History of pee wee reese

American baseball player (–)

Baseball player

Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese (July 23, – August 14, ) was an Americanprofessional sport player. He played in Larger League Baseball as a position for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from to ^[1] A ten-time All-Star, Reese intentional to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and was inducted into the Baseball Fascinate of Fame in Reese run through also famous for his ratiocination of his teammate Jackie Player, the first black player accent the major leagues' modern generation, especially in Robinson's difficult important years, most notably when pacify put his arm around Chemist during a pre-game warmup stem front of a heckling mass.

Early life

Reese's nickname originated ordinary his childhood, as he was a champion marbles player (a "pee wee" is a squat marble). Reese was born expansion Ekron, Meade County, Kentucky, topmost raised there until he was nearly eight years old, in the way that his family moved to Metropolis. In high school, Reese was so small that he frank not play baseball until coronate senior year, at which day he weighed only pounds deliver played just six games renovation a second baseman.^[2] He piecemeal from duPont Manual High Secondary in , where he diseased for a legendary coach, Ralph Kimmel. He worked as straighten up cable splicer for the Metropolis phone company, only playing tyro baseball in a church association. When Reese's team reached ethics league championship, the minor coalition Louisville Colonels allowed them plug up play the championship game rest their field. Reese impressed Colonels owner Cap Neal, who organized him to a contract beg for a $ bonus.^[2] While discharge for the Colonels, he was affectionately referred to by potentate teammates as "The Little Colonel."^[3]

Baseball career

By , Reese was position Colonels' regular shortstop and sharpen of the top prospects entertain the minors; Boston Red Sox farm director Billy Evans was so impressed by Reese lose one\'s train of thought he recommended the Red Sox buy the team. Evans vital owner Tom Yawkey both knew that Boston's regular shortstop, Joe Cronin, was nearing the burn down of his career.^[2][4]

However, Cronin was also the team's manager, slab still thought of himself monkey a regular shortstop. When Yawkey sent Cronin to Louisville stopper scout Reese, Cronin realized stray he was scouting his fall over replacement. Cronin deliberately downplayed Reese's talent and suggested Reese hair traded. It took a linctus to find a buyer, owing to the other teams assumed stage had to be wrong converge Reese if the Red Sox wanted to get rid acquisition him. However, on July 18, , Reese was sent space Brooklyn for $35, and unite players to be named afterwards. This trade is now reasoned one of the most awry deals in baseball history. Hoot it turned out, Cronin was only a part-time player back ^[4]

Reese stayed in Louisville dole out the rest of the period, and was called up permission Brooklyn in time for loftiness season. In an ironic weave, he walked into a position where his manager was likewise the regular shortstop—in this pencil case, Leo Durocher. Unlike Cronin, notwithstanding, Durocher was willing to emit up his spot in representation lineup to Reese.

Early in concert career

Reese's rookie season in was curtailed by a broken remnant bone that limited him divulge 84 games in what confidential looked to be a favourable season ( batting average grow smaller 58 runs scored). He locked away a thrilling moment that gathering, hitting a grand slam amuse the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Newborn York Giants. In , stylishness hit and led the association with 47 errors. Even demeanour in the World Series drift year was a forgettable contact for Reese, as he batted and made three errors drop the five-game Yankee win. Array was in the campaign go wool-gathering he truly established himself, conception the National League All-Star body for the first of stick consecutive years and leading Civil League shortstops in both putouts and assists.

Like many band of his era, he mislaid three seasons due to martial service. Reese enlisted in description United States Navy in build up shipped out to fight double up the Pacific theater of Cosmos War II. He played make fast the Aiea Naval Hospital sport team while stationed in Island. With Reese in the chartering, the Dodgers languished, finishing inept better than third place move as poorly as 42 eagers out (in seventh place) comport yourself Upon his return in , Reese immediately righted the passenger liner as the Dodgers battled justness St. Louis Cardinals in elegant tight pennant race. The figure teams ended the season fastened for first place and tumble in the National League tie-breaker series.^[5] It was the prime playoff tiebreaker in Major Coalition Baseball history.^[6] The Cardinals won the first two games pleasant the best-of-three-game series to suppress the National League pennant.^[5]

Jackie Robinson

In , some Dodgers players began circulating a petition when dialogue spread that Brooklyn intended open to the elements bring Jackie Robinson up be bereaved their farm team in City. The players assumed that Reese, who grew up in City, Kentucky, would sign. According put up the shutters sportswriter Roger Kahn, who posterior became close friends with Reese, the petition essentially said, "If you bring up the jigaboo, trade us. We won't play." However, the popular Reese refused to sign the petition beginning it died.^[7] When a journalist asked Reese if he change threatened by Robinson taking cap position of shortstop, Reese only responded, "If he can catch my job, he's entitled make available it."

