Allie Reynolds ­ A Proud Warrior

Robert Palazzo

Much has already been written about one of the best pitchers ever to take the mound for the New York Yankees, Allie Reynolds. It is generally known that he was part Native American, that his nicknames were Wahoo, Chief, and Super Chief (when such nicknames were not viewed as derogatory put-downs of an entire race of people). He came to the Yankees in 1947 from the Cleveland (here we go again) Indians. About him Casey Stengel once said, "Reynolds is two ways great, which is starting and relieving, which no one can do like him. He has guts and his courage is simply tremendous." 

Reynolds made 309 starts in his career and 125 relief appearances. Of his 182 lifetime victories, 36 came in relief. He excelled in the World Series while with the Yanks, compiling a pitching record of 7-2, 4 saves and an ERA of 2.79. In the 1952 World Series against the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn Dodgers, he won 2 games, saved another and struck out 18 batters in 20 innings. A year earlier, in 1951, he won the Hitchcock Belt for top professional athlete of the year. He had another accomplishment in 1951 which I'll get to a bit later. Although Whitey Ford is considered the all-time ace of the Yankee rotation with his .690 (236-106) winning percentage, Reynolds' eight years with the Yanks resulted in a .686 (131-60) winning percentage.  

It may not be as widely known, but Joe DiMaggio apparently was instrumental in having Reynolds join the Yankees. Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck offered Yankee president Larry MacPhail a choice of two starters in exchange for All-Star second baseman Joe "Flash" Gordon. It has been reported that DiMag called MacPhail aside and said, "I'm a fastball hitter and he (Reynolds) can buzz one by me any time he has a mind to."  

Reynolds retired after the 1954 season, going out in grand fashion with a 13-4 record and a 3.32 ERA. The Yanks didn't make it to the World Series that year. Prior to retiring, though, Reynolds left his mark by playing an instrumental part in negotiating and structuring the players pension fund. 

There appears to be some confusion concerning certain aspects of his life and career. It has been reported at various times by various sources that: 

1. Reynolds was part Creek Indian; Reynolds was part Cherokee (I suppose both can be correct)

2. The Yankees were given a choice of Reynolds or Red Embree; they were given a choice of Reynolds or Steve Gromeck

3. In the September, 28, 1951 no-hitter he had eight strikeouts; he had nine strikeouts.

4. An article in the NY Post after his death refers to him dying shortly before midnight, Monday December 25 (Christmas); in the lifetime stats graphic that accompanied the article, it said he died Tuesday. In another account, it said he died two days after Christmas, December 1995 (that was a Wednesday).

One thing is for sure ­ he was a money pitcher who would probably be in the Baseball Hall of Fame if it weren't for all those relief appearances. But as he often said when asked about that, it was about winning, not individual awards. 

Well, as I mentioned, he did receive an individual award in 1951, and it was partly for an amazing accomplishment ­ in that year, he pitched two no-hitters. The second came on September 28, 1951 and provided a classic confrontation between, interestingly, a catcher and a pop up foul ball. The catcher was Yogi Berra and the ball was hit by Ted Williams. I grew up hearing about the game quite often, since my dad was sitting behind home plate watching the game that day.

As my dad would recall, Reynolds had breezed through the Red Sox line up and had one last out to register in the ninth. As fate would have it, Ted Williams stood between Reynolds and baseball immortality. Williams fouled off a pitch, and Yogi threw off his mask in anticipation, set himself, and dropped the ball. After providing comfort to Yogi (who should instead have been providing comfort Reynolds at that moment), Reynolds returned to the mound. Williams positioned himself at the plate, Yogi behind the plate. Again, Williams hit a high foul ball behind home plate. Again, Berra tossed his mask aside and stood there waiting for the ball (it must have seemed like an eternity). This time the ball landed in his mitt. Squeezing the ball, he leaped in the air and ran to the mound to embrace Reynolds.

Following are some interesting stats from that game that I found from the inning by inning account of the game:
* There were six ground outs in the game by the Red Sox.
* The Red Sox left three on base and no Red Sox batter reached second base.
* There were seven fly outs hit to the outfield, with three coming in the eighth (all to Yankee right fielder Hank Bauer). Reynolds was probably beginning to tire at that point and was getting his ball up in the strike zone.
* Reynolds walked four batters.
* Reynolds struck out nine batters. Five went down swinging; four were looking.
* There was one double play turned by the Yankees.
* Reynolds reached base twice during the game (remember, pitchers used to bat in the American League), once on a fielder's choice and again on an error.
* Mickey Mantle did not play in the game (1951 was his rookie year).
* Joe DiMaggio did play and hit a single (it was his last year in the majors); his brother Dom was on the field for the Red Sox.
* The Yanks made no substitutions during the game.
* The game lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes.
* No attendance figures are available.
* It was the first game of a twin bill (the Yanks captured the pennant with a victory in the second game).
* The Yanks made one error ­ yep, Yogi's dropped ball in the ninth.

Several additional lesser known facts about Reynolds:
* He was diabetic during his entire career.
* The Yankees won the American League pennant every year his was a member of the team (1947-1954) with the exception of 1948 and 1954 (during which his old team, the Cleveland Indians, won it).
* Reynolds' first no-hitter in 1951 was thrown against his former teammates, the Cleveland Indians and Bob Feller (who pitched some no-hitters of his own).
 
What Allie Reynolds started on the mound, he usually finished or wrapped up. He also was there the wrap up games in relief for his teammates. You might say that Allie was the original Reynolds wrap. Reynolds truly was the "Best Wrap Around".