Ken Reitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Reitz |
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: June 24, 1951 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| Died: March 31, 2021 (aged 69) St. Charles, Missouri, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 5, 1972, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 3, 1982, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .260 | ||
| Home runs | 68 | ||
| Runs batted in | 548 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ken Reitz (born June 24, 1951 – died March 31, 2021) was an American baseball player. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons.
He was known by the nickname "Zamboni". Ken played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1972 to 1982. He won a special award called the Gold Glove Award in 1975. He was also chosen to be an All-Star player in 1980.
Ken Reitz was an amazing fielder. He set a record for third basemen in the National League. He led the league in fielding percentage six times, which means he was very good at catching and throwing the ball without making mistakes.
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Ken's Early Life
Ken Reitz was born in San Francisco, California, on June 24, 1951. He went to Jefferson High School in a nearby town called Daly City.
After high school, the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team chose him in the 1969 baseball draft. This meant they wanted him to play for their team.
Playing Professional Baseball
Ken Reitz started his baseball journey in the minor leagues. He played there for four seasons, from 1969 to 1972.
Making His MLB Debut
Ken made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 5, 1972. He was 21 years old. In his very first game, he got two hits and scored two runs. His team, the St. Louis Cardinals, won the game 5-3 against the Montreal Expos.
The next year, Ken became the Cardinals' main third baseman. He took over from another famous player, Joe Torre. Joe Torre then moved to play first base.
The "Zamboni" Nickname
Ken Reitz earned the nickname "Zamboni" because he was so good at fielding. A Zamboni is a machine that smooths ice. Ken was like that machine on the baseball field. He was excellent at scooping up ground balls, especially on the artificial turf at Busch Memorial Stadium.
He was the best third baseman in the National League for fielding in 1973 and 1974. In 1975, he won the Gold Glove Award. This award goes to the best defensive player at each position.
Trades and Records
After the 1975 season, Ken was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He played for his hometown team for just one year.
In 1976, he was traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals. He continued to be a top fielder. He led the National League in fielding percentage again in 1977, 1978, and 1980.
Ken also set a record for making the fewest errors at third base. In 1977, he made only 9 errors, and in 1980, he made even fewer, with just 8 errors. In 1980, he was chosen to play in the MLB All-Star Game.
Later in 1980, Ken was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He led the National League in fielding percentage for a sixth time in 1981. He played his final major league game on June 3, 1982, for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Career Highlights
During his career, Ken Reitz played in 1344 games played. He had a batting average of .260. He hit 68 home runs and had 548 runs batted in (RBIs).
He had a great start to the 1980 season, hitting very well. He finished that season with a .270 batting average. Ken was also good at driving in runs. In his first five full seasons, his RBI numbers kept getting better each year. In 1977, he hit a career-high 17 home runs.
Ken Reitz was part of a very long baseball game on September 11, 1974. His team, the Cardinals, was playing the New York Mets. In the ninth inning, Ken hit a home run that tied the game and sent it into extra innings. The game lasted an amazing 25 innings! The Cardinals finally won in the 25th inning.
After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Ken Reitz still stayed involved with the Cardinals. He helped with promotional events, like the Cardinals Caravan, where players meet fans. He also enjoyed playing golf and took part in celebrity golf tournaments.
Ken Reitz passed away on March 31, 2021, at the age of 69. He is remembered by his daughter, son, and six grandchildren.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career assists as a third baseman leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career games played as a third baseman leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a third baseman leaders
- List of people from San Francisco
- St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders
