Reggie Jackson – Always Number 9 and Forever an A’s Player

On May 22, 2004, Reggie’s number 9 was the third number to be retired by A’s at that time, joining Catfish Hunter’s 27 and Rollie Fingers’ 34. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

It took the Oakland Athletics franchise over 11 years to come to their senses after the induction of Reggie Jackson into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1993 to give him the proper honor of retiring his Oakland A’s number 9, the number he wore in nine of his 10 A’s seasons.

After his retirement in 1987, Jackson was at odds with the A’s front office, and took his Hall of Fame induction as a Yankee since George Steinbrenner had brought him aboard to work in their front office. Over time, as A’s executives changed, Jackson made peace with the A’s organization, and his A’s number 9 was retired in a pre-game ceremony on May 22, 2004.

Reggie’s number 9 was the third number to be retired by A’s at that time, joining Catfish Hunter’s 27 and Rollie Fingers’ 34.

I recall seeing Jackson at the podium joined by former teammates Billy North, Bert Campaneris, Dick Green, Ray Fosse, Vida Blue, Joe Rudi, Blue Moon Odom, Claudell Washington, and former manager Dick Williams as Jackson spoke about how Oakland had a place in his heart and “being raised and developed” in Oakland.

He made no apologies to the fans about going into the HOF as a Yankee stating that he needed a job after baseball and one wasn’t offered by the A’s, but had been given one by the Yankees.

Jackson made his major league debut with the Kansas City Athletics on June 9, 1967. In the ’67 season, Jackson played in just 35 games for the Athletics, batting .178 with one home run and six RBI.

1968 and the move to Oakland was a breakout year for Reggie who, alongside former ASU teammate in center field, Rick Monday, as A’s new regular right fielder, hit .250 with 29 home runs and 74 RBI. Jackson also struck out a career-high 171 times and led the American League in whiffs. Despite his low batting average and strikeouts, Jackson finished 17th in the 1968 AL Most Valuable Player award race.

Jackson had his best statistical season in just his second full season in the majors in 1969. In the early part of that season there was a regular “Reggie Watch” as Jackson chased Roger Maris’ single season home run record as “Reggie’s Regiment” was formed in the right field bleachers.

Jackson was selected to the first of his 14 All-Star games. At the end of the season, Jackson led the AL in runs scored with 123 and hit .275, with 47 home runs and 118 RBI.

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In 1971, Jackson was selected to his second All-Star game where he is remembered for taking the Pirates Doc Ellis deep to right field in Tiger Stadium in the bottom of the third inning, striking the light standard atop the roof. That year he hit .277 with 32 home runs and 80 RBI, leading the Athletics to the AL West Title. It was the Athletics’ first first-place finish since 1931.

The A’s repeated as AL West division champions in 1972 and they played the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series. In Game 5, Jackson stole home to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead, but he tore his hamstring in the process. The A’s won the game 2-1 and advanced to the 1972 World Series, but Jackson was unable to play. In the World Series, the A’s defeated the Cincinnati Reds in seven games to win its first of three consecutive titles.

A healthy Jackson returned in 1973 and hit .293 with 32 home runs and 117 RBI, leading the A’s to their third consecutive AL West pennant. The A’s advanced to the World Series for the second straight year, and, this time, Reggie’s health wasn’t an issue. Against the New York Mets, Jackson hit a two-run home run in Game 7 as Oakland won 5-2, taking its second consecutive World Series title. Jackson was selected as the World Series MVP. At the end of the season Jackson won the AL MVP.

In 1974, Jackson hit .289 with 29 home runs and 93 RBI. Jackson was involved in a clubhouse fight with teammate Billy North on June 5, 1974, in Detroit. The fight not only injured Jackson’s shoulder, but it landed catcher Ray Fosse on the disabled list with a crushed disc in his neck. The Oakland A’s defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1974 World Series to become one of two teams to win three straight championships.

Prior to the start of the 1976 season, A’s owner Charles O. Finley in a surprise swap,  traded Jackson to the Baltimore Orioles on April 2  along with Ken Holtzman for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. Jackson was going to be a free agent following the 1976 season, and it was obvious a cash-conscious Finley couldn’t afford to re-sign him.

At age 41 Reggie returned to the A’s in 1987 to finish his career and wore the more familiar 44 for that season, the jersey number he identified with when playing for the Yankees and Angels. In his final season, he hit .220 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI.

During that final season, I remember Reggie taking the field for an A’s wearing his familiar 9 for an “Old-Timers game that featured the A’s from the 70s as fans cheered when they noticed the change.

To us Oakland A’s fans, Reggie Jackson will always be number 9 and always an Oakland Athletic.