Mr. October: “Disappointed” with A-Rod
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 25, 2009 
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Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs, good for 11th place in history. Alex Rodriguez is right behind him with 553.
“He’ll go by me like I’m standing still. It’s a shame, one of the all-time greats,” Jackson said with a laugh today.
But Jackson doesn’t like the idea of so many tainted players having passed him. He pointed out that he was sixth all-time when he entered the Hall of Fame in 1993.
“The game was 140 years old,” he said. “Now I’m 11th.”
His reaction to A-Rod having used steroids?
“The best answer I can give you is that I was disappointed. I was very lucky to have been a good player. When I started playing I was a fan. When I played I was a fan and when I left the game I am a fan of Derek Jeter, of Alex Rodriguez, of CC Sabathia. I like to be at games, I like to watch the games. … I get affected as a fan. You get saddened.
“I get angry sometimes. I’ve been reprimanded by the commissioner and the president of our team. I’ve pleaded with them to understand that I’m personally affected; I’m personally involved. I’m hurt; I’m bewildered. I don’t know that we ever get past it.”
good for Reggie, for speaking out (being candid).
One problem, Reggie retired in 87. He was elected to the HOF in 93
I do feel sorry for Reggie that he slipped from 6th to 11th but since he stopped playing, ball parks have gotten smaller and smaller also. I agree he should be upset about steroids pushing him down the list but that is beyond his control. Should the great grandchildren of Babe Ruth also start complaining too??? Just be happy with what YOU did Reggie and be a fan of the game.
The Steriod Era has forever stained the game. Sad but true. It may dissipate as the years go by, but it’s now a part of baseball’s history. Heck — it might still be a part of the future . . .
We are all disappointed.
Coles released Jets fans:
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.s.....e_rec.html
Hmm, Reggie was big for a baseball player in his day and came up just when roids started being used in baseball, but had already been used in college football in the Pac 10 where he played. I have never been sure he wasn’t one of the first generation of roiders.
“The story in publishing circles is that Roberts convincingly ties Rodriguez in the book not just to steroid use, which he has sort of admitted to, but also to the use of non-steroid performance enhancing drugs.”
http://deadspin.com/5160123/se.....od-readers
Reggie never had a bashful bone in his body. It’s now a question of how much will A-Rod absorb.
I’m not defending Arod. I’ve been pretty vocal how down I am on him right now.
But did any reporter ask Reggie if he ever used amphetamines in his career to give him a pick me up when he was tired?
Did anyone ask him if he ever used anabolic steroids?
Gammons posted an article the other day from John Perricone’s blog http://www.onlybaseballmatters.com that was in SI 40 years ago that dealt with PED’s in baseball. 40 years ago.
You should all read it.
“Coles released Jets fans”
he dropped Favre’s last pass, which could have made the difference in the game.
he used to be my fave player. And was a DIVA, all last year.
I count 16 uses of the word “I” in Reggie’s two paragraphs.
The commissioner doesn’t pay Reggie so he should have no control over what he says publicly. Hal on the other hand does and if they set a company line, he needs to toe the line.
What he says privately or off the record is up to him but he is a paid representative of the team and as such should follow team policy.
Baseball is the one real sport hung up on career numbers. The Roid era may be a turning point overall. Basketball and Football it’s a second thought, people remember the championships, the plays, the dominating performances before anything else. Basketball, the three point line, the rules of the game change, it’s hard to compare stats. Football, rule changes, replays, the lifespan of a player to begin with. I honestly think the steroid era will change the view of things as far as career stat concentration. If that happens, voting for the HOF may change as well with people like Mattingly potentially fitting the mold without the stats.
Speaking of Arod. I just looked at a picture of Madonna in a dress and as a guy im freaking amazed. Shes freeking older than me and is totally chizzled. Hmmm B-12 maybe?
“He’ll go by me like I’m standing still”
He should. Alex is better then you Reggie. There are guys who dont belong on that list ahead of you but Alex wont be one of them. Its not fair for you to put that on him when everyone knows hes the better player.
I don’t have time to read the comments as I am on deadline. But I just know that the A-Rod loyalists will either blast Jackson or accuse him of something without proof. The usual response to anybody being critical of A-Rod is to tear that person down.
Even Reggie Jackson? I bet that is what happens.
G. Love -
I did read Gammons’ article and the excerpts from the SI article from 40 years ago. The bottom line is that players will always seek an edge. Not a defense, at all. But I’m trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation rather than the fantasy of what we all wish were true.
I think Reggie was particularly a fan of ARod and so may be particularly disappointed that ARod would go that route.
I’m thinking one of the differences with the amphetamines was that it seems pretty much every player partook, while with injected steroids, that was a leap that not all players were willing to take.
How about we talk about baseball. I am disappointed in you for posting trash, Pete. Make sure your next post talks about me being disappointed in you.
The only drugs Reggie ever took were the ones that turn you into a monster clutch hitter in the postseason. Guess they don’t sell those OTC in the DR.
Swisher on with Kay
I’m not accusing Reggie of anything.
I’m just saying that the way I, as a fan, have come to terms with this (much like Doreen) is that I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them used different kinds of PED’s to get an edge.
To me, it seems, that’s been happening in baseball for much longer than the past 20 years.
It’s kinda sad. Now, I do appreciate what Reggie did for the Yanks in 1977-1981. He did help them win two titles, and no matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone thinks of Reggie, personally, that’s huge.
On the other hand, I’m not going to weep for him without guarantees that Reggie never, in his entire career, did greenies or dexi-coffee.
Now, maybe he didn’t, and maybe he did. Nobody really knows.
Strong words from Reggie, he has every right to be upset.
Peter Abraham
February 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I don’t have time to read the comments as I am on deadline. But I just know that the A-Rod loyalists will either blast Jackson or accuse him of something without proof. The usual response to anybody being critical of A-Rod is to tear that person down.
Even Reggie Jackson? I bet that is what happens.
———
Pete, how do you expect people to not defend A-Rod when, having not even read the comments, you post a garbage comment like that? Do you even care about the people that post? Do you care that they may have logical, reasonable things to say?
Aside from A-Rod, don’t you think Reggie AT LEAST did amphetamines if he didn’t do steroids? Isn’t that a PED? Why don’t you ask him THAT?
Look, I don’t really care about A-Rod. Hell, he could still be doing steroids or HGH for all I care. But having to listen to all these people who either took steroids themselves, saw others taking them, or took amphetamines is simply mind-boggling. And having you defend people “in the know” about PEDs is ridiculous too.
Pete, why should we simply believe the word of someone who, more than likely, took amphetamines. And no, I don’t feel that I am “trying to tear down” Reggie Jackson with that statement. Basically everyone took amphetamines.
Bud Selig blasted A-Rod too, should we just agree with him? I mean, it’s not like he had anything to do with steroids.
I view players who were around steroids or amphetamines much like I view Bud Selig’s handling of this whole process.
What a surprise, Reggie looking for attention.
you’ve done it pete: mr. october and a-rod in the same sentence.
I know everybodies tired of A-roid stuff; but tearing down Reggie?! come on. that’s over the line. By the way, Pete; I really appreciate all that you do. Even if you are a damned springstain fan!
Reggie was a freaking user. He bulked up at the end of his career.
He was a K machine for us and never hit more than 32 homers until 1980 when he suddenly hit 41 went to the Angels and hit 39 homers and was in Oakland in 1987 as a player with the Bash Brothers.
Reggie disappointed. Just waiting for Canseco to out this fraud.
He played 5 seasons for us and we treat him like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Munson, D, Mantle, etc.
Get lost Reggie bar…
REGGIE! REGGIE! REGGIE!
Those were great days and I’m happy to hear him voice his true feelings on ALex and the steroid era.
I wonder if Reg thinks it should exclude Alex from the HOF?
Mike Schmidt another HOF from the Reggie Era says he would welcome Alex to the Hall. Schmidt also says if those PEDS were available in his day…he would too would have taken them.
Why on God’s Great Earth would Schmidt say that?
Sweeny has some audio with Reggie on the WFAN website.
“Why on God’s Great Earth would Schmidt say that?”
Because unlike 80% of the other self-righteous liars, he told the truth?
Something NEGATIVE written about A-Rod by Peter…….. What a surprise…..
i’d totally be on roids if i were ballplayer that could benefit from them… i’m not showing up to a gunfight with a knife.
I don’t care who says what about steroids and steroids users. I don’t like people less for criticizing the users, and frankly I don’t like the users less for doing them.
I just want everyone to stop acting like this generation is the only steroid users. The era started before these guys were alive.
Pete, I’m aware of your MO but it never ceases to amuse me that you take the few exceptions and pawn that off as the norm for the “A-Rod apologists.” I know part of your foolishness is nothing more than your shtick so I ignore it.
My question is this? Who is going to save all the kids who want to be cops and sheriffs when they grow up?
http://www.miamiherald.com/new.....20178.html
earlier post..
Making reference to Reggie’s 41 ‘sudden’ 1980 homers…later in his career with Yanks.
It should be noted that he Hit 47 homers in 1969.
It wouldn’t be a great shock if Reggie used roids and most likely he did. Roids have been around so long that even the Governator used a ton of them. It could be from the 60′s on until the zenith in the 90′s.
What about the Mick and Roger Maris? Precursor to the bash brothers?
The rest of what Reggie said:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
Jackson is an egomanical piece of s h it.ME ME ME.Will never be a true Yankee.
One of the posters comments that A-Rod should pass Reggie like he was standing still, that A-Rod is better than Reggie… that’s just the point, how the heck do you know that? We do know that A-Rod isn’t competing on the same level field as Reggie, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and all the other great players who used to occupy the top of the home run charts. Ther is no way you can make any reasonable claims about what A-Rod is truly capable of, same for Bonds, Giambi, Clemens, and all the rest. In a perfect world we’d be now debating team records being rearranged as well. But good luck on that, comments like this are why I think many of the fans are just as culpable as the rest of the steroid users, the Union, and MLB.
I never ever post but this time I will,Thanks alot for the great blog.