Reggie Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reggie Jackson |
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Jackson with the New York Yankees in 1981
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: May 18, 1946 Abington Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 9, 1967, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 1987, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Hits | 2,584 | ||
| Home runs | 563 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,702 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1993 | ||
| Vote | 93.6% (first ballot) | ||
Reginald Martinez Jackson, born on May 18, 1946, is a famous American former professional baseball player. He played as a right fielder for 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). His teams included the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels. Reggie Jackson was so good that he was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993, the very first year he was eligible.
Jackson was nicknamed "Mr. October" because he was great at hitting when it mattered most in important postseason games. He helped the Oakland Athletics win five division titles, three American League championships, and three World Series titles in a row from 1972 to 1974. He also helped the New York Yankees win four division titles, three American League championships, and two World Series titles in 1977 and 1978. He even helped the California Angels win two division titles in 1982 and 1986. A famous moment was when he hit three home runs in a row at Yankee Stadium in the final game of the 1977 World Series.
Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs in his career and was an All-Star 14 times. He won two Silver Slugger Awards, the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1973, and two World Series MVP Awards. The Yankees retired his uniform number 44 in 1993, and the Athletics retired his number 9 in 2004. Jackson has also served as a special advisor for the Houston Astros, and was part of their 2022 World Series championship team.
Jackson's teams finished in first place eleven times during his 21-year career. He only had two losing seasons, showing how much he helped his teams win.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson was born on May 18, 1946, in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. His father, Martinez Jackson, was a tailor and used to play baseball in the Negro leagues. Reggie was the youngest of his mother's four children. His parents divorced when he was six years old. Reggie's father raised him and his siblings.
Reggie went to Cheltenham High School and graduated in 1964. He was an amazing athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. In football, he played tailback. He had a serious knee injury in his junior year, but he still came back to play. Later, he broke five bones in his neck, and doctors thought he might never walk or play sports again. But Reggie proved them wrong and recovered. In baseball, he was an excellent hitter and pitcher, throwing several no-hitters.
College Baseball Career
Many colleges wanted Reggie Jackson to play football for them, including Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma. But Reggie chose to go to Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, on a football scholarship. His high school coach knew the ASU football coach, Frank Kush, and they talked about Reggie playing both football and baseball.
One day, after football practice, Reggie asked ASU baseball coach Bobby Winkles if he could join the baseball team. Winkles agreed to watch him. The next day, still in his football uniform, Reggie hit a home run on his second swing! He hit three home runs in five tries. Reggie was allowed to practice with the team, but he couldn't play in games during his first year because of NCAA rules for new players. After his first year, Reggie decided to focus only on baseball.
To get better, Coach Winkles sent him to play for an amateur team called Leone's. Reggie broke many team records there. The Baltimore Orioles offered him a lot of money to sign with them, but Reggie said no because he wanted to keep his college scholarship.
In 1966, during his second year, Reggie became the team's center fielder. He broke the team record for most home runs in a season and was named an All-American player. Many professional baseball scouts came to watch him play. In his last college game, he almost hit for the cycle (a single, double, triple, and home run in one game). He also made a great catch and threw a runner out at home plate.
Starting in the Minor Leagues
In the 1966 Major League Baseball draft, the Kansas City Athletics picked Reggie Jackson as the second player overall. He signed with the A's for $95,000 on June 13. He started playing professional baseball for the Lewis-Clark Broncs in Idaho. In his second game, he hit a single and a home run.
In 1966, Reggie played for two Class A teams, hitting 21 home runs for the Modesto team. In 1967, he played for the Birmingham A's in Alabama. He was one of the few Black players on the team. He has said that his manager, John McNamara, helped him a lot during that time.
Major League Baseball Career
Kansas City and Oakland Athletics (1967–1975)
Reggie Jackson made his MLB debut with the Kansas City A's on June 9, 1967. He got his first hit, a triple, in his second game.
The Athletics team moved to Oakland before the 1968 season. In 1969, Jackson hit a career-high 47 home runs. He was even ahead of the pace set by Roger Maris and Babe Ruth for single-season home run records for a short time.
In 1971, the Athletics won their division, which was their first title since 1931. They lost in the playoffs to the Baltimore Orioles. In 1972, the A's won their division again. Jackson helped them win a close playoff series against the Detroit Tigers by stealing home plate. However, he hurt his leg and couldn't play in the World Series. Even without him, the A's beat the Cincinnati Reds in seven games to win the championship.
Jackson helped the Athletics win the championship again in 1973. He was named the American League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) that season. The A's then beat the New York Mets in the World Series, and Jackson was named the Series MVP. In the final game, he hit a two-run home run that helped the A's win. The A's won the World Series for a third time in a row in 1974, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reggie Jackson hit 254 home runs in his nine years with the Athletics. He was known for being a very confident player. One teammate famously said, "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson," meaning he was a big show-off.
In 1974, Jackson won a case to get a higher salary, nearly doubling his pay. In 1975, the A's won their fifth division title in a row. However, they lost in the playoffs to the Boston Red Sox.
Baltimore Orioles (1976)
After the 1975 season, Reggie Jackson wanted a new contract for more money. The Athletics' owner didn't want to pay him. So, on April 2, 1976, Jackson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. He didn't sign a contract right away and thought about not playing. But he joined the Orioles a few weeks later. Baltimore finished second in their division that year. During his one season in Baltimore, Jackson stole 28 bases, which was his career best.
New York Yankees (1977–1981)
The New York Yankees signed Reggie Jackson to a five-year contract for almost $3 million on November 29, 1976. This was a huge amount of money at the time. Jackson wanted to wear number 9, but it was already taken. He then asked for number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson, but that was also taken. He chose number 44 to honor Hank Aaron, who had just retired and held the home run record. Jackson wore number 44 for the rest of his career.
Jackson's first season with the Yankees in 1977 was tough. The team's manager, Billy Martin, didn't get along with Jackson. There were also some misunderstandings with his teammates, especially the team captain, Thurman Munson.
One famous moment happened on June 18, 1977, during a game against the Boston Red Sox. Jackson didn't try hard enough to field a ball, and Manager Martin took him out of the game right away. They argued in the dugout, and it was shown on TV for everyone to see. The Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, stepped in and told Martin to let Jackson bat in the cleanup spot. Jackson's hitting improved, and the team started winning. The Yankees won their division and then beat the Kansas City Royals to win the American League championship.
Mr. October's Big Moment
During the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thurman Munson called Jackson "Mister October" because of his great playoff performances. This nickname stuck with him. Jackson hit home runs in Games Four and Five of the Series.
Jackson's most famous achievement was in the final Game Six of the World Series. He hit three home runs in that game, each on the very first pitch he saw. The first two were hard line drives, and the third was a towering shot that went very far. Fans were chanting his name, "Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE! Reg-GIE!" Jackson had also hit a home run in his last at-bat in Game Five, meaning he hit four home runs on four swings in a row against different pitchers.
Jackson became the first player to win the World Series MVP award for two different teams. In all his World Series games, he hit 10 home runs and had a great batting average. Only a few other players, like Babe Ruth, have hit three home runs in a single World Series game.
As the game ended, fans were so excited that they started climbing over the walls to rush onto the field. Jackson ran off the field quickly to avoid the crowd.
The Bronx Zoo Years
In 1978, the Yankees introduced a new candy bar called the "Reggie!" bar. Fans were given these bars when they entered Yankee Stadium. Jackson hit a home run that day, and fans started throwing the candy bars onto the field to celebrate.
The Yankees had a tough season in 1978, and Manager Billy Martin lost control. Martin was replaced by Bob Lemon. The Yankees were 14 games behind the Boston Red Sox in July but managed to catch up and tie for first place. They won a special playoff game against the Red Sox to win the division. Jackson hit a key home run in that game. The Yankees then won the American League championship for the third year in a row.
Jackson was again a big part of the World Series against the Dodgers. The Dodgers won the first two games. In Game Four, Jackson was involved in a controversial play that helped the Yankees score. The Yankees came back to win the series in Game Six. Jackson hit another two-run home run in that final game, helping the Yankees win the championship.
In 1979, Jackson had a good season, batting .297 with 29 home runs.
1980 and 1981 Seasons
In 1980, Jackson had his best batting average at .300 and tied for the American League lead with 41 home runs. However, the Yankees lost in the playoffs to the Kansas City Royals. That year, he won the first Silver Slugger Award for a designated hitter.
In 1981, Jackson was in the last year of his contract with the Yankees. He had a slow start to the season. When a baseball strike happened, the Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, made Jackson take a full physical exam, which made Jackson very angry. When the season started again, Jackson's hitting improved. The Yankees won the American League championship again. However, Jackson got hurt during the playoffs and missed the first two games of the World Series. He played in the rest of the series and hit a home run, but the Yankees lost to the Dodgers.
California Angels (1982–1986) and Return to Oakland (1987)
After the 1981 season, Reggie Jackson became a free agent again. The owner of the California Angels, Gene Autry, signed him to a five-year contract. Jackson wanted to return to California.
On April 27, 1982, in Jackson's first game back at Yankee Stadium with the Angels, he hit a home run. Yankee fans, who were upset that Steinbrenner let Jackson leave, chanted "Reg-GIE!" and then "Steinbrenner sucks!"
The Angels won their division in 1982 and again in 1986, but they lost in the American League Championship Series both times. On September 17, 1984, exactly 17 years after his first home run, Jackson hit his 500th career home run at Anaheim Stadium.
In 1987, Jackson signed a one-year contract to return to the A's. He wore his famous number 44. He announced that he would retire after that season at age 41. In his very last at-bat on October 4, he got a single. Jackson was the last player in the major leagues to have played for the Kansas City Athletics.
