Jackson Says Honor Is All His Today : Baseball: Of his induction into Hall of Fame, he says he feels like ‘America’s guest.’

Reggie Jackson will be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y., today.

The ceremony, Jackson said, goes beyond a celebration of his accomplishments and the acceptance of a plaque to be hung in the Hall.

It is as if election also elevates the recipient to a status as “America’s guest,” Jackson said.

“It is as if you become part of the folklore, a natural resource,” he added. “You walk into a room and people say, ‘There’s Stan Musial, he’s a Hall of Famer,’ or ‘There’s Reggie Jackson, he’s a Hall of Famer.’

“They don’t say that about football, basketball, hockey or tennis players. I mean, say what you want about football and basketball catching up, but baseball is still an incredible game that draws almost a half million people every day.

“To be anointed by the writers, who represent the fans, and to join what is a special category . . . well, it’s a special feeling and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

Jackson, who spent 21 years with the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and the Angels, will be the only former player inducted today--a solo tribute that seems appropriate considering how he often dominated the spotlight with his personality, performance or both.

He hit 563 home runs and ranks sixth on the all-time list. He drove in 1,702 runs, batted .262, struck out a record 2,597 times and helped lift a succession of teams to division and league titles. He appeared in 11 playoffs and five World Series, hitting 16 homers and driving in 44 runs in 72 postseason games. He batted .357 in 27 World Series games.

“I think it was the home runs and the timing of the home runs,” Jackson said. “I don’t think I’d have been elected on the first ballot otherwise. I struck out too much and didn’t hit for a high enough average, but I think it was my exploits in big games that made a difference and will be what people remember about my career.”

Jackson said he, too, will remember those exploits, but he will also remember that as a young black who initially tried to follow in the “speak softly but carry a big stick” footprints of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, he believes that he has gone on to contribute in other areas as well.

As Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Bill Russell set a verbal tone, Jackson joined in. He wasn’t merely “another colored boy lucky to be here,” he said. He refused to be a whipping boy for Charlie Finley, George Steinbrenner or anyone else, and he rose above any hint of tokenism to become a respected assistant to the presidents of the Yankees and Upper Deck card company, positions in which he contributes more than a public relations handshake.

On the eve of his induction, Jackson said he has not been sleeping much as he tries to decide how all of this fits into his acceptance speech today. He arranged for two private planes to bring in family and friends and has written 100 invitations.

Although he has chosen to be depicted in a Yankee cap and uniform on his plaque, seizing on the opportunity to be the first black Yankee in the Hall, he invited former Angel manager Gene Mauch and club owners Gene and Jackie Autry as his guests, Jackson said, but did not receive a reply. An Angel spokesman said the Autrys would be unable to attend because of the travel burden on Gene Autry.

Said Jackson, the self-proclaimed straw who stirred the Yankees’ drink: “I may have the stage to myself, but I don’t want to upstage anyone--past or present. I’m being honored by the Hall. The Hall isn’t being honored by me.”