sox season|Red Sox]] on July 18, the Yankees finished the season in a tie for first place. The two teams played a [[1978 American League East tie-breaker game|one-game playoff]] for the division title at Fenway Park, with the Yankees winning 5–4. Although the home run by light-hitting shortstop [[Bucky Dent]] in the seventh inning got the most notice, it was an eighth-inning home run by Jackson that gave the Yankees the fifth run they ended up needing. The next day, with the [[1978 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] with the [[1978 Kansas City Royals season|Royals]] beginning, Jackson hit a home run off the Royals' top reliever at the time, [[Al Hrabosky]], the flamboyant "Mad Hungarian." The Yankees won the pennant in four games, their third straight.
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| Jackson was once again in the center of events in the [[1978 World Series|World Series]], again against the [[1978 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]]. Los Angeles won the first two games at Dodger Stadium, taking the second when rookie reliever [[Bob Welch (baseball)|Bob Welch]] struck Jackson out with two men on base with two outs in the ninth inning. The series then moved to New York, and after the Yankees won Game Three on several fine defensive plays by third baseman Graig Nettles, Game Four saw Jackson in the middle of a controversial play on the basepaths. In the sixth inning, after collecting an RBI single, Jackson was struck in the hip–possibly on purpose–by a ball thrown by Dodger shortstop [[Bill Russell (baseball)|Bill Russell]] as Jackson was being forced at second base. Instead of completing a double play that would have ended the inning, the ball caromed into foul territory and allowed Thurman Munson to score the Yankees' second run of the inning. In spite of the Dodgers' protests of interference on Jackson's part, the umpires allowed the play to stand. The Yankees tied the game in the eighth inning and eventually won in the tenth.
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| Following a blowout win in Game Five, both teams headed back to Los Angeles. In Game Six, Jackson got his revenge against Welch by blasting a two-run home run in the seventh inning, putting the finishing touch on a series-clinching, 7-2 win for the Yankees.
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| ====1980–1981 seasons====
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| In [[1980 New York Yankees season|1980]], Jackson batted .300 for the only time in his career, and his 41 home runs tied with [[Ben Oglivie]] of the [[1980 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]] for the American League lead. However, the Yankees were swept in the [[1980 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] by the [[1980 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]].
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| As he entered the last year of his Yankee contract in [[1981 New York Yankees season|1981]], Jackson endured several difficulties from George Steinbrenner. After the owner consulted Jackson about signing then-free agent [[Dave Winfield]], Jackson expected Steinbrenner to work out a new contract for him as well. Steinbrenner never did (some say never intending to) and Jackson played the season as a free agent. Jackson started slowly with the bat, and when the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike]] began, Steinbrenner invoked a clause in Jackson's contract forcing him to take a complete [[physical examination]]. Jackson was outraged and blasted Steinbrenner in the media. When the season resumed, Jackson's hitting improved, partly to show Steinbrenner he wasn't finished as a player. He hit a long home run into the upper deck in Game Five of the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike]]-forced [[1981 American League Division Series]] with the [[1981 Milwaukee Brewers season|Brewers]], and the Yankees went on to win the pennant again. However, Jackson injured himself running the bases in Game Two of the [[1981 American League Championship Series|1981 ALCS]] and missed the first two games of the [[1981 World Series|World Series]], both of which the Yankees won.
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| Jackson was medically cleared to play Game Three, but manager Bob Lemon refused to start him or even play him, allegedly acting under orders from Steinbrenner. The Yankees lost that game and Jackson played the remainder of the series, hitting a home run in Game Four. However, they lost the last three games and the World Series to the Dodgers.
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| ===California Angels (1982–1986) and Oakland Athletics (1987)===
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| Jackson became a free-agent again once the 1981 season was over. The owner of the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]], legendary entertainer [[Gene Autry]], had heard of Jackson's desire to return to California to play, and signed him to a five-year contract.
