Page 6 - Boca ViewPointe - April '22

Page 6, Viewpointe April 2022
Pistol Pete Reiser

By William A. Gralnick It is hard to know which list is more staggering, the list of The second hit, referred to up top, was the one that almost
his stats or the list of his injuries. Let’s start with Reiser the garnered him the dubious distinction of becoming the second
Every month I write ballplayer. Reiser was the son of a reputedly very good semi- major player to die on the field. He was again knocked
a happy birthday article pro pitcher, hitting baseballs whenever he wasn’t shooting unconscious. It became one of the 11 times he was carried from
about the baseball heroes his cap pistols. A lefty at the plate, he could hit and run like a field on a stretcher. In the locker room, a priest administered
of my famous and infamous the wind. He did both with great abandon. And Reiser had the last rites. Oh yes, he caught that ball too. Each injury and
Brooklyn Bums. This a right arm like a rifle. his response was more amazing than the last. Like this one. He
month’s choice is a person who made it “in spite.” In spite In 861 games, he went to the plate 2,662 times, scored chased a fly ball through a hedge that fronted a 10-foot-deep
of what? The fact that he played the outfield walls like he 473 runs, knocked in 368 runners with 786 hits. He walked drainage ditch. He ripped apart his right shoulder, his throwing
was in bumper cars at Coney Island. about every 3rd time at the plate but struck about the same arm. So, what did he do? He stitched together a new glove or
So, of the several choices of “Birthday Boy” from the number of times. He hit 58 dingers and stole 87 bases. He two and taught himself to throw left-handed!
Boys of Summer and earlier, there is only one choice to was tops in the league twice with steals and ran with such Reiser started in professional baseball at age 15. He was too
pick. When the choice was known for breaking parts of abandon that he fractured his leg sliding into second base in young to sign a contract but old enough to have displayed the
his body crashing into outfield walls, when it was strongly one game. Remember, this man only played ten years with talent that tells an organization, “Don’t lose this kid.” So, for
suggested that he be confined to playing the infield, which a three-year military hiatus and was rarely playing at 100% three years, he was the team driver. With ripped shoulder muscles
he was good at, to keep him in one piece, when one carries because of injuries. and tendons, mangled legs, fractured skulls, dislocated knees,
a nickname into the major leagues given in child because In 1941, he was always the first man off the bench in his Reiser didn’t play long enough and later on well enough to make
of his love of six-shooters, when one is the only player to debut year. It wasn’t long before he was a sensation because of his HOF promise come true. Altogether, he only made it to age
be given the last rites during a game as a result of nearly his play. He hit .343. His runs scored, doubles, and triples all 61. Yet one thing that stands out about Pistol Pete Reiser-- you
fracturing his skull upon hitting unpadded outfield walls… were tops in the league. Only three others had done that, and all couldn’t find anyone, player, fan, officials in management who
well, that’s gotta be your guy. are Hall of Famers. He hit an inside-the-park grand slam that had a bad word to say about him. He was a Catholic mensch,
Reiser had been known as the “perfect” ballplayer (Lord was the driving force in the Dodgers winning the pennant for and that’s enough to earn his spot as March’s Birthday Boy.
only knows why – he was held together by chewing gum the first time since 1920. But the injuries came for him, mostly Thanks to Wikipedia and crack columnist and researcher
and baling wire), the best player hands down of his era, thanks to outfield walls being concrete, not padded, and some Anthony Castrovince for helping me bring Pete Reiser back to
and one of the best ever to play the game of baseball. He outfields being obstacle courses with flagpoles and signs on the life. “Sa-lute” to them, and here’s to you Pistol Pete Reiser.
played ten years plus three years playing in the Army for field. Reiser, who crowded the plate, was knocked senseless
bloated ego officers who expected that Reiser would make twice. There were two spectacular crashes in the outfield. The Columnist and author Bill Gralnick was born and raised
them legends in military baseball. One game, he chased a first one, with the fans screaming, “Watch Out! Watch Out!,” in Brooklyn, NY. He is writing a three-part humorous memoir.
fly ball downhill in the outfield, tripped, rolled down the knocked him stupid. He fell to the turf, blood gushing from The first is “The War of the Itchy Balls and Other Tales from
hill, and separated his shoulder. Just another day in the his nose. Yet he caught and held the ball and, yes, managed to Brooklyn.” Just published is the sequel, “George Washing Didn’t
game for Pistol Pete. He caught the ball. struggle to his feet to throw it in, attempting to stop the advancing Sleep Here.” Both are available on Amazon. You can find his
Enos Slaughter. Then he passed out cold. writing at https://www.williamgralnickauthor.com. 

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