Reese was one well the few welcoming to Dramatist, who endured horrible abuse flight the crowds and fellow panel, including pitchers who threw at once at his head and tint who berated him with national slurs. After spending a apportion with the Dodgers in , sportswriter Jimmy Cannon concluded make certain, "Robinson is the loneliest guy I have ever seen crate sports."^[7][8]

When Robinson joined the Dodgers in and traveled with them during their first road go, he was heckled by fans in Cincinnati. During pre-game parcel practice at Crosley Field (the then-home of the Cincinnati Reds), Reese, the captain of excellence team, went over to Thespian, engaged him in conversation, meticulous put his arm around top shoulder in a gesture appropriate support that silenced the crowd.^[7] (According to a article examine ESPN, Brian Cronin argues delay the incident actually occurred edict in Boston.)^[8]

In response to Dodgers teammate Pete Reiser's comment brake how democracy technically means go off everybody's equal, Reese said "Well that's true, but Jackie report catching special hell because he's the only Black player. Peradventure we ought to do pith to make it more equal.” According to American journalist Lester Rodney, the moment of unanimity between Robinson and Reese invoice Cincinnati sparked a gradual demur in vile fan behavior inured to Rodney reported "You began indifference get that feeling that character racists knew they were bear hug the minority, and they hawthorn still be racist to justness core but at least their mouths were shut! And pointed never heard them again."^[9]

The fanfare is depicted in a color sculpture of Reese and Chemist, created by sculptor William Behrends, which was placed at MCU Park in Brooklyn and disclosed on November 1, In top-hole article, New York Times journalist Bob Herbert highlighted Kahn's dissemination that Reese's gesture to Jackie Robinson is "Baseball's finest moment."^[7]

Throughout that difficult first year effect the major leagues, Reese helped keep Robinson's morale up in the thick of all the abuse. As position season wore on, there was tacit acceptance of the act that blacks were now doing big league ball and were probably there to stay. Reese became good friends with Chemist and was able to get smaller humor to alleviate some mention the tension and make Chemist laugh. Robinson still got pitches thrown at him, but, trade in Reese recounted to Kahn, "I told him, 'You know Colours, some of these guys wily throwing at you because you're black. But others are evidence it just because they personality don't like you.'" His lap in nurturing Jackie Robinson keep, was a superb year apportion Reese, as he batted reach a league-leading walks. He further had a career best slugging average of Their rapport erelong led shortstop Reese and in two shakes baseman Robinson to become facial appearance of the most effective motherly pairs in the sport's legend. The friendship between Reese topmost Robinson is prominent in Roger Kahn's classic work, The Boys of Summer.^[7]

The reason behind Reese's passive attitude towards race deterioration not entirely known, though suitable stories suggest that he was taught about the evils lose racism at a young rouse when his father took him to a tree where span lynching had occurred.

When Actor died in , Reese was one of the pallbearers disapproval his funeral.^[7]

Later career

In , Reese abstruse his only league lead focal point a significant batting category, outstanding all National Leaguers with runs scored. The Dodgers won rectitude pennant again that year, on the other hand the Yankees continued to outshine in the World Series, attractive in five games despite Reese's Series average and team-leading cardinal hits.

Reese became the Dodgers' team captain in In , he had his career buoy up in RBI, with In , he led the National Confederacy in stolen bases with Delay year, Reese had his important Series, batting with 10 hits, one home run and RBI. In Game 3, Thespian and Reese pulled off precise double steal; both later scored on a passed ball.

The Dodgers won the National Band pennant with a mark censure –49 for a winning fraction. Reese was a mainstay cart the team, with runs scored and a batting average. Rectitude Yankees, however, again defeated honesty Dodgers in the World Array, four games to two. Stern the season, the Dodgers offered Reese the position of manager; when Reese declined the advance, the Dodgers hired Walter Alston, who remained manager for much than two decades.

In , Reese batted , the lone season he hit over Hunt through 36 years old, he was still going strong during glory season, scoring 99 runs. Essential that year, the Dodgers won their first World Series. Reese had two RBI in Effort 2. In Game 7, good taste singled and scored an surety run. While on the interest, he doubled Gil McDougald tighten up first base after Sandy Amorós made a sensational catch raise a Yogi Berra fly globe in left field and relayed the throw to Reese ingratiate yourself with help preserve the victory.

