gold star for USAHOF

47. Pete Reiser

47. Pete Reiser
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: March 17, 1919 in St. Louis, MO USA
  • Weight: 185 lbs.
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: July 23, 1940
  • Final Game: July 05, 1952
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1941
  • TSN All-Star - 1941
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1942
  • MVP - 1941
  • MVP - 1942
  • MVP - 1946
 
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"Pistol" Pete Reiser might be one of the biggest "what could have been" in Dodger history, as very few players on the diamond lost greatness so quickly due to injuries.

Reiser was pegged to be a star by St. Louis Cardinals management, and they were dismayed when he was one of the Minor League players that Commissioner, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, deemed free agents.  Cardinals GM, Branch Rickey, had an agreement with the Dodgers, who signed Reiser to trade him back to St. Louis, but Brooklyn Kept Reiser, and Rickey, himself, would join Brooklyn in 1943.

Reiser made it to the parent club in 1940, appearing in 58 Games, but he was an everyday player in 1941 and had one of the most explosive campaigns in Dodgers history.  He led the NL in Runs (117), Doubles (39), Triples (17), Batting (.343), Slugging (.558), OPS (.964), and bWAR for Position Players (8.0), but was jobbed out of the MVP to Home Run and RBI leader, Dolph Camilli, who was also his teammate.  Brooklyn won the Pennant that year but was crushed by the Yankees in five.  

Reiser had an interesting 1942, again going to the All-Star Game, but mid-season, he suffered a concussion when he crashed face-first into the outfield wall.  He returned but was not the same player for the rest of the season.

Like many other Americans, Reiser served in the U.S. Military and missed three years, but a shoulder injury in an army baseball game hampered his batting.  Reiser was still the same player regarding effort, but the oft-injured Outfielder never came close to what he was in 1941.  He was traded to the Braves after the 1948 Season, ending his Dodgers run.

Reiser compiled 666 Hits with a .306 Batting Average.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Outfield
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent 4/15/38
  • Departed:

    Traded to the Boston Braves for Nanny Fernandez and Mike McCormick 12/15/48.

  • Games Played: 616
  • Notable Statistics:

    400 Runs Scored
    666 Hits
    135 Doubles
    35 Triples
    44 Home Runs
    298 RBI
    78 Stolen Bases
    .306/.384/.460 Slash Line
    22.3 bWAR

    10 Playoff Games
    2 Runs Scored
    6 Hits
    1 Double
    1 Triple
    1 Home Run
    3 RBI
    0 Stolen Bases
    .214/.313/.741 Slash Line

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (1941, 1942 & 1946)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1941)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1941)
    Highest Batting Average (1941)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1941)
    Highest OPS (1941)
    Most Total Bases (1941)
    Most Runs Scored (1941)
    Most Doubles (1941)
    Most Triples (1941)
    Most Stolen Bases (1941)
    Highest OPS+ (1941)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1941)
    Most Times Hit By Pitch (1941)
    Highest Power-Speed # (1946)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1941)
    Most Putouts by a Centerfielder (1941)
    Most Assists by a Centerfielder (1941)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Centerfielder (1941)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by an Outfielder (1941)

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