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Pair of Oakland A’s legends add another honor to legacy

By David Hill

Aug 7, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics former outfielder Reggie Jackson waves during a ceremony before the game against the San Francisco Giants at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics former outfielder Reggie Jackson waves during a ceremony before the game against the San Francisco Giants at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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Just because Rollie Fingers and Reggie Jackson have not played for decades does not mean that the former Oakland A’s legends are forgotten.

The Hall of Fame teammates added another honor to their impressive legacies on Monday. The Cactus League announced that Fingers and Jackson were amongst the players inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023, joining Bob Feller and Randy Johnson as this year’s inductees.

Oakland A’s legends Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson add another honor

The pair spent quite a bit of time in the Cactus League over their careers. Jackson spent 15 of his 21 years in the majors as part of the Cactus League, spanning his time with the A’s and Angels. Fingers, meanwhile, was part of the league for all 17 of his major league seasons, making Arizona a part of his yearly regiment.

Jackson became must-watch television when he was at the plate due to his impressive power and violent swings. Even his strikeouts were entertaining given how dangerous he was in the batter’s box. He finished his Hall of Fame career with a .262/.356/.490 batting line, belting 563 homers while driving in 1702 runs. A 14 time All Star, five time World Series champion, and the 1972 AL MVP, Jackson also achieved fame for his acting performance in the first Naked Gun movie.

Fingers may be best known for his handlebar moustache these days, but he was a dominant closer in his own right. A seven time All Star, he was named the 1981 AL MVP and Cy Young winner. He finished his career with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.156 WHiP, notching 341 saves while striking out 1299 batters in his 1701.1 innings.

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Rollie Fingers and Reggie Jackson already had storied careers. The Oakland A’s legends have added another honor by being inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame.