Pee Wee Reese 1984 Hall of Fame Induction Speech

The captain of the dominating Dodgers teams of the 1950s, scrappy Pee Wee Reese was a quiet force both on the field and in the clubhouse. An outstanding defensive player, he led the National League in putouts four times, double plays twice and fielding percentage and assists once each. For almost a decade, he and Jackie Robinson formed one of baseball's top double-play combinations. Reese led Brooklyn to seven pennants in his 16 seasons, his final year coming in Los Angeles, and never missed an inning of the seven World Series in which he participated.
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The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is home to the greatest stars and the history of the game. Located in scenic Cooperstown, New York, the Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the sport's history, honoring excellence within the game, and connecting generations through baseball.

[@smokefree08]

One of the few men who saw Jackie Robinson as his equal and treated him like a human being. A real man. RIP

[@LONEWOLF..314-S-T-L]

SALUTE 🫡

[@albertcampos959]

And that...is what pure class looks like.

[@tommyfrasson3552]

An amazing legend. My favorite shortstop of all time.

[@seanhanley9942]

Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese really decent dude.

[@olibearbrowns6748]

Pee Wee is an inspiration not only as a sportsman but a person of integrity and character. RIP Pee Wee.

[@StephenLuke]

RIP Pee Wee Reese (1918-1999)

[@jimgould2541]

My boyhood hero

[@darioespino2063]

Hall of Famer from the day he was born. God Bless you Pee Wee Reese. Long live the Brooklyn Dodgers. Love no live Ebbets Field.

[@ericnate7112]

We’re still around we’re just in LA now doesn’t matter we’re still the good old dodgers top 5 franchise all time.....

[@billhaywood3503]

@@ericnate7112 nope

[@ericnate7112]

@@billhaywood3503 what you mean no ??? Tf dodgers are a top 3 franchise all time

[@lorenzodemedici1]

One of the boys of summer!

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

And with the recent passing of Carl Erskine, the only one left of The Boys Of Summer, is Sandy Koufax.

[@robcousins231]

Long live the Brooklyn Dodgers!

[@ericnate7112]

Hey man we’re still around just in LA same uniform same designs we’re the same team from the 40’s 50’s

[@weasel2173]

Dorothy Reese is perhaps the biggest unsung hero. She could have pushed him one way or the other when Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers. I'm glad she pushed him the right way.

[@neutravj7338]

Found out that I’m related to him a couple weeks ago, my grandpa’s uncle on my fathers side and my grandpa used to live with him in Louisville Kentucky. Very interesting that him and Jackie Robinson had a strong bond.

[@kevinmiller6380]

Pee Wee Reese-a real class act.

[@patrickwalsh279]

A great, classy speech from a great man of dignity and decency.

[@servantrichardson]

One of my all-time favorites.

[@ericnate7112]

Yeah Go dodgers!!!!

[@acousticshadow4032]

Great speech. I wasn't sure he belonged in the HOF, but am now.

[@DustyB]

42 years

[@garrettglenn4443]

Happy birthday pee wee!

[@sharkticon1176]

I am related to pee wee Rees rip great cuz

[@quintinpettway3592]

Fr

[@ayo_ocho8861]

42 year married at the time and he was a huge support to guy wear number 42 coincidence you decide

[@amberpaigejames9054]

Class-act, Harold Henry Reese from Louisville, Kentucky :)

[@cjay6664]

This guy is the reason I played shortstop my whole life

[@loissimmons109]

Not only was he a great defensive player (among other things, he was death to popups), he was the captain of the team for many years and a great clutch player. He could steal bases (led the NL in 1952 with 30) and when the situation called for it could hit the ball out of the park. He led the NL in runs in 1949 and in walks in 1947. So while he may not have had the highest batting average in the Hall of Fame, he knew how to work his way on base. Batting second in the lineup for much of his career, he was an excellent bunter and in executing the hit and run. And now its time to bring Gil Hodges into the Hall of Fame. In fact, it is long overdue. He was by far the best first baseman in baseball in his era (basically 1948-59) and the only challenge to that was when the Cardinals moved Stan Musial from outfield to first base for part of that time (the only years he started even as many as 120 games at first base in a season and saw no significant time in the outfield was in 1957-58). Gil was a strong, calm team leader highly respected by his teammates. And even the umpires respected him as knowing the rule book inside and out. He was not only the best fielding first baseman of his time by far (he won a Gold Glove in 1957-59, his last three years as a starter and the first three years the award was given out), he was also the most consistent slugger. Only two players drove in over 1000 runs in the 1950's: Hodges and teammate Duke Snider. He was named to eight All-Star teams (1949-55, 57), at one time the NL career leader in grand slam homers and the NL right-handed batter with the most career home runs. He is one of only a handful of players to hit four home runs in a game. He leads all major league first basemen in the 1950's in home runs (310), games (1477), at bats (5313), runs (890), hits (1491), RBI's (1001), total bases (2733) and extra base hits (585). He was a starter on six NL pennant winners including two World Championship teams. And there were also three second place finishes during his years as a starter, two of which were not decided until the final game of the season. He homered in each of his last four World Series, batting .364, .292, .304 and .391. He drove in the only two runs of the 7th game of the 1955 World Series when the Dodgers won their first World Championship. And it was Reese and Hodges who combined for the final out of that game. Now its time to combine them as HOF members. Some claim he doesn't deserve the Hall of Fame because his numbers and some other items don't compare favorably with other inductees. But that's not how it's supposed to work. The conditions during each era are different. How do you leave out the best player by far at his position and one of the best players at any position during his 12 years as a starter? His HOF teammates Duke Snider and Roy Campanella, among others who are highly respected baseball scene observers, are quoted as saying he belongs there. And that's good enough for me. I'll never forget a cartoon in Sports Magazine at the beginning of the 1958 baseball season. It showed a despondent youngster in front of a blank television screen, representing that the Dodgers would no longer be televised in Brooklyn. Suddenly the youngster gets an inspiration. In the final panel, he is sitting in front of his television again. Taped to the TV screen is a picture of Gil Hodges. Of all the great Dodger players, that was who the cartoonist chose as the symbol of the team. And its been said that Brooklyn fans, perhaps the most knowledgeable in baseball, booed Pee Wee, Duke, Campy, Jackie, Newcombe, Furillo and all the rest ... except that they never booed Hodges.

