Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson won five World Series rings and two World Series MVP awards during his playing career, earning him the nickname “Mr. October.”
It’s one he wears proudly after his postseason heroics as a member of the Oakland A’s and New York Yankees. So why is he seen so prominently on the field during the 2021 World Series, wearing a Houston Astros cap? Especially one with the words “Mr. October” written in script lettering on the side.
Although the Astros didn’t make a big deal about it at the time, Jackson – a personal friend of team owner Jim Crane – joined the club as a special advisor earlier this season.
Jackson served as a special advisor to the Yankees for 28 years before stepping away this past offseason.
He recently told the New York Times he has no problem working for a team that has been vilified by opposing fans for the sign-stealing scandal that hangs over its 2017 World Series championship.
“It doesn’t bother them,” he said. “I was a villain my whole career. Wherever I went with the Yankees, I was the villain. When you’re on the winning team, you’re bothering people; they don’t like it.”
Jackson, who tied a World Series record with three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series and hit a total of 18 postseason homers, knows a clutch performance when he sees one.
That’s why he gave one of those Mr. October hats to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa after his performance in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox.
Even though the Astros trail 1-0 in the World Series, there’s still plenty of time for Correa and Co. to mount a comeback. And if they do, you can be sure a Mr. October hat will follow.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reggie Jackson spotted at World Series in ‘Mr. October’ Astros hat