*Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson was in Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s induction weekend, and he confirmed with media that he got into an altercation with a fan outside a restaurant last Friday night but denied that the encounter turned physical.
Jackson told reporters that he ate dinner with a few friends at a sushi restaurant and was leaving through a back entrance when a group of fans began to gather and hound him for his signature. He said he was approached by one fan who he had already granted an autograph to earlier in the day while on the golf course.
“I was signing autographs here last year at 11:00 at night,” Jackson said. “There were about 50 people standing outside a store that was closed. I said, ‘No bats, no jerseys. I’ll sign one for everyone.’ I signed about 20, and one guy came back around for a second time. I said, ‘OK, everyone. This guy has screwed it up for everyone. I’m done.’ I turned away and that was it.
When the greedy fan asked for another autograph, Jackson popped off, using profanity to put a swift end to the impromptu autograph session.
“I was upset because it was kind of an ‘over and over’ thing,” Jackson said Saturday. “It’s 10:00 at night — it’s time to go home. Leave us alone. So the words got heated. But as far as anybody touching someone, that did not come from me.
“I was disappointed that the yelling happened, but it’s all day, all night sometimes with people. You wish those things don’t happen. I’ve been stern before with people verbally, but you don’t touch the public. In today’s world, you can’t do that.”
On Sunday, Jackson took to Twitter to apologize for the language he used:
“Confrontations are very rare. You’re here with the Hall of Fame and different groups and friends, so you disparage yourself and your name when it happens. It’s something you’re aware of and you deal with it. You go about it the best you can.”
A sincere apology for my profanity in public to all fans. Certainly not a way to communicate. Mad or not, no excuse.
— Reggie Jackson (@mroctober) July 26, 2015
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