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| On April 27, [[1982 California Angels season|1982]], in Jackson's first game back at Yankee Stadium with the Angels, he broke out of a terrible season-starting slump to hit a home run off former teammate [[Ron Guidry]]. The at-bat began with [[1982 New York Yankees season|Yankee]] fans, angry at Steinbrenner for letting Jackson get away, starting the "Reg-GIE!" chant, and ended it with the fans chanting "Steinbrenner sucks!" By the time of Jackson's election to the Hall of Fame, Steinbrenner had begun to say that letting him go was the biggest mistake he has made as Yankee owner.
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| That season, the Angels won the American League West, and would do so again in [[1986 California Angels season|1986]], but lost the American League Championship Series both times. On September 17, [[1984 California Angels season|1984]], on the 17th anniversary of the day he hit his first home run, he hit his 500th, at [[Anaheim Stadium]] off [[Bud Black]] of the [[1984 Kansas City Royals season|Royals]].
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| In [[1987 Oakland Athletics season|1987]], he signed a one-year contract to return to the A's, wearing the number 44 with which he was now most associated rather than the number 9 he previously wore in Oakland. He announced he would retire after the season, at the age of 41. In his last at-bat, at [[Comiskey Park]] in Chicago on October 4, he collected a broken-bat single up the middle, but the A's lost to the [[1987 Chicago White Sox season|White Sox]], 5–2. He is the last Kansas City A's player to play in a [[Major League Baseball]] game.
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| ===Legacy===
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| Jackson played 21 seasons and reached the post-season in 11 of them, winning six pennants and five World Series. His accomplishments include winning both the regular-season and World Series MVP awards in 1973, hitting 563 career home runs (sixth all-time at the time of his retirement), maintaining a .490 career [[slugging percentage]], being named to 14 All-Star teams, and the dubious distinction of being the all-time leader in [[strikeout]]s with 2,597 (he finished with 13 more career strikeouts than hits). Jackson was the first major leaguer to hit one hundred [[home run]]s for three different clubs, having hit over 100 for the Athletics, Yankees, and Angels. Reggie Jackson is the only player in the 500 home run club that never had consecutive 30 home run seasons in a career.
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| == Personal life ==
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| During his freshman year at Arizona State, he met Jennie Campos, a Mexican-American.<ref name="Perry 18"/> Jackson asked Campos on a date, and discovered many similarities, including the ability to speak Spanish, and being raised in a single parent home (Campos's father was killed in the [[Korean War]]).<ref name="Perry 18"/> An assistant football coach tried to break up the couple because Jackson was black and Campos was considered white. The coach contacted Campos's uncle, a wealthy benefactor of the school, and he warned the couple that their being together was a bad idea.<ref name="Perry 19">{{Harvnb|Perry|2010|pp=19}}</ref> But the relationship held up and she later became his first wife. Jackson has been divorced since 1973. Kimberly, his only child, was born in the late 1980s.<ref name="Stir">{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/07/05/reggie-jackson-where-are-they-now-phil-taylor/index.html|title=Reggie Jackson has found serenity, but he can still cause quite a stir|last=Taylor|first=Phil|date=July 5, 2012|accessdate=July 6, 2012|publisher=SportsIllustrated.CNN.com}}</ref>
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| During the off-season, though still active in baseball, Jackson worked as a field reporter and color commentator for [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC Sports]]. Just over a month before signing with the Yankees in fall 1976, Jackson did analysis in the ABC booth with [[Keith Jackson]] and [[Howard Cosell]] the night his future team won the American League pennant on a homer by [[Chris Chambliss]]. During the 1980s ([[1983 World Series|1983]], [[1985 World Series|1985]], and [[1987 World Series|1987]] respectively), Jackson was given the task of presiding over the [[World Series Trophy]] presentations. In addition, Jackson did color commentary for the [[1984 National League Championship Series]] (alongside [[Don Drysdale]] and [[Earl Weaver]]). After his retirement as an active player, Jackson returned to his color commentary role covering the [[1988 American League Championship Series]] (alongside [[Gary Bender]] and [[Joe Morgan]]) for ABC.
