Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports. Img source si.com
June 26, 2024 Story by: Editor
Reggie Jackson, a 14-time MLB All-Star who played from 1967 to 1987, has recently spoken out about the racism he experienced throughout his career. He recounted a notable story involving Bear Bryant, the legendary University of Alabama football coach from 1958 to 1982.
In a story first mentioned in a 1987 Sports Illustrated interview, Jackson shared an encounter with Bryant in Birmingham. Bryant’s son was the general manager of Jackson’s ball club. According to Jackson, Bryant told him, “you’re the kind of nigger boy we need to show the people in this state that we can be good athletes and good for his school.”
Reflecting on that time, Jackson noted that Bryant didn’t intend the statement to be hateful. “He said it as a compliment. He said it with his arm around me. Whenever he came to New York, he always made it a point to come see me, and I enjoyed visiting with him. He meant no harm. That’s the way it was,” Jackson explained.
Jackson recently made an appearance at Rickwood Field to honor the late Willie Mays, who debuted at that stadium in 1951. During his visit, Jackson spoke with the MLB on Fox broadcasting crew, sharing stories that highlighted the prevalent discrimination of the era.
“The racism when I played here, the difficulty of going through different places where we traveled … I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” Jackson recalled. “I would walk into restaurants, and they would point at me and say ‘that nigger can’t eat here.’ I would go to a hotel, and they’d say ‘that nigger can’t stay here.’ We went to [the A’s owner at the time] Charlie Finley’s country club for a welcome-home dinner, and they pointed me out with the n-word, ‘he can’t come in here…'”
Jackson credited his teammates for their support during these challenging times. “Had it not been for Rollie Fingers, Johnny McNamara, Dave Duncan, Joe and Sharron Rudy, I slept on their couch three or four nights a week for about a month and a half. Finally, they threatened to burn our apartment complex down unless I got out. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” he said.
Despite the adversity he faced off the field, Jackson achieved historic success, cementing his legacy as a Hall of Fame player. Known as Mr. October for his clutch postseason hitting, Jackson hit 563 career home runs, ranking him 14th on the all-time MLB home run list. Source: FANBUZZ