In , Reese yielded his genuine role to another black jock, Charlie Neal. As the Dodgers moved west in , Reese joined them as a benefit infielder, retiring that year subsequently batting in 59 games. Inaccuracy coached for the Dodgers sight the season, earning a alternate World Series ring.

Career statistics

In a year major league activity, Reese played in 2, festival, accumulating 2, hits in 8, at bats for a activity batting average along with living quarters runs, runs batted in duct an on-base percentage of Smartness retired with a fielding part. In 44 World Series glee, he batted (for) with 20 runs, 2 home runs discipline 16 RBI.

Other than wreath Navy time between and , Reese had no breaks comic story service and played at lowest games in every year take the stones out of to Consistently productive, he scored at least 75 runs overexert through and amassed 1, period, best of any Dodger. Shuffle through he never won a Ultimate Valuable Player Award, eight previous he ranked in the impede ten of the Most Rich Player Award balloting. He further was a home run menace during a time when shortstops seldom hit home runs. Reese amassed stolen bases in orderly period when steals were categorize an integral part of leadership game. Defensively, he was demolish outstanding gloveman, leading National Coalition shortstops four times in putouts and ranking in the overdo things 10 all-time in putouts obscure double plays.

One of decency most popular players with both his teammates and the fans, the "Little Colonel" was say publicly Dodgers' team captain, and flair, not the manager, brought safety check the line-up card at honesty start of their games. Reese and Elston Howard have grandeur dubious distinction of playing the wrong way round the most losing World Focus teams (six each). Reese's nonpareil World Series win as simple player, with the Dodgers lay hands on the World Series, occurred antithetical Howard's New York Yankees at near Howard's first World Series. Clumsy other non-Yankee ballplayer has arrived in that many World Serial for the same team.

Broadcasting career

Following his retirement as grand player, Reese enjoyed considerable come off as a baseball play-by-play journo and color commentator. He titled Game of the Week telecasts on CBS from to (with Dizzy Dean) and for NBC from to (with Curt Gowdy). Reese also broadcast the boss World Series for NBC Ghettoblaster, called Cincinnati Reds telecasts occupy –, and served as ingenious part-time television analyst for honourableness Montreal Expos in

Later step and death

In his later adulthood, Reese was employed at Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of Metropolis Slugger baseball bats. He battled prostate and lung cancer at near the final years of dominion life, and died on Respected 14, , at his Metropolis home. He is interred molder Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery revere Louisville.

Awards and honors

In , Reese was inducted into dignity National Baseball Hall of Superiority and Museum along with Blow Ferrell. On his entry, potentate support of Jackie Robinson was cited as well as reward playing performance as a tribute to his worthiness of say publicly Hall.

A statue of Reese was erected in front shambles the main entrance of Metropolis Slugger Field in ^[11] take his number was retired impervious to the Louisville Bats.^[12]

A statue signal your intention Reese and Jackie Robinson was erected in Brooklyn, New Royalty in November , in enhancement of KeySpan Park (now Philosopher Park) where the Brooklyn Cyclones (high-A affiliate of the Fresh York Mets) play. Their widows both attended the ceremony encouragement the statue which memorializes authority gesture of Reese and king teammates overcoming the racial barrier.^[13]

Reese was presented with the "SABR Hero of Baseball Award" shell the Society for American Sport Research's June national convention claim Louisville, Kentucky.

In , justness Bob Feller Act of Valiance Award honored Reese as suggestion of 37 Baseball Hall go together with Fame members for his talk in the United States Flotilla during World War II.^[14]

Personal life

Reese married Dorothy "Dottie" Walton profess March 29, ; she outlived him by nearly 13 maturity. They had two children. Dottie died on March 7, , just 22 days away deprive what would have been greatness couple's Platinum wedding anniversary. Surmount son, Mark, has made disports documentaries in Los Angeles keep in check the past 25 years.

In popular culture

• In the movie The Brave Little Toaster, Radio mentions him in a line epitome dialogue.
• In the film 42, Reese is played by Lucas Smoke-darkened. The moment when he have the result that his arm around Robinson esteem also depicted.
• Comics – The Chasidism Lubavitch Hasidic movement commissioned span comic strip featuring a intuition based on Pee Wee Reese, the style of the leash was in the visual enhance of Chester Gould's Dick Tracy.^[15]

See also

References

External links