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| He also made appearances in the film ''[[The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!]]'', in which he played the Angels' outfielder diabolically programmed to kill the Queen of England. He also appeared in ''[[Richie Rich (film)|Richie Rich]]'', ''[[BASEketball]]'', ''[[Summer of Sam]]'' and ''[[The Benchwarmers]]''. He played himself in the ''[[Archie Bunker's Place]]'' episode "Reggie-3 Archie-0" in 1982, a [[List of MacGyver episodes#Season 6: 1990-1991|1990 ''MacGyver'' episode]], "Squeeze Play", and the ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'' episode "Polly in the Middle", from 2004. Jackson was also considered for the role of [[Geordi LaForge]] in the series ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'',<ref name="Star Trek:TNG Casting Letter">{{cite web|url=http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/08/star-trekcasting.html|title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Casting Letter|accessdate=August 25, 2010}}</ref> a role which ultimately went to [[LeVar Burton]]. From 1981 to 1982 he hosted for [[Nickelodeon]]'s ''Reggie Jackson's World of Sports''.
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| He co-authored a new book in 2010, ''Sixty-Feet Six-Inches'', with fellow Hall of Famer [[Bob Gibson]]. The book, whose title refers to the distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate, details their careers and approach to the game.
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| The [[Sega]] [[Master System]] baseball video game ''Reggie Jackson Baseball'', endorsed by Reggie Jackson, was sold exclusively in the United States. Outside of the U.S., it was released as ''American Baseball''.
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| Jackson has endured three fires to personal property, including a 1991 fire to his home in Oakland which destroyed his 1973 MVP Award. One of his warehouses holding several of his collectible cars was damaged in a fire, with several of the cars, valued at $3.2 million, ruined.<ref name="Stir" />
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| Jackson called on former [[San Francisco 49ers]] [[head coach]] and [[ordained minister]] [[Mike Singletary]] for spiritual guidance. Jackson credits Singletary, stating "he helped me drop that shell I put up."<ref name="Stir" />
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| ==Post-retirement honors==
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| Jackson and Steinbrenner would reconcile, and Steinbrenner would hire him as a "special assistant to the principal owner", making Jackson a consultant and a liaison to the team's players, particularly the minority players. By this point, the Yankees, long noted for being slow to adapt to changes in [[Sociology of race and ethnic relations|race relations]], have come to develop many minority players in their farm system and seek out others via trades and free agency. Jackson usually appears in uniform at the Yankees' current spring training complex in [[Tampa, Florida]], and has been sought out for advice by current stars such as [[Derek Jeter]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]]. "His experience is vast, and he's especially good with the young players in our minor league system, the 17- and 18-year old kids. They respect him and what he's accomplished in his career. When Reggie Jackson tells a young kid how me might improve his swing, he tends to listen", said [[Hal Steinbrenner]], Yankees' managing general partner and co-chairperson.<ref name="Stir" />
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| Jackson was inducted to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]] in {{bhofy|1993}}. He chose to wear a Yankees cap on his Hall of Fame plaque<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/plaques/Jackson_Reggie.htm|title=Reggie Jackson's Plaque|accessdate=June 22, 2007|publisher=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608145945/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/plaques/Jackson_Reggie.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = June 8, 2007}}</ref> after the Oakland Athletics unceremoniously fired him from a coaching position in 1991.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/hallfame/2001-08-02-focus.htm|title=Players struggle with how to cap a career|last=Antonen|first=Mel|accessdate=June 22, 2007|date=August 3, 2001|work=USA Today }}</ref>
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| The Yankees retired his uniform number 44 on August 14, 1993, shortly after his induction into the Hall of Fame. The Athletics retired his number 9 on May 22, 2004. He is one of only eight Major League Baseball players to have their [[List of Major League Baseball players with numbers retired from two or more teams|numbers retired by more than one team]], and one of only three to have different numbers retired by two MLB teams.
