Reggie Jackson

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Lore & Background

Jackson was nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees. He helped Oakland win five consecutive American League West divisional titles, three straight American League pennants and three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974. Jackson helped New York win four American League East divisional pennants, three American League pennants and back-to-back World Series titles, in 1977 and 1978. He also helped the California Angels win two AL West divisional titles in 1982 and 1986. Jackson hit three consecutive home runs at Yankee Stadium in the clinching game six of the 1977 World Series. Jackson hit 563 career home runs and was an American League (AL) All-Star for 14 seasons. He won two Silver Slugger Awards, the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1973, two World Series MVP Awards and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977. Jackson additionally holds the record for most career strikeouts by a batter. The Yankees retired his uniform number in 1993, and the Athletics retired it in 2004. Jackson currently serves as a special advisor to the Houston Astros, and a sixth championship associated with Jackson came with Houston's win in the 2022 World Series. Jackson led his teams to first place eleven times over his 21-year baseball career and had only two losing seasons.

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide a specific story about Jackson's time with the Angels beyond the facts that he helped them win two AL West divisional titles (1982 and 1986) and hit a home run over the right-field roof at Tiger Stadium in 1984. Jackson hit 563 career home runs and was an American League All-Star for 14 seasons. He won the AL Most Valuable Player Award in 1973, two World Series MVP Awards, and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977. The Yankees retired his uniform number in 1993, and the Athletics retired it in 2004.

Reader's Guide

Reginald Martinez Jackson was born on May 18, 1946, in the Wyncote neighborhood of Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. His father, Martinez Jackson, who was half Puerto Rican, worked as a tailor and was a former second baseman with the Newark Eagles of Negro league baseball. He was the youngest of his mother Clara's four children. He also had two half-siblings from his father's first marriage. His parents divorced when he was six. Jackson graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1964, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. He accepted a football scholarship from Arizona State University. In the 1966 Major League Baseball draft, Jackson was selected by the Kansas City Athletics as the second overall pick. He debuted in the major leagues with the A's in 1967. Jackson hit a career-high 47 home runs in 1969. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, then signed with the New York Yankees, and later played for the California Angels. Jackson currently serves as a special advisor to the Houston Astros.

Did You Know?

• Jackson hit three consecutive home runs in the clinching game six of the 1977 World Series.
• He holds the record for most career strikeouts by a batter.
• Jackson was the first college player to hit a home run out of Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
• His father, Martinez Jackson, was a former second baseman with the Newark Eagles of Negro league baseball.