reggie jackson is in my hall of famer collection

the 2019 world series begins tonight, so it seems appropriate to post a card of mr. october.  learning about and following baseball during the late 1970's meant a healthy dose of the yankees and reggie jackson.  he's in my hall of famer collection with this 2018 topps tier one tier one talent autograph card numbered 19/60:

here's the back:

game 6 of the 1977 world series is seared in to my brain. three home runs to end the dodgers' season, on three consecutive pitches, no less.  it was pretty impressive, even to a six-year old.  i told reggie as much when i met him in person a few years ago. he was kind and thanked me and shook my hand. i also told him that he broke my heart two years in a row.  the image of reggie as a yankee is how i remember him, so this card is perfect for my collection.

i don't recall seeing reggie play in person. i know i never saw him as a visiting player to the big a, but i do know i saw a game in anaheim that was most likely during the 1982 season. that game experience has more to do with my memory of rickey henderson and billy martin, and while i definitely saw reggie play (if in fact my memory is correct about that game being in 1982), i don't recall the details of reggie's exploits that night.  still, i saw enough of him on tv in october.

i was actually rooting for him (and don sutton) in october of 1986 when the angels were so close to reaching the world series for the first time.  i remember that he was on the top step of the dugout, sans his glasses, ready to run out on to the field to celebrate at the end of game 5, but the red sox took the lead in the top of the 9th on dave henderson's home run, and even though the angels forced extra innings, they never really recovered.  i was hoping for some reggie october magic in the bottom of the 10th, but mr. october struck out to start the inning.  i thought for sure that gary pettis had won the game a few batters later, but his fly ball was caught near the outfield fence and the red sox won it in the 11th.  as a result, reggie's angels tenure is best remembered for him being programmed to kill the queen.

here's my hall of famer collection as its been documented so far:

babe ruth - 2003 topps tribute world series edition world series tribute relic 351/425

honus wagner - 2001 topps tribute relics

bob feller - 2001 topps archives

jackie robinson - 2004 topps clubhouse collection clubhouse relics

roberto clemente - 2005 donruss greats hall of fame souvenirs relic

warren spahn - 1999 upper deck century legends epic signatures

mickey mantle - 2000 upper deck legends legendary game jerseys relic

willie mays - 1997 topps willie mays reprints autograph

al kaline - 2001 fleer greats of the game autographs

duke snider - 2003 upper deck sp authentic chirography hall of famers 144/250

hank aaron - 2004 topps originals 1979 topps all-time record holders rbi 03/32

harmon killebrew - 2000 upper deck legends legendary signatures

reggie jackson - 2018 topps tier one tier one talent autographs 19/60

steve carlton - 2018 topps five star career year autographs

mike schmidt - 2002 topps archives autoproof 1980 topps buyback 048/147

bruce sutter - 2003 topps all-time fan favorites

jim rice - 2005 upper deck past time pennants

pete rose* - 2018 panini flawless legendary signatures 15/25

barry bonds* - 2001 bowman heritage autographs

you can find the full list of hall of famers (and some not - yet) that i aim to include in this collection at my want list site.

*not currently a member of the hall of fame