Reggie Jackson on playing in segregated Birmingham in 1967: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on anybody’

Former New York Yankees player Reggie Jackson greets other ex-players before an old-timers game at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 2, 2008. “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” Jackson said numerous times Thursday while speaking on Fox’s pregame show for the first Major League Baseball game to be played at Rickwood Field, the historic former home of the Barons as well as the Negro Leagues’ Black Barons. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in Thursday’s game, billed as “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” in honor of all the great Negro Leagues players who played at Rickwood from 1920 to 1960. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.” Jackson spoke of a dark time in the city’s history, including the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church by white supremacists that killed four Black girls, ages 11 to 14. I’d have gotten killed here because I’d have beat someone’s ass and you’d have saw me in an oak tree somewhere.” At that point, Rodriguez put his arm around Jackson, while fellow Fox commentator Kevin Burkhardt initially struggled for words in response to what he had just heard.