“Hall-of-Famer”, “World Series MVP in 1973 and 1977”, 5× World Series champion (1972–1974, 1977, 1978), and New York Yankees legend, Reggie Jackson, joins Crane Capital (Principal Owner of the MLB-Houston Astros) as Special Advisor.
There’s been no official announcement from the Astros yet, but Jackson let the cat out of the bag after he was spotted at Minute Maid Park for Wednesday’s Astros-Mariners game and then at The Woodlands Country Club for the Insperity Invitational pro-am on Thursday.
Jackson said he’s friends with Astros owner Jim Crane.
“I’m involved and have been involved with Jim and the ‘Stros,” Jackson told the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Dean on Thursday. “I’m happy to be here, it’s working well. I’m fitting in. All to make the ballclub better and at the same time we’re working on a lot of baseball fields and charity things that we can do together for the community.”
Jackson, who turns 75 in May, only spent five of his 15 big league seasons with the Yankees, but he’s revered in New York as “Mr. October” for his postseason heroics. He hit five home runs in the 1977 World Series – a feat later duplicated by the Astros’ George Springer in 2017 – and helped the Yankees win two titles. He also won three championships in Oakland. Both the Athletics and Yankees have retired his No. 44.
Jackson, retired from baseball after the 1987 season and went into the Hall of Fame in 1993, the same year the Yankees’ George Steinbrenner hired him to be a special advisor for the franchise. Jackson served in that role for 28 years before leaving in February.
“It’s just time to step back,” Jackson said at the time. “I want to be around the game, and I want to contribute. I want to leave my knowledge. But it’s just time to move on.”
The Astros and Yankees have developed a rivalry during recent years with the Astros eliminating the Bronx Bombers from the postseason in 2015, in a tense seven-game American League Championship Series in 2017 and again in the 2019 ALCS.
The Astros figure to get plenty of boos next week when they play at Yankee Stadium for the first time since Major League Baseball’s investigation showed they illegally stole signs during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
After a Hall-of Fame playing career with the Athletics, Orioles, Yankees and Angels, Jackson spent most of his post-playing career with the New York Yankees organization as a special advisor.
The Astros said, with his new role, Jackson will continue his contributions to the game with a focus on giving back to the community.
Jackson will bring his experience and expertise to support The Astros Foundation and The Astros Golf Foundation in key initiatives surrounding the growth of the game of baseball and the sport of golf for youth.
Jackson will lend his support to the Astros community efforts at both the Astros Youth Academy and the Chevron Center for Education and Golf, the latter being located at Memorial Park Golf Course, home of the Houston Open.
In addition to baseball, softball and golf instruction, both facilities provide educational programs for children and teens.
Jackson will also provide counsel to all Crane Capital companies and to The Astros Foundation on various diversity and inclusion initiatives.
As special advisor to the Astros owner, Jackson will advise and serve as an ambassador for various Crane business initiatives, including select baseball-related matters.
“Reggie and I have been long-time friends, and I am proud of his longstanding commitment to the game,” the Astros owner said. “His desire to continue to give back to the community and help grow our game will be a great asset to our efforts moving forward.”
Reggie Jackson
| Reggie Jackson | |||
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 Jackson in 1981
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: May 18, 1946 Abington Township, Pennsylvania |
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| MLB debut | |||
| June 9, 1967, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| October 4, 1987, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Hits | 2,584 | ||
| Home runs | 563 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,702 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Member of the National | |||
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| Induction | 1993 | ||
| Vote | 93.6% (first ballot) | ||
Reginald Martinez Jackson (born May 18, 1946) is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels. Jackson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.
Jackson was nicknamed “Mr. October” for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees. He helped Oakland win five consecutive American League West divisional pennants, three consecutive American League pennants and three consecutive World Series titles, from 1972 to 1974. Jackson helped New York win four American League East divisional pennants, three American League pennants and two consecutive World Series titles, from 1977 to 1981. He also helped the California Angels win two AL West divisional pennants in 1982 and 1986. Jackson hit three consecutive home runs at Yankee Stadium in the clinching game six of the 1977 World Series.
Jackson hit 563 career home runs and was an American League (AL) All-Star for 14 seasons. He won two Silver Slugger Awards, the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1973, two World Series MVP Awards, and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977. The Yankees and Athletics retired his team uniform number in 1993 and 2004. Jackson currently serves as a special advisor to the Yankees.
Jackson led his teams to first place ten times over his 21-year career.
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez Jackson
Inducted to the Hall of Fame in: 1993
Primary team: Oakland Athletics
Primary position: Right Fielder
Bob Marshall said: “Just as nature fills a vacuum, Reggie fills a spotlight.”
Outspoken and charismatic, Reggie Jackson was never afraid to speak his mind. He was good – very good, and he knew it. In 1973, as a member of the Oakland Athletics, Jackson said that if he was playing in New York, they would name a candy bar after him. Within five years, those words came true.
Reggie could have been in New York sooner, had the New York Mets not passed on Reggie and taken high school catcher Steve Chilcott with the first overall pick of the 1966 amateur baseball draft. Jackson went second to the Athletics. But it was Jackson’s dream to play in New York. When he finally got there in 1977, he said: “I didn’t come to New York to be a star, I brought my star with me”.
Named the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1977, Jackson’s star seemed to shine its brightest on baseball’s grandest stage. In five World Series, Jackson hit 10 home runs with 24 RBI while batting .357. His most memorable moment in the Fall Classic came in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series when Reggie hit three home runs on three pitches, earning the nickname “Mr. October.” Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey later said: “I must admit, when Reggie hit his third home run and I was sure nobody was looking, I applauded in my glove.”
Reggie was also a star off the field, appearing in movies and television programs such as MacGuyver, Malcom in the Middle, BASEketball and The Naked Gun.
Jackson was a 14-time American League All-Star, a member of five World Series championship teams and won the American League MVP Award in 1973, where he led the junior circuit in home runs, RBI and runs scored. After five years in New York, Reggie moved back out west, joining the California Angels. During his first season with the Angels, Reggie once again led the league in home runs. Jackson finished his career back where he started, as a member of the Athletics.
In 21 big league seasons, Jackson totaled 2,548 hits, 563 home runs and 1,702 RBI.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.
that Reggie Jackson was the first player in Major League history to amass 100 or more home runs for three different clubs: the A’s, Yankees and Angels?
“Many words come to mind when describing Reggie Jackson. Powerful. Electrifying. Charismatic. Dramatic….A winner… But there’s one word that does not come to mind. Boring. “
