Reggie Jackson Biography

His middle name is Martinez by his father, Martinez Jackson. Reggie said in his autobiography that had black blood, Irish, Indian and Caribbean. His grandfather was African American, Afro-Caribbean and grandmother was born in St. Croix. His father, Martinez Clarence Jackson (African American), married Clara (African American). Mr. Jackson had two children from his first marriage: Clarence that called him "Joe" and Dolores. From their union with Clear four children were born: Beverly, James who called "Slug", Reggie and Tina the minor.

In concluding his high school, Reggie went to study at Arizona State University. There he met Jennie Fields, a US-Mexican girl, with whom he had a romantic relationship culminating in marriage. With Jennie it learned to speak Spanish, which helped him to communicate with his fellow Spanish-speaking baseball, especially when he played winter ball in Puerto Rico, in the 1970-71 season, with the Santurce Crabbers. That year topped the Puerto Rico League in homers with 20 and 47 runs scored.

His major league career began in 1967 with terrible numbers. With the A's managed just one homer in 118 at-bats and batting average of .178 pyrrhic. In 1968 he started the season from the start in the majors. His numbers were a little better, but struck out 171 times. Yet, he shot 29 homers and batted .250. And in 1969 he had a significant improvement of 47 home runs, 118 RBI, 123 runs scored and 114 base on balls, a leader in the last two categories. But typical of his career, he struck out 142 times.

Of the three consecutive titles of the A's in the seventies, he could not participate in 1972 due to an injury sustained in the last game of the ALCS American League, sliding into the plate scoring race that gave the crown to the Athletics. In the following year he capped a brilliant year in which he was nominated MVP of both the season and the World Series. The team repeated in 1974 defeating the Dodgers in five games.

Jackson also owned a rough character that brought many quarrels among their peers, managers and owners. By discussions with the owner of the A's he was traded to the Orioles with which he played one season.

source : alumni.asu.edu

Ranking sixth in home runs of all time, with 563, Reginald Martinez Jackson was born in Wyncote (Pennsylvania). In 1964 he joined the State University of Arizona, where he played football and baseball, sport for which he finally bowed to sign in 1966 with the Kansas City Athletics, who later moved to Oakland (California).

In 1976 he joined the Baltimore Orioles, and the following year went to the New York Yankees with whom he won three titles in the East Division, two of the American League and two World Series, in 1977 and 1978. In the 1977 hit four consecutive home runs, each to a different pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers. That feat, which was unprecedented, made him being called 'Mr. October '.

Reggie Jackson was the only player to have been named MVP in two World Series. For these valuable prizes, the nickname of "Mr. October" won.

Reggie also has under its belt the record of having been struck out more times in his career, 2,597 times, once every four at-bats. Although from 1971 to 1982 he led three teams to ten division titles and won five World Series, Jackson was never a good defensive player. It tied with Burt Shotton, was the leader in the American errors league five times.

Jackson hit 29 homers in 1968, was the leader in assists with 14, with 12 errors, and also managed to strike out 171 times in 553 Opportunities.

In 1969 he was to step to the previous record of Roger Maris and had 40 homers in July, but ended up hitting only seven more in the season.

Winner of four homers crowns, Reggie won his first in 1973. The first appearance in the World Series was memorable for Reggie Jackson as he had four hits in the second game, two double to score two runs for the sixth game, and a home run as well as two spectacular catches to win the seventh game with Oakland. An example of what is truly valuable player, Jackson was the recipient of this for the regular season as well as for the World Series.

Jackson also played in the world series of 74 'in which he homered in the first game, a double in the second, and ended when making out the fifth game.

If there is a year that could give you the name of Mr. October to Reggie Jackson he was in the 77th. In this World Series he hits homers in the fourth and fifth games, as well as three in the sixth game.

In this series he scored two new records, most home runs in a series (5), run scored (10) and total bases (25). The third home run crown was won by Reggie in 80 'with the Yankees, the fourth in the 82' with the Angels.

Jackson finished his career with the Athletics in the 87 'with 563 career homers and sixth in the list of all players. He retired after the 1987 season and in 1993 was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.