Reggie Jackson hit 47 home runs in 1969, his third season of a Hall-of-Fame career. Nate Colbert figured the example was a pretty good one to follow when Jackson gifted him the same model bat he used that year. ahead of Colbert’s second season in San Diego.
“It’s four ounces heavier than the bat I’ve been using,” a 23-year-old Colbert told the San Diego Union. “All you have to do is put this bat on the ball and it really goes.”
Indeed.
On this date — April 7 — in 1970, Colbert hit the first of a career-high 38 homers, a three-run shot off knuckleballer Phil Niekro in an 8-3 opening day win over the Atlanta Braves in front of 25,125 at San Diego Stadium.