New York Yankees: Why Reggie Jackson Needs to Shut His Mouth
July 6, 2012 · Michael Moraitis · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The last thing you like to hear is old, retired former players of professional sports putting their two cents in and, in the process, sounding nonsensical doing it. Reggie Jackson certainly falls into that category.
Jackson made some scathingly hypocritical remarks about suspected performance-enhancing drug users who could approach the Hall of Fame in the future, per an interview with Phil Taylor of Sports Illustrated.
Here’s what the former Yankee had to say about a current Yankee and admitted PED user, Alex Rodriguez.
“Al’s a very good friend,” Jackson says. “But I think there are real questions about his numbers. As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his records.”
While the majority of baseball fans—especially fans of the Yankees—would agree with Jackson’s assessment of A-Rod’s career, it’s what he says next that totally contradicts that statement.
Here’s what he had to say about Andy Pettitte, another admitted PED user (and others like him), according to the same interview with Taylor of SI:
There is little need to ask whether Jackson thinks any of the PED-linked players should be inducted into the Hall. “If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend,” he says. There is only one player in that category for whom he might make an exception. “The question is going to be a guy like Andy Pettitte, who admitted that he got involved for a while, but who is so universally respected in the game. I think he’ll get in, but there will be a lot of [members] who won’t go.” Would Reggie? Jackson takes a deep breath. “He’s an awfully good friend,” he says. “I’ve known Andy since he was 20. I’ll leave it there.
First, Jackson has already stated A-Rod’s career numbers and achievements are clouded by his admitted use of PEDs. Yet he has a different standard for Pettitte who by Mr. October’s reasoning—despite not having good enough career numbers for the Hall of Fame as it is—deserves consideration for Cooperstown.
I’m not sure where these two players’ paths went differently that one should be stained as a result of being honest, while the other shouldn’t. I guess since Reggie has known Pettitte for so long that, that makes what he admitted doing excusable enough to call the left-hander’s numbers totally legit.
On a lighter note, Jackson also flubs based on the fact that he originally said no Hall of Famer would attend the ceremony of a PED user, yet he feels a lot, but not all, Cooperstown members would avoid Pettitte’s potential induction. Heck, Jackson might even be one of those in attendance.
Whoops.
Believe it or not, it gets worse. Jackson then goes on to bash fellow Hall of Fame members including Gary Carter, Jim Rice and others, per the same interview.
He believes that the Baseball Writers Association of America, whose members vote for the Hall, have adopted too low a standard. “I didn’t see Kirby Puckett as a Hall of Famer,” he says. “I didn’t see Gary Carter as a Hall of Famer. I didn’t see Don Sutton as a Hall of Famer. I didn’t see Phil Niekro as a Hall of Famer. As much as I like Jim Rice, I’m not so sure he’s a Hall of Famer.” What about Bert Blyleven? “No. No, no, no, no,” Jackson says. “Blyleven wasn’t even the dominant pitcher of his era — it was Jack Morris.
Does it get any more disrespectful than that?
Listing undeserving players in the Hall of Fame—some of whom are deceased—is something you’d expect from a general fan of the MLB and not a distinguished member of the sport’s society. Jackson could’ve at least kept it to players who could defend themselves, but he didn’t.
Besides, who crowned Jackson the king of Cooperstown and the ultimate judge of the Baseball Hall of Fame? It’s not like he’s the most accomplished guy in the Hall.
Jackson’s 2,584 hits are good for 82nd all time; an inferior total to non-HOF members such as Tim Raines, Steve Garvey and potentially to even fellow HOF member Kirby Puckett, himself, if not for the early termination of his career.
Yes, Jackson did hit 563 homers, but he was by no means a great hitter.
Reggie finished with a career .262 average and is the all-time strikeout leader with 2,597. That’s right, he has more strikeouts than hits. If he’s lucky, 41-year-old Jim Thome with 2,513 strikeouts will see enough playing time and years to reach Jackson’s astounding record.
While there’s no doubt he was clutch, Jackson’s numbers certainly don’t make him the most impressive player in MLB history by any stretch. It was his power—and power alone—that made him the Hall of Fame legend that he is. Being considered a great all-around player isn’t something Jackson is labeled as.
Clearly, Jackson is trying to channel the same Reggie that made his former managers and teammates crazy with outrageous statements. Boredom is beginning to get the best of Mr. October and it’s nauseating to watch the after effects.
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