Reggie Jackson
| Birthdate | 5/18/1946 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1967 |
| Year of Induction | 1993 |
| Teams | Angels, Athletics, Orioles, Yankees |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, Right Field |
“Mr. October” Reggie Jackson appeared in the post season 10X in a 12 year span, hitting 18 homers and 48 RBI in 281 career post season at bats.
Be sure to visit our page on Facebook.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
Reggie Jackson received consideration for the MVP in 13 seasons
Reggie Jackson received consideration for the MVP in 13 seasons
A first-ballot Cooperstown selection, Reggie Jackson was one of the most prolific home run hitters of his day. Selected by the Kansas City Athletics with the second overall pick in the 1966 draft, Jackson was in the big leagues the following year.
When the A’s moved to Oakland for the ’68 season, Reggie’s fortunes changed. He hit at least 25 homers in each of his eight seasons in the Bay including a career-high 47 in 1969.
Jackson received support in MVP balloting 13 times in the 15-year period from ’68-’82. He came away with the award in 1973 as the unanimous selection. That season he led the league in homers, runs batted in, slugging percentage and OPS.
Shown here is Jackson’s contract with Topps Chewing Gum to appear on baseball cards for 1974, ’75, and ’76. Signed by Jackson at the bottom, this deal calls for the slugger to receive a $75 bonus payment.
Topps was happy to have Reggie as a key to their set. Already a superstar by the time the contract was signed, Reggie hit 25 or more homers in fifteen different seasons, leading the league four times in a ten-year span from 1973-1982. His career totals include 536 homers, 1,702 RBI, and an MLB-record 2,597 strikeouts.
Jackson is a five-time World Series champ and two-time Series MVP
Jackson is a five-time World Series champ and two-time Series MVP
Reggie Jackson helped his teams reach 11 American League Championship Series and 5 Fall Classics. On baseball’s brightest stage, Reggie was at his best. He hit .357 with a .457 on-base percentage, and a .755 slugging mark in World Series play. His performance earned him one of baseball’s most iconic nicknames, “Mr. October”.
Three of Reggie’s rings came with the A’s; two more came with the Yankees. The two-time World Series MVP had his finest hour in the 1977 tilt vs. the Dodgers. In the decisive Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, Jackson slugged three home runs off of three different pitchers to clinch New York’s first title since 1962.
In the collection is this correspondence between Reggie and fellow Hall of Famer Larry Doby. The man who broke the American League’s color barrier writes to Jackson asking for an endorsement in this letter dated January 11, 1993. Doby asks Mr. October to peruse The Rules of Baseball by David Nemec and add comments that can be used on the back cover of the book or in marketing materials.
