Reggie Jackson earned the nickname “Mr. October” for his post-season heroics while playing with the Yankees. And rightly so, seeing as the slugger is a five time World Series Champion and two time World Series MVP.  Reggie Jackson’s career was so successful, that even if he forfeited his postseason success, he would still be considered one of Major League Baseball’s greatest sluggers.

On this day, September 17th, in 1984, Reggie Jackson blasts his 500th homer, 17 years to the day after hitting his first career home run.  The home run came during Jackson’s stint with the Angels off of Kansas City Royals pitcher Bud Black.

Jackson continued to play for another three years, until retiring at the end of the 1987 season.  By that time, Jackson had increased his home run total to 563, which was sixth all-time.  Jackson was the first player in history to hit one hundred home runs for three teams, a feat that he accomplished with the Athletics, Yankees and Angels.