Sept. 2, 1977 – Yankees 4, Twins 0
- Sal Maiorana
- Sep 2, 2017
- 2 min read
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Reggie Jackson had been hitting better than he had all season, but still, the human lightning rod for controversy simply couldn’t enjoy it. Even on a night when the Yankees kept on rolling along, winning for the 22nd time in their last 25 games behind Ron Guidry’s second consecutive shutout performance, Jackson’s comments from the day before had things stirred up in the clubhouse.
“There are still a couple of players on this team who don’t even say hello to me,” he said on the Yankees’ day off before they opened a three-game set against the Twins.
The emotional turmoil he had endured almost from the moment he showed up at spring training was continuing to weigh on him, and he hinted that he might consider quitting baseball to focus more on his burgeoning business career.
“With these outside businesses, I could make as much money as the Yankees are paying me,” said the $3 million man who owned three car dealerships in California, real estate in Arizona, plus had a long-term contract to work for the ABC television network, and a 10-year contract to make paid promotional appearances for Standard Brands, the company that was manufacturing his new candy bar.
George Steinbrenner, who brought Jackson to New York, shrugged off Jackson’s comments by saying, “How long do you think any of these outside business deals will last if he quits playing baseball?” The Boss had a point; Jackson’s baseball stardom was the main reason why he was so attractive away from the diamond.
“A lot of people say I would miss baseball if I didn’t play anymore,” said Jackson. “I think you only miss it if you have nothing else to turn to.”
Reggie would have missed it. Selling cars and owning property was far less grandiose than slugging home runs on national TV. Reggie needed baseball, the adrenaline rush it provided, the glaring spotlight of fame it shined upon him. This was silly talk on a day off.
“I want to win the pennant and the World Series, I want to hit .300, and then I’ll think about the future,” Jackson said.
In the game, Jackson went 0-for-4, but it didn’t really matter because Guidry was dominant. He gave up six hits, no walks, and struck out four in lowering his ERA to 2.96, best among the Yankee starters and fifth-best in the American League.
Guidry even locked up Rod Carew as the best hitter in baseball went 0-for-4, and was now 0 for his last 11 against the Yankees. Still, his average was .375 at the end of the night.
The only offense the Gator needed came in the fifth when Lou Piniella – playing for the first time since crashing into the right-field wall a week earlier – hit a solo homer off Dave Goltz. Roy White hit a solo shot in the eighth, too.
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