Pee Wee Reese was one of the most beloved and respected players in baseball history. He was the captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who won their only World Series title in 1955, and a Hall of Famer who played with grace and skill for 16 seasons. He was also a pioneer of racial integration, as he befriended and supported Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the major leagues, in the face of hostility and prejudice.
But how did Pee Wee Reese die? What was the cause of his death? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and pay tribute to the life and career of Pee Wee Reese.
Early Life and Career
Pee Wee Reese’s real name was Harold Henry Reese. He was born on July 23, 1918, in Ekron, Kentucky. He got his nickname from his childhood, as he was a champion marbles player (a “pee wee” is a small marble). He moved to Louisville when he was eight years old, and played baseball in high school and in a church league.
He was signed by the minor league Louisville Colonels in 1935, and impressed the Boston Red Sox farm director, who recommended that the Red Sox buy the team. However, the Red Sox manager, Joe Cronin, who was also the shortstop, saw Reese as a threat to his position and downplayed his talent. As a result, Reese was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 for $35,000 and four players.
Reese made his major league debut in 1940, and quickly established himself as a star shortstop. He was an excellent fielder, with a strong arm and quick reflexes. He was also a good hitter, with a career batting average of .269 and 2,170 hits. He led the National League in stolen bases in 1952, with 30. He was selected to 10 All-Star teams, and won two World Series championships (1955 and 1959).
Reese missed three seasons (1943-1945) due to serving in the Navy during World War II. He returned to the Dodgers in 1946, and became their captain and leader. He was known for his calm demeanor, his clutch performance, and his loyalty to his teammates.
Friendship with Jackie Robinson
One of Reese’s most notable teammates was Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947. Robinson faced tremendous hostility and discrimination from fans, opponents, and even some of his own teammates. Reese, however, welcomed Robinson with open arms and became his friend and ally.
Reese famously showed his support for Robinson during a game in Cincinnati in 1947, when he walked over to him on the field and put his arm around his shoulder, silencing the racist taunts from the crowd. This gesture was seen as a symbol of solidarity and acceptance, and helped ease Robinson’s integration into the game.
Reese and Robinson remained close friends until Robinson’s death in 1972. They played golf and tennis together on the road, and shared their views on civil rights and social justice. Reese once said of Robinson: “He had more courage than any man I ever saw play baseball.”
Death and Legacy
Reese retired from playing after the 1958 season, when the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. He then became a broadcaster for CBS and NBC, covering baseball games for more than 20 years. He also served as a coach for the Dodgers in 1960.
Reese died on August 14, 1999, at his home in Louisville, Kentucky. The cause of death was not immediately known. He had overcome prostate cancer years ago, but had undergone radiation treatment for lung cancer in March 1997 after doctors removed a malignant tumor. He also had suffered from a broken hip.
Reese was survived by his wife Dorothy Walton Reese (whom he married in 1942), two children (Mark Reese and Barbara Reese), six grandchildren (including former major league pitcher Jim Bruske), and two great-grandchildren.
Reese was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984 by the Veterans Committee. His number 1 jersey was retired by the Dodgers in 1984 as well. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest shortstops of all time, and one of the most influential figures in baseball history.
Reese’s friendship with Robinson is commemorated by a statue outside MCU Park in Brooklyn, which depicts their famous embrace on the field. The statue bears an inscription that reads: “This monument honors Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese: teammates, friends, and men of courage who helped change the world.”
