Jackson On Calling Out Players In The Media: Makes The Clubhouse 'Uncomfortable'
Friday is the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Fenway Park and many of baseball's greats are in town to help celebrate.
Five time World Series champion, Hall of Famer and former New York Yankee Reggie Jackson joined Toucher & Rich to discuss Bobby Valentine, this current Red Sox team, memories of playing at Fenway and what he made of Terry Francona changing his mind about attending the 100th anniversary.
Jackson played for an interesting manager in Billy Martin while in New York. The Red Sox are now in the same boat with Bobby Valentine. Does Jackson think that the two are similar?
"I'm not a fan of Billy Martin, so I wouldn't compare someone to Billy Martin and I'm not a fan of Billy Martin. I do my best not to bring up his name because I don't have many good things to say, so I try to stay away from that."
Is Bobby Valentine really that much of an impressive guy off the field?
"I guess I would say he is impressive because he does command the language very well when I talk to him privately. He's very convincing when you talk to him privately."
We're all aware that Bobby V. doesn't have a problem calling players out in the media when he feels they need it. Jackson went through through the same kind of thing and was sometimes called out unfairly. What does that type of managing tactic do to a clubhouse?
"It certainly makes it uncomfortable and I withstood a lot of stuff like that...It did not bother me as a player because you didn't really have time to focus on it."
Even though he spent some time in Yankee pinstripes, Jackson has fond memories of playing at Fenway and genuinely likes Sox fans and the organization.
"I'm not a Red Sox hater, I am a Red Sox admirer. I admire the fans, the city, the ballpark, the franchise, I loved playing there because you guys were always good when I played and if I was on a team that beat you I walked outta there with my chest out."
"I was proud to go in there and play in front of a packed house and hit a ball off the wall stand on second base and have the crowd say Reggie sucks because it was a compliment."
