Pete Reiser

Quotes From Reiser
"Sure, if I could have avoided bouncing off fences, maybe I'd still be up there. I'm sure I would have lasted a lot longer than I did." — Reiser in 1956

"My record speaks for itself. I wanted to play every day, but there were times when the pain was so bad that I felt I couldn't help the club, so I'd ask to sit out a game. A couple of times, when I felt better the next day, I'd tell Burt Shotton and he'd put me back. But then, maybe he got tired of that. After a while, when I asked to be taken out, I'd be out for long spells, even when I was ready." — in 1956, recalling his problems with Dodger manager Burt Shotton

Played For
Brooklyn Dodgers (1940-1948)
Boston Braves (1949-1950)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1951)
Cleveland Indians (1952)

Minor League Experience
As a 17-year old, Reiser was granted free agency by commissioner Landis after being stuck in the Cardinals farm system. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers for $100.

Best Season: 1941
While Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams fought over headlines in the AL, Reiser had them in the National League in '41. He blazed across the baseball world - leading his league in batting (.343), runs (117), doubles (39), triples (17), and slugging (.558). He was a terror in the outfield, and he played in a career-best 137 games. The Bums won their first pennant in 21 seasons.

Factoids
In 1946, Dodgers outfielder Pete Reiser was offered $100,000 by Jorge Pasquel to jump to the Mexican League. Reiser refused the offer.

Full Bio
Built much like Lenny Dykstra, “Pistol Pete” Reiser was a similar batter – he had surprising power for a small player. He had doubles power, and he led his league in doubles and triples in 1941. That year was his one great season in the sun, as he led the NL in five major offensive categories. With Reiser playing center field, the Dodgers won their first pennant in more than two decades. In the Series loss to the Yankees, Reiser hit a double, triple, and home run, but batted just .200 in the five-games.

The 137 games he played in 1941 proved to be his career-high, as Reiser began a pattern of wall-crashing injuries in 1942. He hit a wall in St. Louis and suffered a concussion and separated shoulder. At the time he was batting .383, but limped to .310 as the Dodgers failed to hold their lead in the pennant race.

After three years in the U.S. Army, Reiser returned in 1946 to lead the NL in steals, including seven of home. He was considered the fastest player in the league at the time, but his jarring injuries seldom allowed him to use it. It was hard to steal a base from the injured list. Late in ’46 he separated his shoulder, broke his ankle, and tore muscles. His season was over.

In 1947 the Dodgers had Jackie Robinson in their lineup, and with Reiser the two formed a daring duo. They finished 1-2 in steals that season, but a crash into a wall kept Pete to 110 games. In the 1947 World Series Reiser started the first three games, but misplayed several balls in the outfield due to vertigo. Just 28 years old, Reiser’s days as a regular player were over.

He was sent to the Braves after the 1948 season, and then bounced to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, never playing in more than 84 games. The many injuries he suffered – he had been carried from the field on a stretcher several times in his career – left him with bruises, scars, and dizzy spells for years. His lasting legacy was the introduction of warning tracks and padded walls in major league ballparks.

As a Manager
Reiser managed in the Brooklyn farm system in the mid-1950s.

Born
Harold Patrick Reiser was born on March 17, 1919, in St. Louis, MO.

Died
October 25, 1981, Palm Springs, CA

Batted:  Left
Threw:  Right

Primary Position:  OF

Primary Team:  BRO

Major League Debut
July 23, 1940

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1940
Pee Wee Reese
Elmer Valo
Marty Marion
Walker Cooper
Dom DiMaggio
Pete Reiser
Harry Brecheen
Harry Walker
Stan Spence

Nicknames
Pistol Pete

According to Robert L. Burnes, Resier was tagged "Pistol Pete" because of an early fondness for western movies.

Similar Players
Lenny Dykstra

Related Players
None

Hall of Fame Voting Year Election Votes Pct 1958 BBWAA 6 2.3% 1960 BBWAA 8 3.0%

Post-Season Appearances
1941 World Series
1947 World Series

Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
In the minors with Elmira in 1939, Reiser broke his throwing arm after hurling the baseball into the infireld. He stayed in the game and actually played for two more weeks before an x-ray revealed the break... While playing baseball in the military in World War II, Reiser suffered what he called his worst injury. "I plowed through a fence playing with Fort Riley, rolled down a 25-foot embankment and came up with a shoulder separation," Reiser said. "It wasn't as serious as the head injuries but it did more to end my career. The shoulder kept popping out of place, more bone chips developed, and there was constant pain in the arm and shoulder."

Transactions
After butting heads with manager Burt Shotton, Reiser asked Branch Rickey to be traded. He was dealt to the Braves.

All-Star Selections
1941 NL
1942 NL
1946 NL

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