Rolex

Reggie Jackson

Nephew of Reggie Jackson (gifted from the above)

Tropical Watch, San Diego, CA (consigned by the above)

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Reggie Jackson, born Reginald Martinez Jackson, is one of the most celebrated figures in the history of Major League Baseball. Over a remarkable twenty-one-season career, he played as a right fielder for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

Selected as the second overall pick in the 1966 amateur draft by the Kansas City Athletics, Jackson made his Major League debut the following year. He quickly emerged as a cornerstone of a dominant Athletics dynasty, helping lead the club to five consecutive American League West division titles, three successive American League pennants, and three consecutive World Series championships from 1972 through 1974. His performance during this period firmly established him among the elite players of his generation.

After a single season with the Baltimore Orioles in 1976, Jackson joined the New York Yankees in 1977, adopting the number 44 in tribute to home run legend Hank Aaron. His tenure in New York proved historic: Jackson led the Yankees to four American League East division titles, three American League pennants, and back-to-back World Series victories in 1977 and 1978. His most iconic achievement came during Game Six of the 1977 World Series, when he famously hit three home runs on three consecutive first pitches from three different pitchers, an extraordinary feat that forever earned him the nickname “Mr. October.”

Jackson later joined the California Angels in 1982, where he continued to excel, contributing to two American League West division titles in 1982 and 1986. Over the course of his career, he amassed 563 home runs and was an American Leager All-star for fourteen seasons. Known for both his prodigious power and his strikeouts, Jackson retired as one of the most formidable sluggers in baseball history. His legacy has been honored with the retirement of his number 44 by both the New York Yankees (1993) and the Oakland Athletics (2004).

Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Jackson played an important role in the broader cultural evolution of baseball. As a prominent Black athlete during a transformative era in American sports, he stood as both a symbol of excellence and a figure engaged in the recognition and preservation of the legacy of the Negro Leagues, contributing to the ongoing dialogue surrounding race and representation in the game.

The present lot carries a particularly personal and evocative provenance. The watch was gifted by Jackson himself to his “all-time” nephew, accompanied by a heartfelt handwritten note commemorating the year 1973, a defining moment in his career. That season saw Jackson capture the American League Most Valuable Player award, earn his first World Series MVP title, and compete in his second World Series, further solidifying his place among baseball’s immortals.

This intimate letter accompanies the present 1680 ‘Red’ Submariner, a timepiece owned by Jackson. Combined with its exceptional provenance and association with one of baseball’s most legendary figures, the watch stands as a tangible link to a golden era of sport. It is certain to resonate deeply with collectors who hold a passion for both horological excellence and the enduring legacy of American sports history.