TAMPA, Fla. _ Paul Goldschmidt's most accomplished secret admirer asked to borrow a phone.
Reggie Jackson's cell was somewhere in his locker at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and the 14-time All-Star, 11-time division winner, five-time World Series champion, two-time World Series MVP, 1973 American League MVP and first-ballot Hall of Famer had a point to make right now.
The Cardinals' trade for Paul Goldschmidt was, in the words of the straw that stirred the drink, "the best deal of the winter, by far."
No, wait. It was even better than that.
"Steal of the century," Mr. October told the Post-Dispatch.
Reggie!
A pregame conversation with the baseball legend before the Cardinals' 9-5 spring training defeat of the Yankees on Wednesday took an unexpected turn.
Jackson, now a special adviser to the Yankees, had been asked about an entirely different topic, but that interview had ended, and suddenly he was gushing, unprovoked, about the Cardinals' new first baseman.
Yes, his comments could be printed. Sure, he would elaborate. He's never been short on words.
"This ... guy," Jackson said. "Go to Baseball Reference."
It's one thing to look up a player's stats.
It's another to have Reggie Jackson walk you through them.
"He's too good," Jackson said. "He's too good. He plays every day. He plays 155 (games). He hits 30 (home runs), drives in 110-115 (runs). He hits .295 to .300."
The fingers of a grip that smacked 563 home runs reached for a phone screen and book-ended Goldschmidt's non-debut seasons.
"Look at the games played," Jackson said, referencing Goldschmidt's average of 149 games per season from 2012-18. "Those are numbers that Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, those kind of guys posted. Or, Reggie Jackson."
His perfectly executed humble brag behind him, Jackson rolled on.
"Look at the at-bats (546 per season)," he said. "Look at the runs scored (97 per season). Look at the power production! Those are a lot of hits (163 per season) for a guy that gets that many walks (91 per season). Look at the walks!"
Goldschmidt, Jackson explained, is a certified "big bopper." His Yankees have two in Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. Goldschmidt belongs in the group. By now, Jackson was pointing to Goldschmidt's career on-base plus slugging percentage of .930.
"Look at that," he said, noting his own lifetime OPS of .846. "These are big-time numbers."
Jackson then shifted the conversation to what Baseball Reference can't say about Goldschmidt.
"He's the guy that will make the Cardinals 10 to 15 games better, because he gives you presence in the clubhouse," Jackson said. "You look around and see him cinching up his belt. He ain't gonna get hurt. He's not going to have a headache. He ain't going to get a toothache. He ain't going to get the flu."
Jackson pointed to a clubhouse wall, to a spot where a lineup might hang.
"He's going to post every day," Jackson said.
For how long, though? Goldschmidt's 31. Baseball's treating 30 like the new 40.
"He's going to hit for another four, five more years," Jackson said. "I hit until I was 39. I hit 39 home runs when I was 36. I hit 27 homers when I was 39. Now, I'm not a lot of guys. But he's not a lot of guys. This guy is a player, buddy. He's a diamond. I love that guy."
Jackson wasn't interested in telling Cardinals manager Mike Shildt how to build his lineup, but if he was the one taping it to the wall, he knows how it would read.
"I hope he doesn't hit second," Jackson said. "I'm from the old school. He hits fourth, OK? He will make every one in front of him better, and a guy or two behind him. He will make five guys in the lineup better, without a doubt. But if he hits second or third, or wherever they hit him, just let him play."
Word made its way to Shildt. The manager confirmed, with a smile, that he will have no problem letting Goldschmidt play. As far as the ringing endorsement of his first baseman from the first player to hit 100-plus homers for three different teams? Add it to the list.
"The thing that is so impressive to me is the why, Mr. (George) Kissell would say, of why he's received those well-deserved accolades from Reggie Jackson, Tony La Russa, the game itself," Shildt said. "I just have the utmost respect for Paul in that he is so sincere, and loves and has a passion for this game. He wants to be good at everything. It's clear to me he has been serious about that. You can take a deep dive in any baseball conversation, whether it's holding a runner at first, stepping on first base and making a turn, the hitting part, baserunning, defense, bunt plays.
"He is just first-rate across the board, and he is sincere about wanting to be the best player he can be, wanting to honor his gifts. But he is equally and even more sincere about the guys around it understanding it (for themselves). And about us winning. He wants to win."
Jackson had thoughts on that topic, too. During his morning praise of Goldschmidt, he explained how the Cardinals' trade altered the National League Central and the Cardinals' hopes of reclaiming it.
"The Cubs have to play good now," Jackson said. "And they are going to play good. They had a bad year last year. They have some youth that can get (angry) with a lot of high energy. They've got players. They've got a manager. They have great ownership. They are embarrassed about last year.
"But the Cardinals are the Cardinals. They are the second-most in baseball with championships, second to us. And now? They've got a player. He makes them an absolute contender. They just need to pitch, and follow his lead."
Jackson had never met Goldschmidt before Wednesday. He feared Goldschmidt would not make the trip, as big stars tend to stay home in the spring. He was thrilled to find out he guessed wrong. After starting at first against the Phillies in Clearwater on Tuesday, Goldschmidt was back in the lineup in Tampa, appearing as the designated hitter in his first back-to-back of the spring.
"I'm going to go watch him hit," Jackson said upon hearing the news.
Goldschmidt was one of the last Cardinals to leave the field following batting practice. After his time in the cage, he took grounders. He talked defense with second baseman Kolten Wong. He practiced his third-base lead while discussing hitting with pitching coach Mike Maddux. He signed autographs for a row of kids calling his name.
It was then and there when Jackson slid beneath Goldschmidt's arm the bat Jackson had borrowed from the first baseman during their introduction at the batting cage. His admiration was no longer a secret.
"Hopefully," Goldschmidt said, "I can make him look smart."
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