Baseball: Hall of Famer Jackson denies shoving fan

NEW YORK - Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson on Saturday denied reports that an irate exchange with a fan turned physical.

The New York Daily News reported on its website that Jackson shoved the fan outside a restaurant in Cooperstown, New York, but Jackson said he only yelled at the autograph seeker.

"I would never touch a fan," Jackson said Saturday. "I would never touch a person. I just wouldn't do it. I used profanity. I told him no autographs, but I did not touch him." The incident happened after Jackson and most of the Hall of Famers attended Hall of Fame chairman Jane Clark's annual party.

The event is part of the Hall of Fame induction weekend ceremonies.

According to ESPN.com, Jackson told reporters that he later went to dinner with four friends at a Japanese restaurant and was leaving through a back entrance when a group of fans began to gather.

Jackson said he was approached by one fan who had already gotten an autograph from him earlier Friday.

"I was upset because it was kind of an 'over and over' thing," Jackson said. "It's 10:00 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, known as "Mr. October" because of his playoff prowess at the plate when he was with the New York Yankees hit 563 home runs over 21 major league seasons and was elected to Cooperstown on the first ballot in 1993.