A SET THAT NEVER WAS: 1971 ALL-STAR TICKET SET: REGGIE JACKSON

Here's a special request for a card to be added to my 1971 "All-Star Game Ticket" set, which I never did print up as originally planned, a Reggie Jackson edition to add to the starting line-up of both leagues as well as manager cards:

Now, I still haven't designed an Earl Weaver card yet since I'm looking for a full-resolution time appropriate image of him, but this Reggie card is the first for any non-starting player in that classic All-Star game.

Granted, it was his epic home run off the Detroit Stadium light tower that most remember from that magical game, which saw no less than six future Hall of Famers hit one out of the park.

Just an incredible game that saw the aging stars of the 1950s and 1960s play with the up and coming stars of the 1970s, changing the landscape of the game and pushing towards what I consider a second "Golden Age" for baseball over the next 10-15 years.

I do still think I'll print this set up in the future, just have to fit it in my planned release schedule for 2026!

Keep and eye out for it!

1988 CAREER-CAPPER: REGGIE JACKSON

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we feature my 1988 "Career-Capper" for all-world sports icon Reggie Jackson, who wrapped up a memorable Major League career in 1987 as a member of the Oakland A's, from my recent "1980s Career-Cappers" set:

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

SPECIAL: 1970s A.L. PLAYER OF THE DECADE: REGGIE JACKSON

On the blog today, we have my special insert card for my "1970s A.L. All Decade Team", this the "A.L. Player of the Decade" for "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson:

Who else really would be considered the player of the 1970s in the American League other than Reggie?

The man was a part of five World Champion teams, took home an MVP Award in 1973, became an American Icon after his 1977 World Series heroics, and yes, even had a candy bar named after him.

For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and those five championships.

Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1971 REGGIE JACKSON

Today on the blog, we look at one of my favorite customs I've created over the years, my 1971 "do-over" for "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson, every kid's idol growing up a Yankee fan in the late-70's/early-80's:

Love the way this came out! So much so that I included it in my Series 17 set released a couple months back!

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

"MISSING" 1969 DECKLE REGGIE JACKSON

Up on the blog today, my "missing" 1969 Deckle Edge card for "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson, from my custom 1969 "Gimmie A Do-Over" set released a few months back:

Really a fun insert to create for that set, as I had to manually hand-cut the deckle edging for each and every one of these to insert into my packs.

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: REGGIE JACKSON

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we go and add "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson to my custom WTHBALLS "Classic Baseball" set, which should see the light of day later this year in multiple series:

I chose a beautiful posed shot of the man during his younger years while starting out with the Kansas City/Oakland A's, with nothing but a Hall of Fame career out in front of him.

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

WTHBALLS GUM PACK CUSTOM SET: REGGIE JACKSON

Good day everyone.

On the blog today, my Reggie Jackson mini-card from my recent custom "Gum Pack" set, released in unique packaging:

 

Just a fun little set I worked on between "regular" releases to keep things interesting!

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

SPECIAL 1969 "TEAM" CEREAL EXTENSION SET: REGGIE JACKSON

On the blog today, we have my 1969 Nabisco Team Flakes "missing" card for the man himself, Reggie Jackson:

 

Hope to have this cereal box printed up in the coming months, as a special bonus custom release on the WTHBALLS imprint!

Jackson truly arrived with his 1969 season, exploding for 47 home runs with a league-leading 123 runs scored, while driving in 118 runs.

He also led the league with his .608 slugging percentage and 20 intentional base-on-balls, making his first All-Star game at the age of 23.

Those numbers got him a fifth-place finish in the MVP race at season's end, and we all know he was FAR from finished.

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. OUTFIELDER REGGIE JACKSON

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we move on to the American League's first outfielder in my "All-Decade" 1970s team, the incomparable Reggie Jackson:

About as big an icon of the game for the era, there was no way he wasn't going to be on my All-Decade team.

He truly became one of the eternal icons of the game, just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

REVISITING A BLOG POST FROM JUNE, 2014: 1970 HIGHLIGHTS REGGIE JACKSON

Thought it was time to revisit a blog post from nine years ago, my "Highlights from the 1970's" card celebrating a young Reggie Jackson and his epic 10-RBI game from 1969:

Here's the original write-up:

"In a game where the Oakland A's stomped the Boston Red Sox 21-7, Reggie led the way by going 5 for 6 at the plate with two homers, a double and two singles.

