Reggie

by Reggie Jackson

Traces the life of Reggie Jackson, describes his career as a baseball player, and depicts the experience of being a member of the New York Yankees

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging, compelling story told by a highly talented introvert with rabbit ears thrown into an extrovert's spotlight. It definitely helps to be a student of baseball to read this, as there's a good deal of baseball lingo, but the ghostwriter, Mike Lupica, is a veteran New York sportswriter with the ability to nail the human side to every story. Plenty of fascinating anecdotes about some of the most colorful characters in the game, including legends Charlie Finley, Earl Weaver, and George Steinbrenner. You'll also get a ground-view portrayal of players such as Rollie Fingers, Thurman Munson, and Billy Martin. If you're a fan of the A's, Yankees, or Orioles, or just baseball history in general, you'll find this book hard to put down.

Reggie had just left the Yankees and joined the California Angels when he wrote this autobiography. He was still stinging from George Steinbrenner's refusal to re-sign him at the end of his contract. He goes into detail about racism he faced in his early years as a prospect and young professional, which shaped the combative personality he grew into as an adult. Lupica was there in New York during Reggie's Yankee years and no doubt played a big part in making that period of turmoil so interesting. I was struck by the imagery and Reggie's sharp memory for detail, like how he remembered turning on the TV before going to zone out on the balcony at the end of a particularly hard day.

If you're looking for something with plenty of red meat for baseball fans and a lot of heart, you should give this one a try. I'd rank this up there with Robert Creamer's "Babe: The Legend Comes to Life," David Halberstam's "Summer of '49," and Charles C. Alexander's "Ty Cobb." Mike Lupica at his peak. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Book¨Reggie¨,it shows how Reggie Jackson a.k.a Mr.October has to make decisions and show responsibility.Reggie and his father had to run a store,that was one of Reggies responsibilities,plus when his father went to jail,Reggie had to still run the store.Another responsibilities Reggie had to face was playing for the Football team at ASU,and play on the baseball team for Bobby Winkles and his baseball team.I am not saying that know one could do that,but for an adult,that is pretty hard.Reggie had to make a decision to play for the baseball team or for the football team.Reggie Jackson also had the decision to be on Charles O. Finley's team and get paid seventy-five thousand dollars or go back to Bobby Winkles team,of course he took the seventy-five thousand.My favorite scene was in chapter two.There was a game called bull in the ring.The game starts with all the players on the football team have to line up in a circle and there is one person in the middle of the circle.The coach will call someone out to tackle the person in the middle.A person named Curly Culp in the middle and the Frank Kush(the coach for the football team of ASU) was calling Curly names and Curly was mad and Kush blew the whistle and the person went to go tackle Culp and Culp tackled him instead and split the guys pads into two.Coach Kush called out another player and Culp tackled the other guy and broke his face mask into two.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball and a long journey of baseball.

[Marshall Merims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished another baseball book yesterday called "Reggie" about baseball superstar Reggie Jackson authored by Mike Lupica. 563 homers and 1702 RBI's. Major League record 2597 strikeouts. Ouch! LITTLE KNOWN FACT: He was given the "Mr. October" moniker sarcastically from Thurman Munson because of his paltry .125 average after the 1977 ALCS. He then earned the Mr. October name by hitting .450 with 5 homers in the 1977 World Series. Reggie boasts about himself throughout the book. He was great and he tells you all about it.

[Mason Katterhenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me that not all superstars come from glam and glory, it taught me that even the people who grew up poorer than dirt and ridiculed can do something in their life. All around this book has motivated me to do better in my life and not take what I have for granted.

[Robin]

So far so good. He needs to get over the Yankee thing. I'm sure he's holding back of how he really was.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelant Bio if a little whinney, brings back memories of the 70's and 80's

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written not long after Reggie had left the Yankees (maybe a year after?), he relates some interesting back stories on those Yankee years, the beginnings of free agency and more. After his contract with the Yankees expired, he spoke something about going in a free agency draft? I may research this more to find out how free agency started and has changed over the years.