Flashback Athlete of the Month for January 2024

Bio

Reggie Jackson is a famous American former professional baseball right fielder. Born in 1946 in Cheltenham Pennsylvania, Jackson got his start in sports at a young age at Cheltenham High School, playing a variety of sports including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.

After high school, Jackson played football and basketball for Arizona State University in 1965. In 1966 he helped his team earn the All-America designation after breaking the record for the most home runs in a single season. By his senior year, Jackson had recruiters from multiple major baseball teams eager for him to join.

Jackson signed with the Kansas City Athletics after college, debuting in 1967 in a winning game against the Cleveland Indians. In his time with the Athletics, Jackson hit a total of 254 home runs. In 1969 he hit 47 home runs in a season, coming close to Babe Ruth’s 1927 record of 60 home runs.

After the Athletics, Jackson joined onto the Baltimore Orioles and then The New York Yankees, where he played 131 games, made 29 home runs and 89 RBI, and gained the nickname Mr. October.

Jackson became a free agent in 1981 and joined the California Angels, and during his time with them he hit his 500th home run in a game against the Royals. His last season was with his original Oakland team before his retirement at the age of 41.

In total Jackson made around 563 home runs, the sixth in all-time baseball history.

After being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993, Jackson became the New York Yankees organization’s special advisor. In 2021 he joined the Houston Astros as a special advisor to its owner Jim Crane, alongside other projects focusing on fostering education and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Highlight

Past Picks of the Month

Pete Rose

Amar’e Stoudemire

Dave Windfield

Willie Mays

Darryl Strawberry

Bernie Williams

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