While he "only" scored two runs, he drove in ten, becoming the first player to drive in that many in a single game since Norm Zauchin of the Red Sox did it on May 27th, 1955 against the Washington Senators.

Reggie was on his way to his first power-house season, slamming 47 homers while driving in 118 runs, scoring a league-leading 123, and hitting at a .275 clip.

Those numbers would get him his first all-star berth, as well as a fifth-place finish in M.V.P. voting.

The Oakland dynasty of the mid-70's was starting to brew in 1969, as players like Reggie, Sal Bando, Vida Blue, Jim Hunter and Rollie Fingers were starting to ramp up their Major League careers.

They'd be joined by other future stars in Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace, and an already established "veteran" (compared to these young studs) Bert Campaneris.

Before anyone knew it, the A's would reel-off three straight World Championships before flamboyant owner Charlie Finley raped his team and got rid of all his star players either by trade or free agency.

By the end of the 1970's they'd be a last-place team, far from the juggernaut everyone witnessed just a few years earlier.

But on this day in 1969, Reggie reigned supreme!

It wouldn't be until Fred Lynn burst on to the baseball scene in 1975 that another Major Leaguer would drive in 10 or more runs in a game, (June 18th, 1975) and then another 18-years until someone ELSE did it, when Mark Whiten had a game of a lifetime, hitting four homers while driving in 12 runs (tying the MLB record that still stands), on September 7th of 1993."

REVISITING AN OLD BLOG POST FROM OCTOBER, 2014: 1976 "TRADED" REGGIE JACKSON

Thought it'd be fun for you "newer" blog followers to see an older blog post today, this one from October of 2014, my 1976 "traded" card for uber-star Reggie Jackson:

 

I wanted to try something different from what Topps did for their traded sub-set, a set I was never a fan of.

Since I've always been a sucker for horizontal lay-outs, I tried it with the 1976 template and this is what I came up with.

Here's the original write-up from that post:

"This is my second card (following the 1977 Tom Seaver) in my "Traded" sub-set, creating cards of players that were traded before Topps could get them on the correct team by Opening Day.

As we all know, Reggie was traded by the Oakland A's right around the start of the 1976 season to the Baltimore Orioles.

And even though we were left with what is STILL one of my all-time favorite cards, that '76 card of Reggie would have been nice to have depicted him on the correct team.

There are a lot of really takes on this out there, for sure. Hope you all think this one is an adequate addition to them as well!"

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1977 A.L. HOME RUNS

Greetings everyone!

Up on the blog today, we move along in my on-going “expanded league leaders” thread to the top three American League home run hitters for 1976, proudly displayed on a 1977 card:

 

 

This would have been an awesome card to have issued by Topps, as we’ll see later on.

But first, we begin with the home run champ for the Junior Circuit in 1976, third baseman Graig Nettles of the New York Yankees, who hit 32 homers for the American League champs, a career-best for him at that time.

Normally, 32 homers would not lead your league, but the 1970’s was somewhat of a “dead-ball” era for homers, with the low-to-mid 30’s being a great total for the A.L. then.

Nettles also set career-bests at that time with 88 runs scored and 93 runs batted in, all numbers (including his home run total) he would top the very next season with 99, 37 and 107 respectively.

Behind him with 27 homers in 1976, a tie between Sal Bando of the Oakland A’s and Reggie Jackson of the Baltimore Orioles, who BOTH found themselves on new teams for the 1977 season, while also airbrushed into these new uni’s for their 1977 Topps card.

Now THAT is the reason this expanded league-leader card would have been awesome to pull from a pack back then, as we would have had Bando as an Oakland A’s player while a Milwaukee Brewer on his base card, but more importantly to us card nerds, PROOF that Reggie Jackson was an Oriole for a year, with this card showing him in Baltimore garb.

Certainly a small twist on the 1977 Topps set if this card were included in that set!

Amazing to think that Jackson led the American League in 1976 with a slugging percentage of only .502! Talk about a sign-of-the-times!

Next, week? We move on to the 1976 RBI leaders for the National League!

See you then!

1971 ALL-STAR- 1972 HIGHLIGHT CARD

Next up on the blog with my on-going All-Star game Highlight cards through the decade, the classic 1971 game, of course most remembered for the mammoth Reggie Jackson blast off of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis, who started the game for the National league:

As we all remember, the American League entered the bottom of the third inning trailing the National League 3-0 after home runs by Johnny Bench and Hank Aaron.

