Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993 TAG: 9308010160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
Jackson signed as a free agent with New York before the 1977 season because he wanted Yankee Stadium as his stage. He was a star in Oakland, but it was in New York that he became a superstar.
When it was announced in January that Jackson was the only player who had been elected to the Hall of Fame, he made it known right away that his plaque would include a cap emblazoned with the "NY" of the Yankees.
"I always wanted to be right there with all the great Yankees of the past - Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey . . . ," Jackson said.
At the the old-timers' event July 24, the last three Yankees heroes introduced were Jackson, Mantle and DiMaggio. The three Hall of Famers stood together near home plate for photographers, Jackson and Mantle waving their Yankees caps and DiMaggio in a dark blue suit.
It was the way Jackson wanted it long ago. His clutch hitting, charisma and constant controversy elevated him to a level all his own.
The man who used to talk in terms of "the magnitude of me" made it with 93.6 percent of the ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. It was the 10th-highest total in history and made Jackson the 29th player to be elected in the first year of eligibility.
Jackson called himself "the straw the stirs the drink" and earned the title "Mr. October" for his postseason performance.
This is the first year since Willie Stargell in 1988 that only one player has been elected by the writers. And, it seemed appropriate that Jackson stood alone on the stage.
It took 75 percent of the 423 votes to make the Hall of Fame, and Jackson received 396. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro, in his first year of eligibility, fell short with 278 votes (65.7 percent).
Jackson hit 563 home runs, sixth on the career list, in 21 seasons. He was known even more for his exploits in the postseason, leading his teams to five World Series championships.
He hit 10 home runs in 98 at-bats in the World Series. He played in five Series - two with Oakland and three with New York - and batted .357. He also appeared in 11 playoff series. In 1972, he missed the World Series for Oakland with an injury.
Jackson had 1,702 RBI during his career with Oakland, New York, Baltimore and California. He played in 12 All-Star games.
"He deserves it. There isn't enough mustard in the United States to cover him, but when the time came to deliver, he did," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said.
Whether you love him or hate him - and there are reasons for both - Reggie Jackson always has been noticed.
"Reggie was Reggie," said former Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph. "We understood he was the focus. But everyone came together when it counted."
Jackson's .262 career batting average is the lowest of any outfielder in the Hall of Fame, but his fame had nothing to do with batting average. More impressive than his numbers was the way in which he produced them.
He hit three home runs on three pitches in the sixth and clinching game of the 1977 World Series against Los Angeles, giving him a streak of four homers on four swings. Babe Ruth is the only other player to hit three home runs in a World Series game.
Jackson also hit one of the most memorable home runs in All-Star play, a drive off the light tower on the right-field roof at Tiger Stadium in 1971.
Jackson, however, did not always have to swing his bat to win games. With just a slight swing of his hips, he deflected a double-play relay by Los Angeles shortstop Bill Russell in the 1978 World Series.
And even when Jackson failed, he did it with a flair.
In one of the most dramatic confrontations, he struck out swinging on a 3-2 count against Bob Welch of the Dodgers to end Game 2 of the 1978 Series. The strikeout came on the ninth pitch of the duel, with two runners on base and the Yankees trailing 4-3.
Jackson homered off Welch in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium.
He won four American League home run championships and drove in 100 or more runs in six seasons.
by CNB