Reggie Jackson

Reginald Martinez Jackson, known fondly as “Mr. October”, was born on May 18, 1946, in the Wyncote neighborhood of Cheltenham Township, bordering Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His baseball lineage began with his father, Martinez Jackson, a former second baseman for the Newark Eagles of the Negro league, who worked as a tailor by trade and was half Puerto Rican. Jackson was the baby in his family, the youngest amongst his mother Clara’s four children.

Jackson’s life took a dramatic turn at the age of six when his parents divorced and divided the siblings between them. His father managed to single-handedly raise two of Jackson’s half-siblings from his previous marriage in one of the few black families in Wyncote.

On his journey towards a celebrated athletic career, Jackson showcased exceptional talent in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field during his high school years at Cheltenham High School. However, Jackson’s aspiration to continue playing on a football field faced obstacles of knee injuries and a prognosis stating he would never be eligible again to step on a football ground.

Despite the drawbacks, Jackson faced his fears and returned to his last high school football game. A dreadful accident during the game led Jackson to sustain five fractured cervical vertebrae, resulting in a hospitalization period of six weeks with an added month of wearing a neck cast. His doctors projected the inability for him not only to play but to walk again. Nevertheless, Jackson rose to the challenge by proving his detractors wrong.

Simultaneously, Jackson honed his baseball skills hitting an impressive.550 and throwing multiple no-hitters. Yet, he had to overcome personal troubles with his father being arrested for bootlegging resulting in a six-month jail term.

Jackson attracted the attention of multiple football recruiters from Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma, primarily due to his appeal beyond the sports color barrier at the time. However, he declined their offers primarily due to the racial fears associated with the South and Oklahoma’s request for him to stop dating white girls.

In the baseball arena, Jackson caught the eye of Hans Lobert of the San Francisco Giants, who was enthusiastic about signing him. While other teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies were ready to induct him into their ranks, Jackson chose a different path. Jackson’s ambition to play both football and baseball led him to accept a football scholarship from Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe.

As he set forth on his college journey, Jackson approached ASU’s baseball coach, Bobby Winkles, on his inclusion into the baseball team. His impressive baseball performance on the practice ground won him favor with Winkles, solidifying his passion for baseball.

However, NCAA rules limiting the involvement of freshman players on the team and his desire not to become a defensive back resulted in his full-time commitment to baseball. Winkles assigned him to a Baltimore Orioles-affiliated amateur team called Leone’s, where Jackson broke multiple team records. The Orioles attempted to entice him with a $50,000 signing bonus, but Jackson declined, refraining from renouncing his college scholarship.

In 1966, Jackson supplanted Rick Monday at center field and surpassed the team record for most home runs in a single season, leading in multiple categories and earning first team All-American status. Jackson’s final act as a college student was so impressive that it attracted scouts such as Tom Greenwade of the New York Yankees, who discovered Mickey Mantle and Danny Murtaugh of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

During the 1966 Major League Baseball draft on June 7, Jackson was chosen by the Kansas City Athletics, making him the second overall pick. His illustrious career commenced with the A’s, where he initially struggled and faced discrimination for his interracial relationship.

As he moved from Kansas City to Oakland A’s in 1968, Jackson’s rise to stardom became more apparent, hitting 47 home runs in 1969. He faced struggles at the plate initially in 1970, for which the team’s owner threatened to send him to the minor leagues. However, Jackson hit 23 home runs for the 1970 season and led the Santurce team in Puerto Rico by hitting 20 home runs and knocking in 47 runs.

In 1971, Jackson led the Athletics to the American League’s West division victory. The A’s won the division again in 1972, and Jackson’s timely steals led to a World Series victory against the Cincinnati Reds. In the following continuous victories of the team in 1973 and 74, Jackson’s unique skills and match-winning performances resulted in him being awarded the MVP award.

With 254 home runs in his nine years with the Athletics, Jackson proved no stranger to controversy or conflict. He constantly challenged both on and off-field norms, claiming a unique space in the hearts of the audience and his cohort. After an illustrious career with the Athletics, Jackson continued his marquee performances with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels.

Jackson retired with an exceptional record of 563 career home runs and was an American League All-Star for 14 seasons. He won two Silver Slugger awards, the AL Most Valifiable Player(MVP) award in 1973, two World Series MVP awards, and the Babe Ruth award in 1977. The Yankees and Athletics both retired his uniform numbers in 1993 and 2004, respectively.

Today, Jackson brings his wealth of experience to the Houston Astros as a special advisor, having also helped guide them to their 2022 World Series victory, celebrating his sixth associated championship. This baseball legend’s 21-year career led his teams to a first-place finish eleven times with only two losing seasons, etching his name in the annals of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1993.