After a lead-off single by Luis Aparicio to start the inning, Oakland’s young slugger was called upon to pinch hit for starter Vida Blue, and what followed was historic, as Jackson sent the pitch soaring into the light tower above the roof of Tiger Stadium, cutting the lead to 3-2.
By the time the inning was over, the A.L. took the lead 4-3 thanks to another two-run homer by yet another future Hall of Famer, Frank Robinson after a walk to Rod Carew.
When you look back at this All-Star game, it was about as loaded a game with superstars as ever, with Hall of Famer after Hall of Famer making up the roster. Just amazing.
Although Reggie Jackson already made his mark in the Majors by the time this home run happened, it was for many the first time they really noticed the young slugger on such a national stage.
I’ve always been in awe of the footage, with Jackson running the bases like a King among men, knowing of course what the future was bringing very shortly: three straight championships beginning in 1972 with the Oakland A’s, followed by two more while with the New York Yankees in 1977/1978, with the birth of the “Mr. October” moniker.
It’s as if the phrase “larger than life” was created for him as he marched towards a Hall of Fame career through the 1970’s and 1980’s, whether you loved him or hated him.
Me? I loved him as a kid growing up in Brooklyn at the time he brought his talents to the Bronx. I still do!

CUSTOM SPOTLIGHT: 1968 REGGIE JACKSON

Fun card to spotlight today on the blog, my 1968 "missing" Reggie Jackson card from my "Whole Nine" set released last year:

 

Topps really could have issued a card for him in 1968, after Reggie appeared in 35 games for the (then) Kansas City Athletics in 1967, hitting .178 with 21 hits in 113 at-bats, with a homer and six runs batted in.

Of course to keep true to the Topps method, I blacked out the cap to reflect the organization's move from K.C. to Oakland before the 1968 season, just as Topps did.

As for Reggie himself, truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS- 1975 A.L. HOME RUNS

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we come to the American League's top three home run hitters for the 1974 season in my ongoing "expanded league leaders" thread, proudly shown on a 1975 card:

 

Leading the way of course is Chicago White Sox slugger Dick Allen, who took home the home run crown for the second time in three seasons with his 32 taters.

Two years prior Allen led the league with 37 homers, along with his 113 RBI's, falling short of a Triple Crown with his .308 average to Rod Carew and his .318 clip.

Incredibly, though still only 32 years of age, it would be Allen's last All-Star season in the Majors, playing in only 119 games in 1975 for the Philadelphia Phillies, then 85 in 1976 and only 54 games in 1977 with the Oakland A's.

Right behind Allen with 29 homers is the 1973 Home Run champ, Reggie Jackson, who would also share a home run crown the following year in 1975 with his 36 "jacks".

For Reggie, he was in his prime and well on his way to topping 500 homers, winning four homer titles (oddly, sharing three of them with three different Brewer sluggers), before calling it a Hall of Fame career after the 1987 campaign.

His 1974 output of 29 homers, 93 RBIs and a nice .289 batting average would get Reggie a fourth place finish in the MVP race after taking home the award in 1973.

In third place with 26 homers in the American League in 1974, a teammate of Jackson, slugging catcher/first baseman Gene Tenace, who put in a solid year for the three-peat Oakland A's with 73 RBIs to go along with the aforementioned 26 homers, and a league-leading 110 base-on-balls helping set the tables for the other A's batters.

The following year Tenace would make his only All-Star team, enroute to hitting a career-best 29 homers while once again topping 100 walks, while driving in 87.

Not a bad set of A.L. sluggers right here!

Next week, we move on to the N.L. and their top-three RBI men. Stay tuned.

1970 IN-GAME ACTION: REGGIE JACKSON

Time to add the great Reggie Jackson to my on-going "1970 In-Game Action" thread, which will eventually be a two=part custom card set released in the coming months:

 

Jackson truly arrived with his 1969 season, exploding for 47 home runs with a league-leading 123 runs scored, while driving in 118 runs.

He also led the league with his .608 slugging percentage and 20 intentional base-on-balls, making his first All-Star game at the age of 23.

Those numbers got him a fifth-place finish in the MVP race at season's end, and we all know he was FAR from finished.

Truly one of the eternal icons of the game, the man was just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

 

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1974 A.L. RUNS BATTED IN

Time to move ahead in my on-going "Expanded League Leaders" thread to the American League's top RBI guys for 1973, with this 1974 creation:

 

Of course we start off with the A.L.'s MVP of 1973, the man Reggie Jackson, who led the league with his 117 RBI's, the only time during his Hall of Fame career he led in that department.