[@michaelward9880]

Hodges was my dad's favorite player as well. He played 1st all through high school and American Legion. Played some semi pro as well. He even joined the Marine Corps because Gil served in the Corps during WW2 and made a career out of it. Dad was a Brooklyn and LA Dodger fan as well as a Gil Hodges fan. He was a real student of the game and really appreciated the skill and talent of the Dodgers. Myself, I gave up following MLB for many years now. Today's players seem like spoiled, overpaid, narcissistic jerks without any class or humility. Yes, I think Gil Hodges needs to join his teammates in the HOF.

[@kevinmiller6380]

@@michaelward9880 He's finally in. It's just too bad they waited until fifty years after he died to induct him into the Hall Of Fame.

[@davidbergin4223]

In the summer of 1967 I saw Pee Wee in Minneapolis, MN. He’d just participated in the broadcast of the Twins v. The White Sox. I really don’t remember who won that game, I do remember getting Pee Wee’s autograph. Think I was the last one of the kids to get one from him. While I don’t remember who won that game, I do remember Pee Wee saying to us, “Keep hustling kids, just keep hustling.” That was a great day for an 11-year-old kid.

[@benjaminmartinezjr110]

Thank god I’m a dodger man born and bred I was a champion baby fan just didn’t know it yet , in 88 I learned what it felt like to be a champion fan and in 20 now at age 42 I’m still in love with the red white and the blue.!! Here’s to the next time the good guys win The King Ring again!!

[@jamielleanderson33]

Greatest Shortstop Of All Time

[@3WordsCollector]

One of the greatest Kentuckians to ever live

[@johnhorne2012]

Awesome! I just sent this out to all my baseball pals!...God Bless ya!..........

[@LONEWOLF..314-S-T-L]

TEAM MATE WHO FIRST TREATED .. JACKIE ROBINSON LIKE A HUMAN BEING AND TEAM MATE ... THROUGH ALL ADVERSITY .... SALUTE 🫡

[@joshuanich06]

nice

[@kevinmiller1985]

I noticed they had a shot of Don Drysdale in the audienc e, but nothing of Vin Scully. Was he even there? Or any o f his other Dodger teammat es?

[@8avexp]

Drysdale was inducted on that same day.

[@johnwehrly402]

oh henry

[@Knightfall3000]

“1”

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

We all know about the debate over who was the better centerfielder, Mays, Mantle or Snider. But, who was the better shortstop, Reese or Rizzuto?

[@GiftHorse123]

My Father, who was called back to serve aboard the USS Wasp during the Korean War, was stuck in Panama for 6 months and thankfully, didn't have to go to Korea. While in Panama, he was telling the locals that he was Pee Wee Reese and signed autographs. Probably not a good idea, since if they found out, they probably would have killed him.

[@kristinareese7081]

I'm related to him he's my grandpa's friend

[@peanutsmcgonnagle2458]

No mention of Dizzy???

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

Dizzy Dean never played for the Dodgers.

[@johnwehrly402]

8 ball and marijuana joint

[@johnwehrly402]

revenge mail

[@MalEvansUSA]

He was a racist and should never have been in hall of fame

[@GhostWeekly]

how was he racist?

[@MalEvansUSA]

@@GhostWeekly he was mean to Jackie. He once slapped Rachel Robinson in a drunken stupor

[@GhostWeekly]

@@MalEvansUSA source because I looked it up and I ain't find nothing

[@MalEvansUSA]

@@stuartperry1047 he was racist. From Kentucky.

[@MalEvansUSA]

@@stuartperry1047 he was a member of the kkkk. Peee wee wasn’t a close friend. He never attended the funeral of Jackie’s son or Jackie himself

[@seamusosullivan6128]

Why is he a hall of famer. His numbers are awful.

[@jaquillahillahfoodstamps]

Seamus O'Sullivan the game was a lot different back then

[@tigibus7]

Seamus O'Sullivan - When you don't know what you're talking about, no one will notice if you just keep your mouth shut. You can't just judge a player on his cold numbers, which may be affected by numerous variables. It is well-recognized that Pee Wee was one of the most valuable leaders and players of his day by almost anyone who ever saw him play. Check out the testimony of those who chronicled him, and those who played with and against him. Numbers are a good component in making a judgement, but definitely not the entire basis for doing so.

[@greenmanlll]

Probably cuz he stuck up for jackie

[@kevinmiller6380]

@@greenmanlll Are you suggesting Pee Wee was stuck up? 😄😄😄😄😄😄. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[@ericnate7112]

Bro he played with the LA dodgers/Brooklyn dodgers in the 40’s and 50’s that was a long time ago baseball was different back then.