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| In 1999, Jackson placed 48th on Sporting News 100 Greatest Baseball Players. That same year, he was named one of 100 finalists for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, but was not one of the 30 players chosen by the fans.
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| [[File:Reggie Jackson 2009.jpg|thumb|250px|Reggie Jackson during the [[2009 World Series]] victory parade.]]The Yankees dedicated a plaque in his honor on July 6, 2002, which now hangs in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. The plaque calls him "One of the most colorful and exciting players of his era" and "a prolific hitter who thrived in pressure situations." Each Yankee so honored and still living was on hand for the dedication: [[Phil Rizzuto]], [[Yogi Berra]], [[Whitey Ford]] and [[Don Mattingly]]. [[Ron Guidry]], a teammate of Jackson's for all five of his seasons with the Yankees, was there, and would be honored with a Monument Park plaque the next season. Out of respect to some of the players who Jackson admired while growing up, Jackson invited [[Willie Mays]], [[Hank Aaron]] and [[Ernie Banks]] to attend the ceremony, and each did so. Like Jackson, each was a member of the Hall of Fame and had hit over 500 career home runs. Each had also played in the Negro Leagues.
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| Jackson expanded his love of antique cars into a chain of auto dealerships in California, and used his contacts to become one of the foremost traders of sports memorabilia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reggiejackson.com/44store/ |title=The 44 Store - Authentic Premium Baseball Memorabilia |publisher=Reggiejackson.com |date= |accessdate=February 6, 2014}}</ref> He has also been the public face of a group attempting to purchase a major league team, already having made unsuccessful attempts to buy the Athletics and the Angels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1988811 |title=Jackson's group offered $25M more than accepted offer - MLB - ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=February 10, 2005 |accessdate=February 6, 2014}}</ref> His attempt to acquire the Angels along with Jimmy Nederlander (minority owner of the New York Yankees), Jackie Autry (widow of former Angels owner Gene Autry) and other luminaries was thwarted by Mexican American billionaire [[Arturo Moreno]] who outbid Jackson's group by nearly $50 million for the team in the winter of 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.halosheaven.com/2013/2/1/3943488/reggie-jackson-angels-acquisition-11 |title=Reggie Jackson: Angels Acquisition #11 |publisher=Halos Heaven |date= |accessdate=February 6, 2014}}</ref>
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| In a July edition of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', Jackson talked about several issues, and also was critical of the Baseball Writers' Association of America as he believes they have lowered their standards when voting for prospects in the Hall of Fame.<ref name="Stir" /> He has also been critical of players associated with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), including distant cousin [[Barry Bonds]], stating "I believe that [[Hank Aaron]] is the home run king, not Barry Bonds, as great of a player Bonds was."<ref name="Stir" /> Of Alex Rodriguez, whom Jackson has worked alongside as special assistant to the Yankees, Jackson remarked, "Al's a very good friend. But I think there are real questions about his numbers. As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his numbers."<ref name="Stir" /> On July 12, the Yankees released a statement from Jackson after the ''Sports Illustrated'' interview had been released. The press release included Jackson saying, "In trying to convey my feelings about a few issues that I am passionate about, I made the mistake of naming some specific players."<ref name="One-eighty">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-07-12/reggie-jackson-apologizes/56178108/1|agency=AP|work=USA Today|title=Jackson: Comments were 'inappropriate' and 'unfair'|date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> It had been reported <ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/reggie-jackson-told-york-yankees-stay-away-fans-042300112--mlb.html|title=Reggie Jackson told by New York Yankees to stay away|date=July 10, 2012|last=Watkins|first=Robert|publisher=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref> he had been told by the Yankees to steer clear from the team, although general manager [[Brian Cashman]] stated he had not been banned but only told to not join the club on a road trip to Boston and would later be free to interact with the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2012/07/brian_cashman_reggie_jackson_h.html|title=Brian Cashman: Reggie Jackson has not been banned from Yankees|first=Marc|last=Carig|publisher=NJ.com|date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> After the ''SI'' article became known and Jackson's status with the Yankees being talked about, Jackson confirmed in his statement "I continue to have a strong relationship with the club, and look forward to continuing my role with the team."<ref name="One-eighty" />
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| In 2007, [[ESPN]] aired a [[mini-series]] called ''[[The Bronx is Burning]]'', about the 1977 Yankees, with the conflicts and controversies around Jackson a central part of the storyline. Jackson is portrayed by [[Daniel Sunjata]]. In 2008, he threw out the first pitch at Yankees Opening Day, the last one at Yankee Stadium. He also threw out the first pitch at the first game at the new Yankee Stadium (an exhibition game).
