Jackson, Reggie (1946-…), was one of the greatest sluggers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and one of the sport’s most colorful personalities. During his 21-year career, Jackson played on 11 division winners, 6 pennant-winning teams, and 5 World Series champions. His outspoken style made him one of the best-known athletes in sports. Jackson’s clutch hitting late in a season earned him the nickname “Mister October.”
Jackson was an outfielder and designated hitter. His lifetime regular season batting average was only .262, but he batted .357 in 27 World Series games. In 1977, he became the first player to hit five home runs in one World Series. Jackson led the American League in home runs four times and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1973. He retired with 563 career home runs. He also set a major league record by striking out 2,597 times.
Reginald Martinez Jackson was born in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 1946. He starred in baseball at Arizona State University and then was drafted by the Kansas City (now Oakland) Athletics in 1967. He played for the Athletics until 1976, when he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. After playing one season with Baltimore, Jackson signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. He signed as a free agent with the California Angels (now Los Angeles Angels) in 1982 and returned to Oakland as a free agent in 1987, his final season as a player. Jackson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.
