gold star for USAHOF

7. Pee Wee Reese

7. Pee Wee Reese
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 23, 1918 in Ekron, KY USA
  • Weight: 160 lbs.
  • Height: 5'10"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 23, 1940
  • Final Game: September 26, 1958
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1946
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1947
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1949
  • TSN All-Star - 1953
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial Award - 1956
  • MVP - 1940
  • MVP - 1942
  • MVP - 1946
  • MVP - 1947
  • MVP - 1948
  • MVP - 1949
  • MVP - 1950
  • MVP - 1951
  • MVP - 1952
  • MVP - 1953
  • MVP - 1954
  • MVP - 1955
  • MVP - 1956
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
16116267643402521770464 0.269
 

How do you not love somebody named Pee Wee Reese?

The Dodgers fans did, we do, and as of this writing, it is Reese who is the all-time franchise leader in bWAR for Position Players.

We bet that was a surprise!

Reese was coming up through the Red Sox system and should have been the heir apparent at Short for Boston.  The problem was that Boston had Joe Cronin at that position, who was also the Manager, and he suggested that Reese be traded, which happened in the summer of 1939.  Reese was called up to his new parent club, Brooklyn, the following year, and he broke through in 1942, making his first All-Star team while finishing first in Defensive bWAR.

Reese was one of the many American players to leave the game due to military service stemming from World War II.  He came back better than ever in 1946, ascending back to the top of defensive infielders, but now he was a much better hitter.  Reese was also a key figure in accepting Jackie Robinson, as Reese refused to sign a petition from other teammates to keep him from being called up.  Not only would Reese and Robinson become friends, but his public displays of acceptance also showed the world that the Negro League players would be welcomed.

From 1946 to 1954, Reese was an All-Star, batting at least .260 and drawing a sizable amount of Walks.  He was not a potent power hitter, but he could go deep, hitting 126 over his career, combined with excellent speed (232 Stolen Bases).  The overall package gave Reese eight top-ten MVP finishes, peaking at fifth in 1949.  Reese would help the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series, but age would reduce his effectiveness afterward, and he retired after the 1958 Season.  

He retired with 2,170 Hits and batted .269.  He would not enter the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1984 when it took the Veteran's Committee to select him.  Los Angeles then retired his number 1.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Short Stop
  • Acquired: Traded from the Boston Red Sox for #35,000 and two Players to be Named Later (which would be Red Evans and Art Parks) 7/18/39.
  • Departed:

    Released 12/30/58.

  • Games Played: 2,166
  • Notable Statistics:

    1,338 Runs Scored
    2,170 Hits
    330 Doubles
    80 Triples
    126 Home Runs
    885 RBI
    232 Stolen Bases
    .269/.366/.377 Slash Line
    68.5 bWAR

    44 Playoff Games
    20 Runs Scored
    46 Hits
    3 Doubles
    2 Triples
    2 Home Runs
    18 RBI
    5 Stolen Bases
    .272/.346/.349 Slash Line

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1955)
    All-Star (1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 & 1954)
    Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (1956)
    Highest Defensive bWAR (1942, 1947, 1948 & 1949)
    Most Plate Appearances (1949)
    Most Runs Scored (1949)
    Most Walks (1947)
    Most Stolen Bases (1952)
    Most Sacrifice Hits (1953)
    Most Intentional Walks (1947)
    Highest Stolen Base Percentage (1952)
    Most Outs Made (1941)
    Most Assists (1942)
    Most Putouts by a Shortstop (1941, 1942, 1948 & 1949)
    Most Assists by a Shortstop (1942)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop (1942 & 1948)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Third Baseman (1957)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Shortstop (1941, 1942 & 1948)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop (1949)

Comments powered by CComment