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| On October 9, 2009, Reggie Jackson threw the opening pitch for Game 2 of the [[2009 American League Division Series|ALDS]] between the [[2009 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] and the [[2009 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]].
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
| | * "[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091981/index.htm They Said It]" (January 24, 1977) ''Sports Illustrated'' |
| | * Ward, Robert (May 1977) Interview with Reggie Jackson. ''SPORT'' magazine |
| * "[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065955/3/index.htm Video]" (May 11, 1987) CNN | | * "[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065955/3/index.htm Video]" (May 11, 1987) CNN |
| * Sandomir, Richard (August 26, 2005) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/sports/baseball/26latino.html "Who's a Latino Baseball Legend?]" ''The New York Times'' | | * Sandomir, Richard (August 26, 2005) "[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/sports/baseball/26latino.html "Who's a Latino Baseball Legend?]" ''The New York Times'' |
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| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
| * [http://www.ReggieJackson.com/ Reggie Jackson] website | | * [http://www.ReggieJackson.com/ Reggie Jackson] website |
| * [http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/12.html The Sporting News' Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!]
| | * [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/cover/Reggie_Jackson/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/dd/index.htm Reggie Jackson covers] for ''Sports Illustrated'' |
| * [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/cover/Reggie_Jackson/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/dd/index.htm ''Sports Illustrated''] - covers | |
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Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson (born May 18, 1946 in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania) is a Hall of Fame right fielder who played for the 1967 Birmingham A's before starting a 21-year Major League career with four teams and earning the nickname "Mr October" for his late-season clutch hitting, including three consecutive home runs in the 1977 World Series. He was named to 14 All-Star teams and was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1973. He was also a two-time World Series MVP and has had his uniform numbers retired by the Oakland Athletics (9) and the New York Yankees (44).
Early life
Jackson was born in the predominantly-Jewish Wyncote neighborhood of Cheltenham Township, just north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Martinez Jackson, was a half-Puerto Rican tailor who had played in the Negro Leagues as a second baseman for the Newark Eagles. His mother, Clara, was full Puerto Rican. When they divorced in 1950, Jackson and one of his half-brothers stayed with his father while the other children remained with his mother.
He attended Cheltenham High School and was a standout athlete on the school's football, basketball, baseball and track and field teams. He injured his knee playing football in his junior season, but was able to return for the final game. In that game he fractured five vertebrae and spent six weeks in the hospital and another month in a neck cast. He was a star batter and pitcher on the baseball team, batting .550 and pitching several no-hitters. During his senior year, his father was arrested for selling bootleg liquor and served six months in prison. He graduated in 1964.
College
Jackson was recruited as a football player by the University of Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma, all of which then excluded African-American athletes but were willing to take a chance on him. Jackson was leery of moving to the deep south, and was put off by Oklahoma's request that he not date white women while in college.
Meanwhile San Francisco Giants scout Hans Lobert was very interested in Jackson, who also had interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. His father urged him to get a college education, so he accepted a football scholarship from Frank Kush's Arizona State University Sun Devils, which would also allow him to play baseball.
After his freshman year, Kush wanted to move him from halfback to defensive back. Jackson, who had spent the summer breaking records in an amateur baseball league, decided to leave the football team and became a scholarship baseball player. He took Rick Monday's spot in center field and broke a team record for home runs in his sophomore season, earning All-American honors. Now clearly a top Major League prospect, Jackson made the decision to turn professional.
