Yankees-Dodgers iconic moments: Reggie Jackson became Mr. October

Reggie Jackson he called himself “the straw that stirs the drink.”

In Game 6 of 1977 World SeriesHe struck out five runners with three powerful swings of his bat and hit three home runs in three straight at-bats.

In the long history of the Yankees’ iconic home runs, Jackson’s three hits in Game 6 of that year rank near the top of the list. No player since has repeated the feat of hitting three home runs in just three at-bats in a World Series game. At least not in video games with cheat codes.

When Jackson pitched for his third at-bat that night, October 18, 1977, Yankee Stadium roared in the eighth inning. Most Americans watched the game on their televisions and immediately remembered how extraordinary Jackson’s play was.

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Baseball: World Series: New York Yankees Reggie Jackson (44) at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6. Bronx, NY 10/18/1977 (Walter Iooss Jr. / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

“Reggie Jackson saw two pitches in the strike zone tonight. Two. And he hit them both out of the seats,” ABC play-by-play man Keith Jackson said as Reggie stepped into the batter’s box.

The publisher didn’t even know what was going to happen. And what happened was so shocking that it caused the ABC broadcast team to completely lose understanding of the structure.

When the ball left the bat, Keith Jackson began the call, but could only say one word, “High,” before color commentator Howard Cosell resorted to subterfuge and took over the call himself.

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Yankees’ Reggie Jackson hit his third home run of the game against the Dodgers. The Yankees won Game 6 of the World Series, 8-4. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

“Goodbye! Oh, what a blow! And what a beautiful road!” Cosell shouted as the ball hit the black-painted kicker’s eye and the fans’ waiting hands. “Forget who the World Series Most Valuable Player is. How this guy responded to the pressure.”

And then, at the end of Mr. October, when Jackson was crowned and walked home, Cosell was still not used to the role. He still explained everything through his partner.

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New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, No. 15, watches No. 1 manager Billy Martin hug outfielder Reggie Jackson, No. 44, enters the dugout after hitting his third home run in Game Six of the World Series on October 18, 1977, New York against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in New York. (1977 Rich Fuzz/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

“Oh, how bright his face is,” Cosell said as Reggie moved to home plate. “Who can blame him? He answered to the whole world!”

And just one inning later, the Yankees captured their first World Series title in 15 years.

Jackson easily won the MVP award. He finished the series with a .450 batting average with 9 hits, 5 homers, 8 RBIs and 10 runs scored in six games and a then-record 25 total bases.

“All I had to do was go out there. Even if I hit, they would cheer me on,” Jackson said after the game.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked at ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals and interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.