Reggie Is Expected to Return to the A’s for One More Season

Reggie Jackson, fallen Angel, has apparently looked homeward and is expected to sign today with the Oakland A’s, the team that he broke into the major leagues with 19 years ago.

A’s officials have scheduled a press conference for this morning in Oakland, but they would not comment further.

But sources with the A’s have confirmed to Bay Area writers that Jackson, cut loose by the Angels last month after five seasons with the club, has agreed to a one-year guaranteed contract. There also is an incentive clause based on home attendance that is similar to Jackson’s deal with the Angels.

Neither Jackson nor his agents could be reached Tuesday night, but Jackson reportedly will earn less than the $975,000 a year he made with the Angels.

Jackson, 40, began his celebrated and controversial career in Oakland in 1968 and played on five division champions. After eight seasons with the A’s, Jackson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. He stayed there only one season before going to the New York Yankees for five years.

Even before Jackson and the Angels officially ended their relationship on Nov. 24, there had been much speculation that he would return to Oakland to finish his career. Jackson had mentioned the A’s, Yankees, Kansas City Royals and Orioles as teams with which he would prefer to play in 1987, but he apparently had serious talks only with the A’s.

Jackson lives in Oakland in the off-season and has said several times that he would want to return if the situation were right. When the A’s last visited Anaheim Stadium in the fall, a half-joking Jackson was overheard saying to Oakland Manager Tony LaRussa: “See you next year--daily.”

It also has been speculated that Jackson eventually would like buy the A’s, and that finishing his career in Oakland might help a future ownership bid.

The A’s, it appears, want Jackson despite his less-than-sparkling statistics in 1986. Jackson, a part-time designated hitter who played mostly against right-handed pitching, had a .241 average with 18 home runs and 58 runs batted in.

Sandy Alderson, the A’s vice president of baseball operations, told The Times in early December that Jackson was a “definite possibility” to replace veteran designated hitter Dave Kingman, whom the club had just cut loose. The A’s also will be the host to the 1987 All-Star game, and Alderson has hinted that adding a Reggie Jackson farewell tour would heighten interest in the team.

Bay Area writers reported that LaRussa recently met with Jackson. LaRussa has told A’s management that he wants Jackson as his DH.