Birmingham A's
Jackson was selected by the Kansas City Athletics as the second overall pick in the 1966 Major League draft. He signed with the A's for $85,000 and reported to training camp that June with the Single-A Lewis-Clark Broncs in Lewiston, Idaho. He spent his first season there, and with another Single-A team, the Modesto Reds, in California.
In 1967 Jackson reported to Charlie Finley's newly-created Double-A Birmingham A's, managed by John McNamara. It was the first racially-integrated professional baseball team to play for Birmingham and McNamara helped Jackson shrug off the lingering racism surrounding the club. He and fellow star Rollie Fingers helped the A's claim a Southern League title by three and a half games.
Major Leagues
After 114 games with the A's, Jackson was called up to debut with Kansas City in a double-header on June 9, 1967. He recorded his first Major League hit, a triple off of Cleveland reliever Orlando Pena, in the second game.
In 1968 Finley moved the Athletics to Oakland. During the 1967 season Jackson briefly outpaced Roger Maris' 1961 home run count, but finished the season with 47 to Maris' record of 61. Jackson approached Finley to ask for a pay raise in the off-season, but was turned down. In the 1970 season Jackson's batting dropped off significantly, ending up at a .237 average with 23 home runs. After a brief demotion, Jackson returned as an All-Star in 1971. In the All-Star game he sent a Dock Ellis pitch soaring over Tiger Stadium's right field stands an into an electrical transformer on a light standard.
In 1971 the Athletics won the American League's Western Division title, their first since 1931, when the team was still in Philadelphia. They lost the AL Championship Series to the Baltimore Orioles. When the A's returned to the ALCS in 1972; their series with the Tigers went to five games, and Jackson scored the tying run in the clincher by stealing home. In the process, however, he tore his hamstring and was unable to play in the World Series. The A's managed to defeat the Cincinnati Reds in seven games without him.
Jackson reported to A's spring training in 1972 sporting a mustache. Inspired, Finley offered the other players $300 bonuses to grow mustaches and scheduled a "Mustache Day" with Frenchy Bordagaray as a special guest. The 1973 Athletics returned to the World Series and Jackson was named the American League's Most Valuable Player that year. Oakland beat the Mets in a seven-game World Series. In the final game Jackson and fellow Birmingham alumnus Bert Campaneris both hit two-run homers off Jon Matlack. Jackson was named the series' Most Valuable Player. The team repeated as World Champions in 1974, dispatching the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
In 1975 the A's won their division, but were swept by the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. Finley, knowing he wouldn't be able to match Jackson's salary demands in free agency, traded him on April 2, 1976 to the Baltimore Orioles. Jackson helped them to to second-place finish.
During his nine seasons with the A's Jackson earned major accolades, but also gained a reputation as a showoff at the plate and as an underachiever on the bases. His former teammate Darold Knowles was asked in 1977 if Jackson was a hot dog and replied "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson."1.
As a free agent for 1977, Jackson was able to command a five-year, $2.96 million contract from the New York Yankees. He saw himself as the "straw the stirs the drink" that could help the Yankees break their 15-year championship drought. When he made that statement he also seemed to belittle catcher Thurmon Munson, further straining Jackson's relationship with manager Billy Martin and his teammates. The tension came to blows in a June loss to the Red Sox. Martin yanked Jackson out of the game after he allowed a Jim Rice fly ball to drop in front of him. Their subsequent argument in the dugout was televised nationally. Owner George Steinbrenner gave Martin an ultimatum to either leave Jackson in the cleanup spot for the season or lose his job. The Yankees finished strong with Jackson's bat leading the way, won their division by two and a half games, and claimed the pennant in a five-game series against the Kansas City Royals.
During an interview in the midst of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers, Munson suggested that the reporter should speak to Jackson, saying "go ask Mr October". With Jackson hitting crucial home runs in games four and five, followed by three consecutive homers on three different pitchers' first pitches in game six, the nickname stuck. Jackson became the first player to win the World Series MVP award for two teams. His 25 total bases in the series broke Babe Ruth's record and still stands.
