Days Of Yankees Past: Reggie Jackson

On November 29th, 1976 the New York Yankees signed Reggie Jackson to a five-year  contract. Jackson had been a star with the Oakland Athletics since making his Major League debut in 1967. In nine seasons in Oakland, he batted .265 with 254 home runs and 733 RBI. The right fielder was a 6-time American League All-Star and the 1973 Most Valuable Player before the A’s traded him to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1976 season. Jackson would have another big year with the Orioles before signing with the Yankees and taking his big talent and big personality to the bright lights in the Bronx.

Reggie was a star in Oakland and Baltimore but he became larger than life when he joined the Yankees. Jackson was a premier power hitter, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 110 runs in his first season with the Bombers. He was a loud, brass and flamboyant self promoter and the New York media ate up every colorful aphorism that he could come up with. Through incredible World Series performances, energetic displays both on the field and in the newspapers and clashes with Yankee manager Billy Martin, Reggie secured his place as one of his generation’s greatest players. Of course, he would’ve told you he was the best, period. 

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In five years with the Bombers, Jackson batted .280 with 112 home runs and 351 RBI. He would hit double digits in home runs each year and rack up close to 100 RBI in every year but one. He would be elected to five All-Star games while in pinstripes. In the post season Jackson had no equal. In three different World Series’ with the Yankees he posted a batting total batting average of close to .400 with 8 home runs and 17 RBI.

His most memorable performance came in the 6th game of the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he homered three times on the first pitch from three different pitchers (Burt Hooton, Elias Sosa and Charlie Hough) in three straight plate appearances. His amazing feat led the Yankees to a series clinching win.

In 1982 Jackson signed with the California Angles where he would spend five seasons before returning to Oakland on a one-year pact in 1987. He retired at the end of the season and be inducted into Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993 as a Yankee. His number “9” is retired by the Oakland A’s and his number “44” is retired by the Yankees.

Jackson will long be remembered in Yankee lore for his loud personality, post season theatrics and being one of the Yankees’ first big money acquisitions after Free Agency became a regular part of baseball. Along with Chris Chambliss, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph and Lou Piniella, Reggie helped the Yankees slug their way to a World Series Championship in 1977 and 1978. Through his 21 year career in the Major Leagues “Mr. October” batted .262 with 563 home runs. He provided the baseball world with amazing feats of hitting, timeless quotes and reminded us fans that we do not boo nobodies.