Reggie

This documentary is a mix of Reggie Jackson's impactful playing career, with his experiences with race relations in baseball both on the field as well as in management, which extends into him working to improve civil rights. To the baseball portion, it is a good overview of his career and his larger-than-life personality at least compared with someone less brash like Jackie Robinson. I never knew he was the highest paid player when he signed with the Yankees, after a short stint with the Baltimore Orioles (shout out to my team!). If you know a moderate amount about baseball, you'll know the Reggie swung so hard he twisted himself up lick a corkscrew, so he was a power hitter that helped his teams win multiple World Series. He takes that experience today to help more black youths get into the sport as well as increase the percent of black ownership of MLB teams. Overall, this was entertaining and informative.

I watched "Reggie" to learn about a person, a time, a place. I knew about his three home runs on three pitches in the 1977 World Series, and was interested in seeing some film of that building excitement. Who doesn't like the Hollywood melodrama Cinderella story in real life?

That part then, was almost anti-climactic since It was was anticipated. What moved me and made me say "Wow" was listening to the voices and words of real people making their comments, telling their stories. It is an eye-opening history lesson.

Like most all biographies, it is titled as the story of a person, but gives you much more to think about.

What was going on daily, what was normal at that time, actions that other people, besides the main subject, were taking, what they were doing is also fascinating.

I watched this documentary to learn about one interesting person, but as usual with history, came away with much knowledge and food for thought on more subjects than Reggie Jackson.

At the start of this documentary a calm, conversational Reggie Jackson says he's nervous about the film because he has no control over it. He needn't have worried. It's more a story about his career-long pursuit of diversity in baseball, all the way to the ownership level, than about his good guy/ bad guy reputation as a player. He's surrounded in this effort by friends, including Henry Aaron, Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers and Julius Erving. No contemporaries from his Bronx Zoo Yankee years are interviewed, so we don't get differing points of view about Reggie's clashes with Thurman Munson, Billy Martin, Mickey Rivers and others.

Reggie credits several players on the Oakland Athletics for helping him withstand mid-70s racism, but fails to mention coaches, veteran players or mentors who improved his game other than Joe DiMaggio. The facts about slow acceptance of Black players, managers, coaches and executives are true. It's also fair to say that Reggie confessed to being too aggressive at times in the media. Still, the lack of critics in this two-hour project unfortunately make it more boring than it should be.

Didn't expect much at first, so I was pleasantly surprised at the tone and style. As an older man, his reflections and self awareness are really poignant at times. Told in first person.

Through all of his famous ego, it was all about searching for dignity, acceptance and respect - his insecurity he reveals conversationally is pretty moving. Especially as he vasciallated from being hated and shut out to being loved.

Also great to see other famous players in the conversations.

Wish there had been more teammate stories and some more laughs to break up the hard parts, but otherwise it's an unusually moving sports documentary.

Being a lifelong Yankee fan I looked forward to this documentary. Reggie gave us fans one of the greatest memories in Yankee histroy with his 3 HR game in the WS. All great stuff. However, like some reviewers stated, where's the joy in Reggie? Winnig 5 world championships and MVP awards had to bring some pleaure. Where also is the interviews with any of the Yankees on those late 70 teams? It would have been nice to hear from a few of them, good or bad. Not that I doubt for one second the hardships endured by Black Americans at the time. Tragic as that is, Reggie seems to have enjoyed a successful career and a good life, evident by his house and collection of expensive cars. He seems like he's still angry and was dealt the short straw. Not sure if that's the case. He obviously worked hard to accomplish what he did and deserved the accolades and recognition but.....he was outspoken and did, at least appear, to alianate some of his Yankee teamates. Where was a segment on the emotions shared by the Yankees and Reggie following Munson's death? I was at the game the day after. It was a sad, sad, place to be.

It was great seeing the enduring friendships he has with his Oakland A teamates but, the only Yankee in the video was Derek Jeter who was not part of the "Bronx Zoo".

That being said...thanks Reggie for providing lasting memories to all Yankee fans.