Returning to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama brought up a mix of emotions for Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. On a significant night, just before the Giants and Cardinals faced off in MLB’s first regular-season game as a tribute to the Negro Leagues, Reggie Jackson shared some chilling stories with the “MLB on FOX” crew about the racism and hardships he faced during his playing days.
“The racism I experienced when I played here was tough,” the 78-year-old Jackson began. “It was difficult to go through different places where we traveled. Luckily, I had a manager and teammates who supported me. But, it was a tough time, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
As a 14-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion who started his career in June 1967 with the Kansas City Athletics, Jackson recalled instances where he was singled out because of his race and treated unfairly in the cities his team visited.
“People would point and say, ‘The n—– can’t eat here’ when I walked into restaurants. At hotels, they would say, ‘The n—– can’t stay here,'” Jackson shared, highlighting the discrimination he faced.
He also recounted a particular incident at Charlie Finley’s country club where he was not allowed entry due to his race, to which Finley responded by taking the entire team elsewhere, stating, “We’re going to go where we’re wanted.”
Jackson praised his A’s manager, John McNamara, for standing firm during those challenging times and not allowing the team to patronize establishments that discriminated against him. He also mentioned a time when he had to stay on friends’ couches for a month because of threats from the Ku Klux Klan.
Reflecting on whether he felt a sense of victory by playing in Birmingham despite facing opposition, Jackson expressed, “I would never want to go through that again.”
Jackson’s return to Rickwood Field brought to light the harsh realities of racism in baseball’s history, reminding us of the challenges faced by players of color during his era. His candid accounts serve as a poignant reminder of the progress that has been made while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done to ensure equality and inclusivity in sports and society as a whole.