Reggie Jackson and 1977 Yankees To Be Honored At Benefit Golf Outing

By Ray Negron

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1977 New York Yankees. That iconic team was George Steinbrenner’s first World Championship ball club. Some very colorful players wore the Yankees pinstripes that year. Their captain Thurman Munson, Sweet Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Willie Randolph, Mike Torrez, Roy White, Ed Figueroa, Fred “Chicken” Stanley, Graig Nettles, Ron Guidry, Chris Chambliss and the list just goes on and on.

This was a team that fought with each other off the field but like brothers, come game time, they would get together and just could not be beat.

At the Third Annual Hank’s Yanks Golf Outing on June 5th, two players from this incredible team will be honored, Mick “The Quick” Rivers, who was truly the team catalyst and arguably the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of the New York Yankees and of course “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson who probably performed the greatest feat in World Series history when he hit three consecutive home runs on three pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers that October evening in the Bronx.

Not everyone knows that Thurman Munson is actually the one who gave Reggie the name “Mr. October” It was after the game when Thurman walked by his locker and said, “You sure put on a hell of a show Mr. October.” And the nickname was born!

It’s symbolic that a month after Reggie and the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series he would run into the great Beatle John Lennon in Central Park. It was a crazy year in NY with “The Son of Sam” and the death of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley but despite this and the fact that Lennon did not know much about baseball, he congratulated Reggie and told him that right now you’re bigger than all the Jackson’s put together- in reference to the great singers known as “The Jackson Five.”

Mickey Rivers will be receiving “The Pride of Hank’s Yanks Award.” This award is given to the person who always reaches out to the youth of the city. Mickey Rivers has always been that person- always there for the kids. The same way Hank Steinbrenner reached out to the kids of the city when he started Hank’s Yanks.

Reggie Jackson will be receiving the “Boss Award” named after the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and like “The Boss” if you really know Reggie Jackson than you know his great heart.

This day is dedicated to all those that we have lost including Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Paul Blair, Jim Spencer, and of course our fiery manager Billy Martin and the man whose passion to win helped put it all together, George M. Steinbrenner lll.

Got to Hank’s Yanks Golf Benefit for more information about attending the event.

Ray Negron is a community consultant for the NY Yankees. He is also a producer of film, author and contributing columnist for Newsmax, NYsportsday.com and hosts a radio show on ESPN 1050 Deportes Impact Saturday-Sunday 12-2pm

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