by Jerry Reuss
About the Author
Since his retirement as an active player, Jerry Reuss has worked in broadcasting as a color analyst for ESPN, the Anaheim Angels, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fig. 1. I loved that uniform. I would have worn it to church if Dad had let me. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 2. Our Overland team was one of many from Missouri and Illinois that were invited to participate in of one of four games played simultaneously in the outfield grass at Busch Stadium 1 in July 1960. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 3. Giving my all for the Ritenour Huskies during my senior year in high school. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 4. Ritenour won the Missouri State High School Baseball Cham- pionship in 1966 and 1967. We decided to “appropriate” the banner since we were the state champs! Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 5. The Cardinals brought me to St. Petersburg during spring break of 1968. The rest of me eventually grew into those size 13 spikes. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 6. Reading the contents of this letter always brings a smile to my face. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 7. If you look closely, you can see the mustache that led to my trade to Houston. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 8. Danny Murtaugh and I share a lighter moment prior to opening of the 1974 League Championship Series at Three Rivers Stadium. Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Fig. 9. Jim Rooker, Bruce Kison, myself, and Ken Brett pose during a moment of relative sanity. One of us did something every day that made the others laugh. Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Fig. 10. Willie Stargell was a Hall of Fame man long before he was a Hall of Fame player. Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Fig. 11. Visiting with Sandy Koufax during spring-training stretching. When Sandy spoke, I stopped and listened. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 12. The scoreboard tells the story as I deliver what turned out to be the final pitch of my no-hitter at Candlestick Park against the Giants. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 13. Dodger owner Peter O’Malley gave me this beautiful big-screen tv for pitching the no-hitter. It was too large for the house, so it ended up in Lasorda’s office for the team to enjoy. I’m shaking hands with Steve Yeager, who caught the game. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 14. It was Old-Timers Day at Dodger Stadium in July 1980. What an honor it was to wear the same uniform as both Sandy and Don Drysdale. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 15. Fans think that former teammate Phil Garner and I were reviewing the American League hitters before I faced them in the 1980 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. Actually, we were talking about the huge big-screen tv above the left-field bleachers that made its debut that night. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 16. Celebrating with Pete Guerrero and Derrel Thomas after the Dodgers beat the Houston Astros three straight games at Dodger Stadium to advance to the League Championship Series against Montreal. Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes exchange hugs to our right. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea.
Fig. 17. Defeating the Yankees in Game Five of the 1981 World Series was my greatest thrill as a player. At least it was until we beat the Yanks in New York to be crowned world champs three days later. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 18. What happens when the bubbly and the beer run out during a World Series celebration? A food fight starts! I just gave Reggie Smith a face full of whatever was in my hand. Mike Scioscia, who started the mess, sneaks a peek behind me. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 19. After a parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, I address a crowd of more than seventy-five thousand Dodgers fans (give or take a few) from the steps of city hall. It appears that Rick Monday and Steve Garvey were really into my speech! Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 20. Four days after winning the World Series, Steve Yeager, Rick Monday, Jay Johnstone, and I found ourselves inside the world-famous Capitol Records recording studio laying down some tasty tracks. Within a week the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” sang “We Are the Champions” on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and, for good measure, Solid Gold. Surprisingly, every once in a while, we were on key! Courtesy of Neal Preston.
Fig. 21. Seconds before we go on air, legendary Dodger broadcaster, Vin Scully awaits his cue as I rehearse some witty ad-libs! Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 22. Even when I wasn’t pitching, I did whatever I could to help the Dodgers win. In this case I donned the ground-crew garb and dragged the infield. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 23. When Steve Garvey returned to Dodger Stadium the first time after joining the Padres, he planted a big kiss on my cheek. I told him that’s as far as we would go unless I got flowers, chocolates, and dinner. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea.
Fig. 24. Jay Johnstone was the perfect partner in crime. Once while standing behind home plate before a game at Wrigley Field, a group of twenty or thirty kids lined up in front of us and started singing the national anthem. With nowhere to go we removed our hats and sang with them. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 25. After a long spring-training workout, Tom Lasorda relaxed in the whirlpool. While he was telling me how wonderful the water was, I decided to find out for myself. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 26. Many times when Lasorda told the home-plate umpire to “bring in the right-hander,” I wanted to fight him. This time we were just having fun. Steve Howe observes in amusement. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 27. Orel Hershiser adds the finishing touches to this pie in my face. No idea who did it. No doubt it was well deserved. Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers LLC.
Fig. 28. I was a September call-up in 1969 and again in 1990. I’m ready to deliver a pitch in my final game. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 29. Pirates manager Jim Leyland shakes my hand while catcher Don Slaught watches as I hear “Bring in the right-hander” for the final time. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.
Fig. 30. This was the message posted on the scoreboard at Three Rivers Stadium as I stepped out of the dugout for a curtain call. My thanks to the Pirates for the classy acknowledgment. Courtesy of Jerry Reuss.