Jackson helped the Oakland A's win their second straight championship in 1973, leading the league in homers, RBIs, runs and slugging while hitting .293, almost a 30 point jump from the year before.

My year's end he was tabbed the MVP, made his fourth All-Star team, and cemented himself as a bonafide superstar in the game.

Right behind him with 107 RBIs was Milwaukee Brewer slugger George Scott, who reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career, along with 24 homers and a .306 batting average, also picking up his fifth Gold Glove for his defensive work at first base.

For Scott, outside the RBIs it was a typical season, consistently hitting 20+ homers, driving in 75 runs while giving his team stellar work on defense, to the tune of eight Gold Gloves before he was done.

Rounding out the top three RBI men of 1973 is Kansas City Royals slugger John Mayberry, who had yet another fine year when he reached exactly 100 RBIs for the second straight year, also leading the league in walks with 122 while hitting .278 with 87 runs scored.

Those numbers gave him a seventh place finish in the MVP race, something he'd top two years later with a second place finish in 1975.

Three great sluggers during the mid-70's who did not disappoint!

 

EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS- 1974 A.L. HOME RUNS

Next up in my on-going thread of "expanded league leaders_ is my 1974 American League Home Run card, celebrating the top three home run hitters in the Junior Circuit for 1973:

 

Of course we begin with the A.L. MVP for that year, Reggie Jackson, who took home the first of his four career home run titles with his 32 blasts for the eventual World Series champion Oakland A's.

He would also lead the league with 117 RBIs, 99 runs scored and .531 slugging percentage, while making his fourth All-Star team in five years.

Right behind him with 30 home runs would be former overall #1 draft pick Jeff Burroughs, who had a very nice breakout year as a 22-year-old for the Texas Rangers.

It was his first full season in the Big Leagues after parts of three seasons for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers between 1970 and 1972.

In addition to his 30 "jacks", Burroughs drove in 85 runs and hit .279, somewhat of a precursor to his MVP 1974 season.

Tied with Burroughs for second place in homers for 1973, none other than the great (and grossly underrated) all-timer Frank Robinson, who made the most of the new opportunity as a Designated Hitter for the California Angels, reaching 30+ homers for the first time since 1969 while driving in 97 and scoring 85.

It would be Robinson's final standout season before transitioning to MLB manager with the Cleveland Indians two seasons later.

The top three home run hitters in the American League in 1973, rightfully celebrated here on this expanded leader card.

Such a fun thread to work on!

1978 SPECIAL SUB-SET- "1977 30 HOME RUN CLUB" REGGIE JACKSON

Today on the blog we move on to "Mr. October", the great Reggie Jackson in my on-going "30 Home Run Club" sub-set for the 1978 set, celebrating the game's top sluggers of 1977:

 

Now, I am NOT even going to try and top what could be the greatest Topps card ever in Reggie's base 1978 card. Personally, my second all-time favorite card (behind the 1976 Johnny Bench).

But I tried to emulate it as much as I could without repeating it, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Reggie did NOT disappoint in his first season with the Yankees, hitting 32 homers while driving in 110 runs, along with a very nice .286 batting average and 93 runs scored.

Of course, it was the 1977 Postseason that really paid off for the Bronx, as he'd launch the Yankees to their first championship in 15 years by demolishing the Los Angeles Dodgers almost single-handedly, hitting .450 with five homers and eight runs batted in with 10 runs scored in six games!

The man certainly was already a star by then, but this was the defining moment where he became baseball royalty!

What an icon not only of the era, but of baseball's long and rich history!

ON-CARD ALL-STAR: 1974 REGGIE JACKSON

On the blog today, a new addition to my ongoing "On Card All-Star" series, where I imagine if Topps always had the "All-Star" designation on a player's base card through the 1970's, and today it is the great Reggie Jackson:

 

Sure, his 1974 card is a classic no-matter-what, but how awesome would it have been to have THIS coming out of a pack back then?!

The man was in his prime come 1974, coming off an MVP season where he helped the Oakland A's win their second straight World Championship, defeating the New York Mets.

And he wasn't nearly done yet!

The 1974 season would see him lead the A's to a third straight championship, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers, before he would eventually help the New York Yankees win two straight in 1977 & 1978, where the legend of "Mr. October" was born, and I was GLAD to be growing up in NYC as a kid at that time to see it all!

The man made 14 All-Star teams, and was certainly an icon of the sport, AND of the era!