Pee Wee Reese
Harold Henry " Pee Wee " Reese ( born July 23, 1918 in Ekron; † August 14, 1999 in Louisville ) was an American baseball player of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball. The shortstop with the Dodgers won the World Series in 1955, was ten time All -Star and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1984. In addition to his athletic merits Reese is known for its respectful treatment of teammate Jackie Robinson, the first African American in MLB.
Career
Reese earned his nickname " Pee Wee " ( dt: small marble ) by, as he possessed as a child on great talent in the game of marbles. In his youth he was considered one of the most talented shortstops in Kentucky, so wanted to include in their pro team him the Boston Red Sox. But as the aging Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin occupied the position, he vetoed and reached that Reese was transferred for U.S. $ 35,000 to the Brooklyn Dodgers. This is considered one of the greatest bargains in the history of the Dodgers.
After Reese had done his military service, he established himself as one of the most versatile shortstops of his generation. Although contemporaries such as Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter and Willie Mays were always judged a little higher, Reese landed regularly in the top 10 " Most Valuable Player " rankings ( choice the most valuable player). Offensively Reese was typically for 150 hits, 90 runs, 70 runs batted in, 20 steals and a batting average of .270 fine, and on the defensive, he was considered one of the best double-play players. Reese reached with the Dodgers to the World Series seven times and won once ( 1955).
Off the pitch Reese is known for his commitment against racial segregation. When the Dodgers in 1947 Jackie Robinson undertook the first blacks in MLB, Robinson had to endure many racist insults. The first Season Reese went to Robinson, took him in his arms and cheered him up - which was a unheard of back then. Robinson and Reese were the most feared Second Base / Shortstop - combinations of the 1950s. Reese played his actions down later by referring to his role as captain of the team, but for Robinson and many other African American Reese was a hero.
After Reese ended his career, the Dodgers pulled his jersey number 1 back forever. After his career Reese worked at the company Hillerich & Bradsby.
Private life
Reese married in 1942 his wife Dottie. They had two children and remained until his death a couple.
Reese's father Carl was a detective and in the still segregated Kentucky an opponent of apartheid. When he was a child, Carl Reese led him to a tree where several blacks were lynched, and warned him of the consequences of racism. This meant that Reese his life Black respected, although he " never had the chance " had in Kentucky to get to know one African- American Jackie Robinson was his statement after "the first black man in life, which he shook the hand ".
"You can hate a man for many things, but not for his skin color. "