MLB free agency began in 1976 and one of the first major developments of that era was Reggie Jackson leaving the Oakland A’s for the Baltimore Orioles in 1976 only to move to the the New York Yankees in 1977.
As an A, Jackson already had Hall of Fame credentials, helping the Athletics win the World Series in 1972, 1973 and 1974. His greatest moment, one that matched anything from the long history of the World Series, came in 1977.
In Game 6, which was the final game of the Series, Jackson hit three epic home runs.
It was a stunning performance under pressure. The MLB record for home runs in a single game is four and only 21 players have ever done it, including Lou Gehrig, Gil Hodges, Willie Mayes and Mike Schmidt.
By the time you get to the World Series, you’re facing pitchers who are at the top of their game under the brightest of lights. Only five players have hit three homers. Babe Ruth did it in 1926 and again in 1928. Albert Pujols did it in 2009 and Pablo Sandoval got there in 2012.
And while Ruth hit three in Game 4 in 1928, Jackson’s were under immense pressure in the final game of a series that New York could still have lost.
It was a singular clutch performance that made Jackson’s entry into the Hall of Fame inevitable. The guy was absolutely magnificent under very difficult circumstances.
Of course, he also set the MLB career record for strikeouts and the following year, he was memorably taken down by skinny 21-year-old Los Angeles Dodger Bob Welch to close out Game 2. It didn’t matter, since Jackson’s team won 4-2 again as Mr. October won his fifth World Series ring.
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