“A baseball swing is a very finely tuned instrument. It is repetition, and more repetition, then a little more after that”
“I was reminded that when we lose and I strike out, a billion people in China don't care”
"October, that's when they pay off for playing ball"
"I'm human and I've played my butt off for ten years. I'm not a loafer, I'm not a jerk, I'm a baseball player"
"Fans don't boo nobodies"
-Reggie Jackson
“I was reminded that when we lose and I strike out, a billion people in China don't care”
"October, that's when they pay off for playing ball"
"I'm human and I've played my butt off for ten years. I'm not a loafer, I'm not a jerk, I'm a baseball player"
"Fans don't boo nobodies"
-Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson is remembered for hitting clutch postseason home runs, earning him the nickname “Mr. October”; though, he also was an important figure for the African-American community in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
After his retirement from baseball, Reggie Jackson continued to be involved in the game. Though, Jackson also continued to be TV personality and pursue acting, appearing in shows and movies like Malcolm in the Middle and the Benchwarmers. Jackson is also a car enthusiasts, collecting “muscle cars” before and after his baseball career. Jackson continued to live in California after retiring with the Athletics. He also went on to have a daughter, Kimberly. Jackson eventually rekindled his relationship with the Yankees, becoming a special assistant for George Steinbrenner. Reggie Jackson left a strong legacy, winning five World Series and earning the All-Star designation fourteen times. Jackson went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. After the reserve clause was removed in 1975, Jackson was one of the first players to test out the market, initiating the free-agent era. Jackson is of one of eight players to have his number retired by multiple teams (nine if you include Jackie Robinson’s league-wide number retirement). Jackson had his number 44 and 9 retired by the Yankees and Athletics respectively (Jackson and Baker). Reggie Jackson played in the peak era for African-Americans in baseball. Jackson helped lead the charge for black involvement in baseball during the 1970’s and 1980’s. By 1975, nearly 27% of MLB players were black, though, that number is down near 8% today (Hagen). Jackson grew up when Jackie Robinson was playing and was no stranger to segregation and discrimination. Jackson claimed baseball expected black players to be subservient, adhering to a game dominated by whites. Jackson claims there are double standards applied to black athletes, something he felt during his career (Jackson and Baker). Jackson argued his “arrogant” or “egotistical” image was simply the result of how the white media depicted a black athlete who wasn’t afraid to speak out. Jackson grew a mustache and an afro to keep up with the times in the 1970’s, though people perceived this as an attempt to challenge social issue (Jackson and Baker). Jackson argued black players were labeled as “gifted athletes”, while white players were “bright, analytical” (Jackson and Baker). Jackson simply didn’t want to sacrifice his identity to fit in a game that has traditionally been dominated by whites. Jackson wasn’t afraid to speak out against discrimination of any kind, standing up for his Jewish teammates on the Athletics and Yankees (Jackson and Baker). |