Reggie Jackson's Legacy
Reggie Jackson played for 21 seasons and reached the playoffs in 11 of them. He won six American League championships and five World Series titles. He only had two losing seasons in his entire career, showing how much he helped his teams win.
His achievements include winning both the regular-season and World Series MVP awards in 1973. He hit 563 career home runs, which was sixth all-time when he retired. He was named to 14 All-Star teams. He also holds the record for the most career strikeouts by a batter, with 2,597. Jackson was the first player to hit 100 home runs for three different teams: the Athletics, Yankees, and Angels.
With the Yankees, Jackson was always in the news. This actually helped the team because he took all the media attention, allowing other players to focus on their game.
After Baseball: A Special Advisor
After he stopped playing, Reggie Jackson spent a lot of time working with the New York Yankees organization as a special advisor. He helped guide young players.
On May 12, 2021, Jackson joined the Houston Astros as a special advisor to the owner, Jim Crane. He helps with community programs and supports diversity and inclusion efforts. When the Astros won the World Series in 2022, it was Jackson's first championship as part of the Astros organization. On November 10, 2024, Jackson decided to step down from his role to spend more time with his family.
Personal Life and Other Work
During his first year at Arizona State, Reggie met Jennie Campos. They found they had many things in common and later got married, but they divorced in 1973. He has one child, a daughter named Kimberly, born in the early 1990s.
During the off-season, while still playing baseball, Jackson worked as a reporter and commentator for ABC Sports. He also appeared in several movies, including The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, Richie Rich, and BASEketball. He was a guest star on TV shows like Diff'rent Strokes, The Love Boat, and The Jeffersons, often playing himself. From 1981 to 1982, he hosted a show called Reggie Jackson's World of Sports for Nickelodeon.
In 2010, he wrote a book called Sixty-Feet Six-Inches with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. The book talks about their careers and how they approached the game.
Reggie Jackson has faced three fires that damaged his personal property. In 1976, a fire at his home in Oakland destroyed his 1973 MVP award and World Series trophies. The same home burned down again in 1991, destroying more baseball items. In 1988, a warehouse holding his collection of cars was damaged in a fire.
In 2005, Jackson was in a car accident where his car flipped over. He had only minor injuries and later said it made him think about his life's purpose.
Honors After Retirement
Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner, became friends again. Steinbrenner hired Jackson as a "special assistant" to help the team, especially with minority players. Jackson often visited the Yankees' spring training and gave advice to stars like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. He chose to wear a Yankees cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.
The Yankees retired Jackson's uniform number 44 on August 14, 1993. The Athletics retired his number 9 on May 22, 2004. He is one of only a few MLB players to have their numbers retired by more than one team.
In 1999, Sporting News ranked Jackson 48th on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.
The Yankees honored Jackson with a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium on July 6, 2002. The plaque calls him "One of the most colorful and exciting players of his era" and "a prolific hitter who thrived in pressure situations." Many famous baseball players, including Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, attended the ceremony.
Jackson has also turned his love for old cars into a business. He has tried to buy major league baseball teams, but hasn't been successful.
In 2007, ESPN made a TV show called The Bronx Is Burning about the 1977 Yankees. Jackson was not happy with how he was shown in the series.
In 2008, Jackson threw the first pitch at the last game ever played at the original Yankee Stadium. He also threw the first pitch at the first game in the new Yankee Stadium.
On September 5, 2018, Jackson was inducted into the new Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame. He joined other A's legends like Rickey Henderson and Dennis Eckersley.
In June 2024, at a special MLB game honoring the Negro leagues in Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson spoke about the challenges he faced with racism when he played there. He shared how difficult it was and how his white friends and manager helped him get through it.
Interesting Facts about Reggie Jackson
- While still playing baseball, Jackson worked as a reporter and commentator for ABC Sports.
- He presented the World Series Trophy in 1983, 1985, and 1987.
- Jackson appeared in several movies, including The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! and Richie Rich.
- From 1981 to 1985, he hosted Reggie Jackson's World of Sports for Nickelodeon.
- He co-wrote a book in 2010 called Sixty-Feet Six-Inches with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.
- A baseball video game called Reggie Jackson Baseball was released for the Sega Master System in 1988.
- Jackson has had three fires affect his property. A fire at his Oakland home in 1976 destroyed his MVP award and World Series trophies. The same home burned down again in 1991, destroying more items. In 1988, a warehouse holding his valuable antique cars was damaged by fire.
Reggie Jackson Quotes
- "I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it."
- "True success is one of the greatest needs. Success is not something you stumble onto or come to by accident. It is something you must sincerely prepare for."
- "I didn't come to New York to be a star. I brought my star with me."
See also
In Spanish: Reggie Jackson para niños
- Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeouts by batters leaders
