Winning trumps almost anything.Winning made arch-enemies Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson bosom buddies. It did the same for Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin.
Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson were the only two New York Yankees who were in the clubhouse three hours after winning the 1977 World Series. Jackson had hit a record-tying three home runs against three different Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers to tie Babe Ruth, who accomplished the feat twice.
As Munson was leaving, he called out to Jackson, “Hey, coon, nice goin’ coon.”
Jackson laughed, went over to Munson and the straw that stirred the drink hugged him.
“I’m goin’ down to that party here in the ball park,” a grinning Munson told Jackson. “Just white people but they’ll let you in. Come on down.”
Jackson responded that he’d be there.
One half hour earlier, in Billy Martin’s office, Jackson and Martin had just completed one of the many interviews they gave to the media. During the interview, Martin had been talking about punching somebody.
“Anybody fights you, skip,” Jackson told the man with whom he had nearly come to punches when the man pulled him from a game against the Boston Red Sox on national television, “he’s got to fight both of us.”
Martin smiled. “And anybody who fights you got to fight the both of us.”
When Jackson hit his third home run, Steve Garvey applauded Jackson in his glove. After the game, Jackson responded.
“What a great player Steve Garvey is, what a great man. He’s the best all-around human being in baseball.”
Jackson was almost ready to leave the clubhouse when he saw Munson entering.
“Hey, nigger, you’re too slow. that party’s over but I’ll see you next year,” Munson told Jackson as they shook hands.”I’ll see you next year where ever I might be.”
“You’ll be back,” Reggie responded.
“Not me,” Munson, who expressed a desire to play for Cleveland to be closer to home, told Reggie. “But you know who stuck up for you,nigger, you know who stuck up for you when you needed it.”
“I know,” said Jackson.
Reference:
Anderson, D. (1977, Oct 20). The two seasons of reggie jackson. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 61. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/123219988?accountid=46260