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New York Yankees (#44) and Oakland A’s (#9)
While most MLB players (even 500HRC members) are honored to have their number retired by their home team, Reggie Jackson enjoyed two ceremonies that were 11 years…and more than 3,000 miles apart.
After having The New York Yankees retire his #44 in 1993, the same year
he was elected to the Hall of Fame, Jackson wasn’t sure if another team
would ever follow suit. During an emotional ceremony on May 23, 2004,
however, Jackson became only the third player in Oakland A’s history to
have his number (#9) retired by his first team –joining Catfish
Hunter’s (#27) and Rollie Fingers’ (#34).
 Ex-Oakland slugger Reggie Jackson hugs former teammate Dave Stewart during the retirement ceremony for his #9 jersey. The A's honored “Mr. October” eleven years after the NY Yankees did the same with his uniform #44 in 1993.
He
became one of eight players to have his number retired by two or more
teams, including Fingers, also honored by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Jackson,
who was drafted by the (Kansas City) Athletics with the second overall
pick of the first round of the 1966 amateur draft, before the team
relocated to Anaheim during his rookie year, played for the A’s from
1967-75, helping them win three straight World Series titles from
’72-74. He hit 268 of his 563 career homers with Oakland.
“My
heart tugs every time I am here,” said Jackson, now a special adviser
with the Yankees. “I wish I had the job here that I have in New York,
but it was never offered. I need the game of baseball and I’m not
ashamed to say that.”
 Jackson was joined by former teammates
Billy North, Bert Campaneris, Dick Green, Ray Fosse, Vida Blue, Joe
Rudi, Blue Moon Odom, Claudell Washington, Dave Stewart, Mike Norris
and former manager Dick Williams.
 In conjunction with the
ceremonies, Jackson’s Mr. October Foundation announced a $175,000
donation to the Oakland school system. |
