Yankees ban Reggie Jackson following A-Rod comments

Reggie Jackson has been called out by the Yankees.

The club recently informed the Hall of Famer, who created a mild firestorm last week with critical comments about Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, as well as a handful of fellow Hall inductees, to stay away from the team.

"This is not punitive," one team official said Monday of Jackson, under contract with the Yankees as a special adviser. "This is strictly to limit distractions we don't need."

The official added: "People in the clubhouse don't want to see him right now."

ESPN reported that his temporary ban was a "cooling off period," and said that Jackson apologized to both Rodriguez and members of the Yankees' brass. Jackson was not with the team in Boston during its weekend series against the Red Sox. Rodriguez told reporters of the conversation but declined to reveal details of what was said.

In the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, Jackson, 66, said of Rodriguez, who admitted to using PEDs in 2009, "I think there are real questions about his numbers."

As for Pettitte, who has also said he used, Jackson said although he believed the lefthander would get into the Hall, many members wouldn't attend the ceremony out of protest.