Despite his heroics at the plate, manager Billy Martin never warmed to Jackson. He suspended the right fielder for disobeying a sign in July 1978. Martin resigned the next day under pressure and was replaced by former White Sox manager Bob Lemon. At one point 14 games behind the Red Sox, the Yankees charged back to tie for first at the end of the season and won a one-game playoff at Fenway Park 5-4 with Jackson knocking in the winning run in the eighth. He helped the Yanks defeat the Royals in four straight to claim a third consecutive League Championship and a rematch against the Dodgers in the World Series.
Los Angeles won the first two games at Dodger Stadium, taking the second when rookie reliever Bob Welch struck Jackson out with two on and two outs in the ninth. The Yankees won the next three in New York, returning the series to the West Coast. Jackson hammered a two-run home run off of Welch in the 7th inning of a 7-2 victory for the championship.
In 1980 Jackson averaged .300 for the first time in his career and tied the Brewers' Ben Ogilvie for the lead in home runs with 41. The Yankees were swept, however, by the Royals in the ALCS. 1981 was the final year on Jackson's contract, which Steinbrenner elected not to extend. The slight provoked a public dispute between the owner and his star right fielder that continued through the 1981 players' strike. When the season resumed Jackson's bat helped the Yankees win another pennant, but he missed two games of the World Series with a sore foot. Though doctors had cleared him to return, Lemon left Jackson on the bench for game three, which was a loss. The Dodgers went on to win the series in seven games.
California Angels owner Gene Autry signed Jackson as a free agent at the end of the season and gave him a five-year contract. He started the 1982 season in a hitting slump, but was energized by his April 27 return to Yankee Stadium by knocking a home run off a Ron Guidry pitch. New York fans blamed Steinbrenner for losing Jackson and cheered the former Yankee in the game. The Angels won the American League's West Division that year and again in 1986, but lost both Championship Series. Jackson hit his 500th home run at Anaheim Stadium on September 17, 1984, which happened to be the 17th anniversary of his first.
In 1987 Jackson returned to the Oakland Athletics on a one-year contract, and then retired at the end of the season.
Over the course of his 21 season in the Majors, Jackson's teams won six pennants and five World Series. He was a 14-time All-Star and hit 563 career home runs (6th all-time in 1987) with a .490 slugging percentage. He was also the sport's all-time leader in strikeouts with 2,597.
Off the field
Jackson worked as a field reporter and color commentator for ABC Sports while still in the Major Leagues as well as after retiring from the game. He appeared as a guest on television series and in numerous films, including a major role in "The Naked Gun" ( ). He was reportedly considered for the role that went to LeVar Burton in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Jackson collects antique cars and owned a chain of automobile dealerships in California. He also ran a successful sports memorabilia business.
Jackson spent some time in the Athletics organization as a coach, but was fired in 1991. Eventually Jackson and George Steinbrenner buried the hatchet and Jackson took a job with the Yankees as Steinbrenner's "special assistant", helping develop players in the team's minor-league system. He was part of a group that made an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Angels in 2002.
Jackson was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1993 and is depicted in a Yankees cap on his official plaque. Another plaque at Monument Park at Yankee Stadium celebrates Jackson as "One of the most colorful and exciting players of his era," and "a prolific hitter who thrived in pressure situations."
Notes
- Sports Illustrated-1977
References
- "They Said It" (January 24, 1977) Sports Illustrated
- Ward, Robert (May 1977) Interview with Reggie Jackson. SPORT magazine
- "Video" (May 11, 1987) CNN
- Sandomir, Richard (August 26, 2005) ""Who's a Latino Baseball Legend?" The New York Times
- Green, G. Michael & Roger D. Launius (2010) Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman. New York, New York: Walker Publishing Company ISBN 9780802717450
- Perry, Dayn (2010) Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball's Mr. October. New York, New York: HarperCollins ISBN 9780061562389
External links
