Editing Reggie Jackson (section)

===California Angels (1982–1986) and Return to Oakland (1987)===
[[File:Reggie Jackson - California Angels - 1983.jpg|thumb|Jackson in 1983 as a member of the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]].]]
Jackson became a free-agent again once the 1981 season was over. The owner of the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]], entertainer [[Gene Autry]], had heard of Jackson's desire to return to California to play, and signed him to a five-year contract.

On April 27, [[1982 California Angels season|1982]], in Jackson's first game back at Yankee Stadium with the Angels, he broke out of a terrible season-starting slump to hit a home run off former teammate [[Ron Guidry]]. The at-bat began with [[1982 New York Yankees season|Yankee]] fans, angry at Steinbrenner for letting Jackson get away, starting the "Reg-GIE!" chant, and ended it with the fans chanting "Steinbrenner sucks!" By the time of Jackson's election to the Hall of Fame, Steinbrenner had begun to say that letting him go was the biggest mistake he had made as Yankee owner.

That season, the Angels won the American League West, and would do so again in [[1986 California Angels season|1986]], but lost the American League Championship Series both times. On September 17, [[1984 California Angels season|1984]], on the 17th anniversary of the day he hit his first home run, he hit his 500th, at [[Anaheim Stadium]] off [[Bud Black]] of the [[1984 Kansas City Royals season|Royals]].

In [[1987 Oakland Athletics season|1987]], he signed a one-year contract to return to the A's, wearing the number 44 with which he was now most associated rather than the number 9 he previously wore in Oakland, which was now being wore by teammate [[Mike Gallego]]. He announced he would retire after the season, at the age of 41. In his last at-bat, at [[Comiskey Park]] in Chicago on October 4, he collected a broken-bat single up the middle, but the A's lost to the [[1987 Chicago White Sox season|White Sox]], 5–2. Jackson was the last player in the major leagues to have played for the Kansas City Athletics. 

However, in January 1988, Jackson told reporters while he wasn't planning to play the 1988 season, he did receive an offer to play in Japan. "I got a price. The number is getting to the point where I can't say that I won't do it," Jackson said. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-15-sp-24280-story.html | title=Slugger Reggie Jackson is considering an offer | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=January 15, 1988 }}</ref> In August 1988, there were reports that Jackson approached his former team the New York Yankees about coming out of retirement for the stretch run. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/08/26/Reggie-Jackson-who-led-New-York-to-two-World/4722588571200/ | title=Reggie Jackson, who led New York to two World... - UPI Archives }}</ref> Jackson later denied the rumors and opted to stay retired. "No, no way. You will not see me in uniform. I'm done. Stick a fork in me," Jackson said. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deseret.com/1988/8/26/18776428/reggie-denies-he-s-returning-to-yankees/ | title=Reggie Denies He's Returning to Yankees | date=August 26, 1988 }}</ref>