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MOOSIC — Mr. October is taking his swings at becoming Mr. Executive for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
And he’s starting the rally with a pitch to children in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
New York Yankees Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson bought a small stake in the RailRiders ownership group and was named as a special advisor to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s team, the 14-time American League All-Star announced Friday at PNC Field.
“It’s exciting,” Jackson said. “I think I enjoy the fact we can do some things in the community. Certainly, we want to win games and get people to the ballpark. If we want to make a connection to our youth, then you’re saying the right things and doing the right things.”
The deal is pending the approval of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball. His stake in the RailRiders ownership group, which includes over 20 members, was not announced.
“That is something we’re hoping that can happen,” Jackson said. “It’s a great group of guys who know they have a plan as to what they want to do. I can fit in with that. But that is a work in progress.”
Jackson said he wants to work with kids, and RailRiders executives hope to funnel parts of the multiple charitable organizations to Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I’ll pretty much do what it takes,” Jackson said. “I’ve talked to the staff here, about community sponsorships. I’ve had a lot of experience in the advertising world, communicating for sponsorship. I’ve worked with companies that have supported me and my endeavors and my foundation with scholarships.
“I just don’t see how we can go wrong communicating with youth.”
He fielded questions from kids during Friday’s press conference, held outside the front gates at PNC Field, and chuckled when a youngster wanted to know what Jackson’s favorite moment in baseball was.
“Was anyone out here alive in 1977?” Jackson asked. “That was my favorite moment.”
He was, of course, referring to the three consecutive home runs he hit in the course of three swings during the Yankees 1977 World Series clincher against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jackson swatted 563 career home runs and was named the American League most valuable player in 1973, then went on to be named the MVP of two World Series’ with the Yankees. He earned the nickname “Mr. October” from late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner with a penchant for game-changing blasts during critical postseason moments.
These days, Jackson spends most of his time trying to help develop future Yankees who may one day come up big.
As a special advisor to the Yankees for more than 20 years, Jackson boasted about watching a teenaged Derek Jeter blossom into a sure-fire Hall of Fame shortstop and a young Jorge Posada transform from a rookie outfielder in the minor leagues to an All-Star catcher.
Jackson said he’s been inspired lately by current RailRiders outfielders Ben Gamel and Aaron Judge.
“I’ve been around the big leagues for 49 years,” Jackson said. “I’ve had some really neat experiences seeing kids grow up. It’s been a great experience for me. I love being around the field. To be able to see players grow from kids to grown men through the Yankees organization is special.”
His new role with the RailRiders won’t necessarily bring Jackson around PNC Field much more in the future, though.
“I have to be careful with that,” Jackson said, citing his role as special adviser to the parent Yankees. “I go to (Single-A) Charleston to see our ball club, I go to different parts of the country to see our major league team. I do get in and out of here three times a season to look at our young players.
“I’ll be here when I’m needed.”