Reggie Jackson Net Worth: Who Was The First Player In The Major Leagues?

Reggie Jackson is a well-known figure in American baseball, having played professionally for many years. He started his career with the Athletics, then went on to play for the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, and the California Angels before returning to the Athletics for his final season in 1987. The year 1993 marked the year that he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Scroll down to check Reggie Jackson Net Worth.

Reggie Jackson Early Life

On May 18, 1946, Reggie Jackson was brought into the world in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. He was the third of his mother Clara’s four children to be born. Martinez Jackson, the man who would become his father, worked as a tailor and played second base for the Newark Eagles. After Jackson’s parents divorced when he was four years old, Jackson’s mother took custody of Reggie and one of the children from his father’s previous marriage. Jackson’s father was awarded custody of Jackson and four of his other siblings. At the time, Martinez was a single parent, and his daughter’s family was one of the only Black families in the Wyncote neighbourhood.

During his time at the high school, he was an outstanding athlete in a variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, track and field, and football. During his junior year, he was injured in a game and suffered five broken vertebrae. Doctors warned him that he might not be able to walk again. He was able to make a full recovery, and shortly after he received his high school diploma in 1964, baseball and football scouts approached him about playing for their teams.

Shortly after he received his diploma, his father was taken into custody for illegal activity and given a sentence of six months in jail. There was a colour barrier that needed to be broken in order for teams from the south to be able to work with Reggie because they were so enthusiastic about him. He was offered a scholarship to play football at Arizona State University, which he accepted. However, after his first year there, he decided to try out for the baseball team instead.

Reggie Jackson Career

He spent a year in the Minor Leagues after receiving his degree before being selected by the Kansas City Athletics in the second round of the 1966 draught. He had a very successful career after being called up to the Major Leagues in June 1967. At a doubleheader for the Athletics in Kansas City, he made his major league debut. The Athletics relocated to Oakland in the west in 1968. Babe Ruth, who established the previous record in 1927, was momentarily surpassed by Jackson’s 47 home runs in 1969. Jackson was selected the 1973 season’s MVP and contributed to the Athletics winning numerous championships. He spent all of his time with the Athletics up to 1975 before spending just one season with the Baltimore Orioles.

From 1977 to 1981, Reggie then played for the New York Yankees. He was a free agent after the 1981 season and was eager to play again in California. He was given a five-year deal by Gene Autry, owner of the California Angels. On April 27, 1982, he made his debut for the Angels at Yankee Stadium. He recovered from a slow start to the season by hitting a home run off of a former teammate, Ron Guidry.

The Angels won the American League West that year, and they did it again in 1986. On September 17, 1984, the 17th anniversary of the day Reggie hit his first home run, he blasted his 500th home run at Anaheim Stadium off Royals pitcher Bud Black. He re-signed with the Oakland A’s for a one-year deal in 1987, donning the number 44 that he was now most recognised for. At the age of 41, he retired after one season. At Comiskey Park in Chicago on October 4, 1988, he had his final at-bat.

The impact of Reggie Jackson on baseball was enormous. He played for 21 seasons, 11 of which he made the postseason. He won five World Series and six pennants. Jackson hit 563 home homers in his career. He was a 14-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, two-time World Series MVP, Babe Ruth Award winner, and five-time World Series champion during the course of his career.

Reggie Jackson was the first player in the major leagues to hit more than 100 home runs for three separate teams, the Angels, Yankees, and Athletics. Jackson is the only member of the “500 home run club” who has never experienced back-to-back seasons with 30 home runs.

Reggie Jackson Personal Life

Jackson was a freshman at Arizona State when he first met Jennie Campos. Because Jackson was black and Campos was viewed as white, an assistant football coach attempted to separate the couple (although she was Mexican-American.) She later became his wife, but the connection persisted. They split up in 1973. Kimberly was the only child the couple had.

Reggie Jackson Real Estate

Reggie has owned a number of remarkable houses throughout the years, mostly on the west coast. In 1988, a fire in Oakland, California, completely destroyed his home. Jackson’s $3.2 million car collection was kept in an adjacent warehouse, which was also destroyed in the fire. He also has residences in California’s Carmel and Newport Beach.

Reggie Jackson Career Earnings

During his entire MLB career, Reggie earned a little over $9 million in baseball salary. That’s the same as around $22 million today, after adjusting for inflation. His peak annual salary was right around $1 million, which he earned each year from 1982 to 1986. That’s the same as earning around $2.5 million per year after adjusting for inflation.