“The only way I’m going to get a Gold Glove is with a can of spray paint.” – Reggie Jackson

May 13, 1983 – Reggie Jackson became the first MLB player to strikeout 2,000 times

Reggie Jackson played 21 seasons and reached the post-season in 11 of them, winning six pennants and five World Series. His accomplishments include winning both the regular-season and World Series MVP awards in 1973, hitting 563 career home runs (sixth all-time at the time of his retirement), maintaining a .490 career slugging percentage, being named to 14 All-Star teams, and the dubious distinction of being the all-time leader in strikeouts with 2,597 (he finished with 13 more career strikeouts than hits). Jackson was the first major leaguer to hit one hundred home runs for three different clubs, having hit over 100 for the Athletics, Yankees, and Angels.

Jackson was the first player to reach the 2,000 strikeout plateau, in 2003 he finally had company when Andrés Galarraga joined the “club” and Sammy Sosa made it a trio in 2004.

Sept. 17, 1984 – Reggie Jackson hits 500th career home run

Sept. 17, 1984 – Reggie Jackson of the California Angels hit his 500th career home run off Bud Black of the Kansas City Royals at Anaheim Stadium. It was exactly 17 years from the day he hit his first major league home run.

California was pummeled offensively and held to three hits by Kansas City. However, one of those three hits was the five hundredth home run of Reggie Jackson’s career.

“I was reminded (by Jim Bouton) that when we lose and I strike out, a billion people in China don’t care.” – Reggie Jackson

“Fans don’t boo nobodies.” – Reggie Jackson