The Bronx Children’s Museum has put up murals for 6 Yankees Legends. It is titled “Exhibiting Possibilities: Legendary Yankees.” The purpose of the murals is to motivate and inspire youth to go after their dreams and know they can be anything they want to be if they put their minds to it and work hard. The murals were painted by Bronx native André Trenier. There are 3 separate murals, two legends in each one.

The first mural is of Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and teammate second baseman Willie Randolph. Jackson and Randolph were teammates from 1977-1981. During this 5 year span the two would go on to win back to back World Series Championships.

1977 was a very stressful year for New York, not just stressful to the Yankees trying to get back to the World Series after getting swept 4 straight by the Cincinnati Reds the previous year. NY was being terrorized by the “Son of Sam” Serial Killer David Berkowitz. Berkowitz was arrested that August so the city and Yankees could breathe a sigh of relief. The Yankees could get back to their winning ways hopefully, being led to the fall classic by new comer Reggie Jackson.

In his 5 years in the Bronx, Reggie Jackson tallied 164 HR, 351 RBI, 41 stolen bases. Jackson was an All-Star all 5 seasons in NY. Jackson also took home a Silver Slugger Award in 1980. Most notably Reggie Jackson played a pivotal role for the Yankees in 1977 & 78. In 1977 Reggie Jackson hit 5 HRs; one in game 4 and one in game 5. Most impressive was the 3 he hit in game 6 of the 77 Series.

It actually wasn’t the media who labelled Reggie Jackson “Mr. October,” that nickname came from Yankees Captain Thurman Munson, Munson was being interviewed and he said to the reporter “Go ask Mister October.” One more notable achievement of Jackson’s this wasn’t really on the field but he had a candy bar named after him, Jackson actually predicted this in his single season in Baltimore, he was quoted saying; “If I played in New York, they’d name a candy bar after me.” 

Willie Randolph played for the Yankees for 13 years from 1976-88, Randolph’s stats do not blow anyone’s socks off, but he was a leader in the clubhouse, after Thurman Munson’s reign as Captain was over Willie Randolph was co-captain with Rod Guidry from 1986-88. Randolph was not know for the bat, but was a slick fielding second baseman who was know for turning the double play. Willie never won a Gold Glove, we was always beat out by either Frank White of The Royals or Lou Whittaker of The Tigers. Randolph’s defense was still great, he had a .980 fielding percentage at second base.

In 1980, Randolph did lead the league in walks with 119, he was also 2nd in the league in on base percentage with .427 OBP. Willie has 2 World Series Championships to his name in 1977 & 78 as a player, and 4 as a coach for the Yankees in 1996, 98 and 2000. Willie was a 6x All-Star 5 were with NY. The other All-Star was with the Dodgers in 1989. Randolph won a Silver Slugger Award in 1980 with the Yankees. Willie does have a monument in Monument Park in Yankee Stadium as well.

These two legends will have a legacy that lives on forever, Reggie as the hero and being named Mr. October in the playoffs and Willie as ranked by some websites as the best 2nd baseman in Yankees history (I prefer Robinson Cano at 2B myself but his career will be tainted by PED use).

If you haven’t seen The Bronx is Burning mini series that came out in 2007 you should check it out, it is good … it’s based off the 1977 season of the Yankees and shows the rift between Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin and Martin’s struggle to maintain control of the team with George Steinbrenner breathing down Martin’s neck.

Tomorrow we will look at 2 more Black Yankee Legends with murals dedicated to them. Make sure you check back for the next article on these two superstars.

Photo Credit 6sqft, X.com, Pinterest, Suffolk County Democratic Committee

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