Jerry Reuss played over 22 ML seasons, threw no-hitter

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Jerry Reuss 1990 Topps baseball card

Young Jerry Reuss had only seen one big league outing by April 1970, the previous spring with St. Louis.  But St. Louis manager Red Schoendienst had seen enough to see big things in Reuss' future, according to The Tulsa World.

"If Reuss doesn't hurt his arm, by the time he gets his control down he's going to be a great pitcher," Schoendienst told The World. "There aren't many guys around now who can hit his fastball."

Reuss turned out to be great enough to stick around in the majors over more than two decades. He hit double digits in wins 12 times, made to All-Star teams and he even tossed a no-hitter.

Reuss' career began in 1967, taken by the Cardinals in the second round of the draft out of Ritenour High in St. Louis.

Reuss briefly made AAA Tulsa in 1967, then Tulsa again in 1969. He also got a one-game look at St. Louis. 

He returned to St. Louis for 20 more outings in 1970 and 36 in 1971. He went 14-14 in 1971, with a 4.78 ERA. He then got traded to the Astros after a contract dispute.

After two seasons with Houston, including a 16-13 campaign his second year there, he landed with the Pirates in another trade.

He promptly went 16-11 his first year there and 18-11, with his first All-Star nod, in his second. He stayed with Pittsburgh through 1978, when he joined the Dodgers.

Reuss picked up his second 18-win season and second All-Star selection in 1980 and came in second in the Cy Young voting. He also threw his no-hitter that June, against the Giants.

"It was obviously the greatest thrill of my baseball life," Reuss told UPI afterward. "I began to think about it from the very first inning. Something in my head said maybe tonight's the night."

The next year, Reuss helped the Dodgers to the World Series title. He took the loss in Game 1 of the World Series, but came back and through a complete game in Game 5 for the win.

Reuss continued with the Dodgers into 1987, then continued with multiple teams through 1990. In 1990, he saw four final games with the Pirates, after spending time at AAA Buffalo.

Over 22 seasons, Reuss went 220-191, with a career ERA of 3.64.

As to his longevity, Reuss told The New York Times News Service upon his last call-up to the Pirates, that he just knew he could still pitch.

"I wanted to go out on my own terms," Reuss told The Times. "Not on someone else's terms. It was a matter of dignity. I knew I could still pitch. And I didn't want to end my career with frustration."

Reuss went on to a career in broadcasting, working for the Angels, Dodgers and AAA Las Vegas. He also served as a minor league coach.

In 2014, he published his autobiography, "Bring In the Right-Hander! My Twenty-Two Years in the Major Leagues."

Jerry Reuss 1990 Topps baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,497
Made the Majors:1,429-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,068-68.2%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:580-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

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