Joe DiMaggio Award Gala to Honor Reggie Jackson

By Bill Jordan
Updated: May 14, 2009

: Image via Wikipedia

Xaverian High School president Dr. Salvatore Ferrera announced that former New York Yankee Reggie Jackson would be honored at a dinner held at their school on May 5. The event, which is called the Joe DiMaggio Awards Banquet benefits the Brooklyn, New York School and was held last week.

According to Ferrera, “We are very excited to have a baseball legend in ‘Mr. October’ Reggie Jackson, be the first Yankee honoree for the event.”

Ferrera further stated, “The award has very quickly become the stuff of legend in the sports and entertainment community and it is an honor to be able to bestow it on a recipient who has not only achieved great heights in sports and entertainment, but in philanthropy as well.”

Image via Wikipedia

The award was first given in 1999 in memory of the former Yankee legend. DiMaggio had a special connection to Xaverian because both the school and the player shared the same nickname as “Clipper.” DiMaggio was the first to receive the highest individual award given by the school, the Concordia Award in 1997. It was later renamed in his memory the year that he passed away for his commitment to health, education and the overall well being of America’s youth. So far, the award has raised over $6 million for the Xaverian students.

Other people who have been honored with this award include former Sopranos star James Gandolfini, journalist Bob Costas, television personality Regis Philbin, international statesman Dr. Henry Kissinger, Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, singer/songwriter Paul Simon, football stars and television personalities Boomer Esiason and Tiki Barber and Maestro Luciano Pavarotti.

There is no doubt that Jackson had one of the most spectacular careers in this history of the game. Jackson spent 21 seasons in the major leagues and made 14 trips to the All-Star Game. Jackson finished his career with 563 homeruns and five championships. He is widely remembered for his performances in October, specifically the 1977 World Series where he hit three consecutive home runs and averaged .450.

Xaverian High School is located in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn and has been educating young men since 1957. The traditionally Catholic school has many programs and has had students enter into many prestigious colleges upon graduating.

The school also helps serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and learning disabilities. Some of their alumni include basketball hall of famer Chris Mullin, Prudential Financial EVP Robert Charles Golden, actor Michael Badalucco, Deputy Managing Editor of PEOPLE Magazine Peter Castro and Major League Baseball player Rich Aurilia.