Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson has apologized on social media for a profanity laced run-in with a fan at a restaurant in Cooperstown, New York, ahead of the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies last week.
The former New York Yankee and Oakland A's slugger apparently became angry with an autograph-seeker who returned a second time for Jackson's signature at Mt. Fuji restaurant Friday night before the
Hall of Fame ceremonies, the New York Daily News reported.
Jackson's profanity-laced response to the person was
caught on video and posted by TMZ Saturday.
"You guys disperse the mother f******, tell them to get the f*** away from me," Jackson said on the video, according to TMZ. "I need a f****** bodyguard to keep them the f*** away."
Jackson issued an apology Sunday on Twitter, stating that, regardless of his feelings, he needed to respond a different way to the situation.
The New York Daily News wrote that a scuffle broke out as Jackson attempted to get into his car.
"Whoa, he f****** bumped him," a fan said during the incident, according to the Daily News. Another added, "Come outside, safe at home."
Jackson later told the Daily News that he did not push anyone and was not involved physically with any of the people at the restaurant.
"You don't touch people in public," Jackson said to the Daily News. "I was upset . . . I used profanity. I told him no autographs, but I did not touch him."
The National Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz on Sunday at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Broadcaster Dick Enberg, winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, and J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner
Tom Gage were also recognized, according to the Hall of Fame.
Jackson was one of an estimated more than 50 Hall of Fame members who were expected to attend the annual induction weekend, according to the Hall of Fame.