Reggie’s Days Are Numbered: 531, 532, 533 . . . : Jackson Is Showing Angels That It Might Be Too Early to Count Him Out

The latest in a long list of Reggie Jackson Theories came from Angel pitcher Kirk McCaskill, who on Saturday was a benefactor of another home run by Mr. April.

McCaskill, on the right end of a 9-3 decision over the A’s, contended that controversy is the elixir of life for the 39-year-old Jackson. Has to be, he said. How else do you explain a three-game performance that now includes 3 home runs, 5 runs batted in, 6 runs, 6 hits, 5 walks and a .666 batting average?

Already, Jackson has equaled his home run total for the entire month of April 1985. He’s not far behind in the other categories, either.

“I think every couple of weeks, they should tell Reggie he can’t do something,” McCaskill said. “Tell him he can’t play right field, he can’t hit the ball, he’s too old.”

The theory goes well with recent events. Only about a month ago, as the Angels prepared for the 1986 season in Mesa, Ariz., Jackson said he felt that he was being phased out by the Angels, that his services were no longer wanted. Angel management denied the assertions, and life went on--with Jackson as a part-time designated hitter and out of the outfield.

How would Jackson respond? Sulk? Pout? Perform?

“The guy’s amazing,” McCaskill said. “Come to think of it, maybe they did do that on purpose. All I know is that he’s smoking the ball.”

As he has done in his previous two games during this trip, Jackson hit a home run. Saturday’s blow traveled well beyond the right-field fence and placed him squarely at the heels of Jimmy Foxx, whose 534 homers are just one more than Jackson’s career total. Add to that a smaller distinction: This was the first time since April 1983 that he has hit home runs in three consecutive appearances.

“It feels good to have a good day, but I’ve only had three good days,” Jackson said. “Three good days does not make a good season. Three good days makes a good week, and I think that’s the way to look at it.”

Jackson has had better starts, but maybe none so scrutinized. Jackson would like to play in 1987. That’s why 1986 is so important. Do well now, play later.

Home runs? They’re nice, he said, but there are two digits more meaningful.

“If I do my job and contribute to the ballclub with home runs and RBIs, then I’m going to wind up with X-amount,” Jackson said. “And it’s going to be more than Foxx and more than (Mickey) Mantle (who had 536 homers).

“I guess the real important number is whether I would be playing in ‘87,” he said. “That means you made a contribution no matter how many home runs you hit in ’86.”

As for McCaskill’s theory and others like it, Jackson said it might have applied when he was younger. But not now.

“If I do my job, things are going to fall in place,” he said. “I’m happy when I make a contribution to the ballclub. I’m happy when I get base hits. I’m happy when I hit the ball over the fence. And as long as I’m happy, I’m going to help us win ballgames. So to try to show them, in a bad way, I’m not into that.

“I may have thought about that 10, 12 years ago, but right now, I don’t have enough ability to take my mind and put some of it over here and say, ‘I’m going to get this guy, and going to show this guy and I’m going to show that guy. Right now, the important thing is that I feel that I want to have success and want to do my job. Everything else will fall into place. I’m not worried about what happened during the off-season. I’m reminded of it enough. But I don’t think about it when the ball goes over the fence, ‘Ah, I really showed them.’ ”

The opinion was shared by Manager Gene Mauch, who said he saw Jackson whip himself into an unnecessary frenzy during the 1983 and 1984 seasons with the Angels. Jackson has learned his lesson, Mauch said. The results are evident.

“He’s not playing with his jaw set,” Mauch said. “He’s playing very relaxed and enjoying himself. “By relaxed, I mean I don’t think there’s any outside influences bothering him. He’s been around a long time. He knows that baseball takes all your concentration. You can’t divide it.”

So Jackson no longer divides. He adds. So far, three home runs, and counting.