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On this date, April 2: A’s trade launches ‘Curse of Reggie’ on franchise

If you believe in sports curses, we’ve got one that hits home for longtime Bay Area baseball fans.

What if we told you when the A’s shocked the sports world 34 years ago today by trading superstar Reggie Jackson they may have also unwittingly unleashed “The Curse of Reggie” on themselves?

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There’s certainly enough circumstantial evidence to be a believer. What happened to the A’s once Reggie left town wasn’t pretty.

First, let’s revisit the blockbuster trade on April 2, 1976 which triggered our theory. A’s owner Charlie Finley, either unable or unwilling (or both) to compete financially with other clubs as the age of free agency fast approached, decided to deal Jackson, arguably baseball’s best player.