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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y., July 25 (UPI) -- Former New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson on Saturday denied that he got into a physical dispute with an autograph-seeking fan near the baseball Hall of Fame this weekend. Entertainment outlet TMZ posted a brief clip on its website and claimed Jackson got frustrated with the fan and escalated the confrontation.
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"Baseball legend Reggie Jackson went nuclear Friday night," TMZ wrote in the story. (Warning: Strong language)
However, Jackson refuted that claim Saturday in an ESPN report -- saying he verbally lashed the fan, but never touched him. Instead, he said, the physical altercation seemed to involve people behind him.
The former Yankee said he became frustrated at the fan because he had already given him an autograph earlier in the day.
"I was upset because it was kind of an 'over and over' thing," he said Saturday. "It's 10 o'clock at night -- it's time to go home. Leave us alone. So the words got heated. But as far as anybody touching someone, that did not come from me."
Jackson and friends were reportedly attempting to leave out the rear entrance of a restaurant when the fans approached.
"I was disappointed that the yelling happened, but it's all day, all night sometimes with people," he added. "I've been stern before with people verbally, but you don't touch the public. In today's world, you can't do that."
The New York Daily News also published what it called "exclusive" video of the incident.
Jackson, 69, was in Cooperstown, N.Y., to attend this weekend's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. A hitter of 563 home runs in a 20-year career with the Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels, Jackson was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1993.
