Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 2, 1993 TAG: 9308020050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
"When fans think about Reggie Jackson, they think about the playoffs and World Series," Jackson said. "They think about three home runs in the World Series and the home run off the light transformer during the 1971 All-Star Game in Detroit."
Jackson, who once talked about the "magnitude of me," has the lowest batting average among outfielders in the Hall, but few matched his flair for the dramatic or his huge ego.
He hit 563 home runs and drove in 1,702 runs for Oakland, Baltimore, the New York Yankees and California from 1967-1987. But his career average was .262 and he struck out a major-league record 2,597 times.
"I think all the great moments I had put me over the top," Jackson said. "I might have made it without those numbers, but it probably would not have been on the first ballot of eligibility."
Jackson, who played his best when big games were on the line, was elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America with 93.6 percent of the votes. He is the 29th player elected in the first year of eligibility.
Thirty-eight members of the Hall attended the induction ceremony, with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner also making an appearance.
"I thank Mr. Steinbrenner for putting me in pinstripes," Jackson said.
Reggie expressed love for his 90-year-old father and many baseball friends through the years. He talked about his greatest moment, the night he hit three home runs on consecutive swings in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. The last was a drive into the center-field bleachers off the Dodgers' Charlie Hough.
"I was running around the bases, a foot above the ground," Jackson said. "When I got back, everybody was cheering. My teammates were hugging me. [Manager] Billy Martin was hugging me!"
His moods were volatile. One day he would sign autographs for youngsters, the next day he would spurn an elderly woman who wanted him to sign a baseball for her grandson.
Jackson was not always loved by his teammates. He had heated words with Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles and, of course, Billy Martin and Steinbrenner. It was Jackson who deemed himself the "straw that stirs the drink," a remark that particularly enraged Munson.
But, more important, he was a winner. In 21 seasons, Jackson played for 11 division winners, six AL champions and five World Series winners, missing the 1972 Series for Oakland with an injury. He was selected to 14 All-Star games and played in 12.
He hit .357 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in 27 World Series games. The only other player to hit three home runs in a World Series game was Babe Ruth, who did in twice.
by CNB