Allie Reynolds
| Birthdate | 02/10/1917 |
| Death Date | 12/26/1994 |
| Debut Year | 1942 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Indians, Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
Six times an All Star and World Series champion, Allie Reynolds has appeared on the Veterans Committee ballot multiple times to no avail.
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Allie Reynolds was an All Star and World Series champion in six seasons
Allie Reynolds was an All Star and World Series champion in six seasons
Known for his time in New York, Allie Reynolds started his career in Cleveland. While with the Indians he pitched in 139 games, starting 100 and finishing 27. Early evidence of his versatility is demonstrated by his 41 complete games, 9 shutouts and 8 saves. Though the game wasn’t played because of World War II, Reynold made the All Star team in 1945
The 1946 trade straight up for eventual Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Gordon changed Reynolds life. In his first six years with the Yankees Reynolds won at least 16 games each season. Overall he was the pitcher of record in 131 wins for New York.
In Reynolds’ first season in New York in 1947, he won 19 games. The Yankees beat Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers in the World Series. He followed it up with a 16-win campaign in ’48. Starting in 1949, Reynolds and the Yankees reeled off five straight championship seasons. During that run Reynolds went 83-41.
His finest season came in 1952 when he went 20-8. Reynolds led the league in ERA, strikeouts, and shutouts to finish second in MVP balloting.
He finished his career in 1954 with an All Star season. For his career Reynolds went 182-107 with a 3.30 ERA.
The first of Allie Reynolds' All Star appearances came in 1949
The first of Allie Reynolds' All Star appearances came in 1949
Allie Reynolds was a solid if unspectacular pitcher in his first four full big league seasons with the Indians. The right-hander was barely over the break-even mark with a 51-47 record.
In October of ’46, Cleveland shipped him to New York in exchange for Yankee second baseman Joe Gordon. That’s when everything changed.
Over his final 8 years – all in New York – Reynolds won 131 games against just 60 losses. In five of those seasons he received consideration in MVP balloting, finishing in the top-3 twice.
Starting in 1949, he reeled off 5 All Star campaigns in his last six big league seasons. In ’49 he established himself as a big game hurler when he got the ball for Game 1 of the Fall Classic.
Facing the Brooklyn Dodger lineup littered with 5 Hall of Fame hitters, he held the Bums to just two hits. The Yankees triumphed 4-games-to-1.
In the collection is this government postcard signed by Reynolds in spring training of the ’49 season.
Government postcards give context to when and where the piece was signed
Government postcards give context to when and where the piece was signed
Shown here is the back of the postcard autographed by Allie Reynolds. Such pieces lend great context to where and when they were signed.
Notice the postmark from the Yankees spring training city of St. Petersburg, Florida on March 26, 1949. Reynolds was gearing up for the year that would feature his first All Star appearance.
That season Super Chief went 17-6 for the World Champion Yankees. In the Fall Classic he was the Game 1 starter and responded by holding the mighty Brooklyn Dodgers to two hits in a 1-0 shutout. Reynolds’ Yanks won the first of five straight World Series titles.
Allie Reynolds was at his best in the World Series
Allie Reynolds was at his best in the World Series
Allie Reynolds had an outstanding 13-year big league career that included six All Star campaigns and six World Series titles.
As as custom at the time, Reynolds was called “Chief” because of his Native American Creek ancestry. His nickname “Super Chief” is a combination of that with a tip of the cap to the Santa Fe Railroad.
In the late 1930s the Super Chief was the flagship of the railroad. Its route was between Hollywood and New York. In MGM’s 1947 movie “The Hucksters”, Clark Gable’s character says, “Only talent agents and kept woman ride the Chief. But the Super Chief is an exclusive club for New York – Hollywood commuters.” The train was elegant and known for its power and speed. It was only natural that the moniker would be applied to Reynolds.
During his time in New York, Reynolds and the Yankees were in the thick of the pennant race every year. He appeared in six World Series. In 15 appearances Reynolds went 7-2 with four saves and a 2.89 ERA. In 26 at bats in the Fall Classic Reynolds hit .308, 145 points over his regular season average. Quite simply, Reynolds was at his best when it mattered most.
In the collection are these two index cards signed by Reynolds. In the index card above Reynolds outlines his World Series accomplishments and signs his name above that. In the second index card Reynolds pens his name above his nickname “Super Chief”.
In 2009, Reynolds fell one vote shy of election to Cooperstown
In 2009, Reynolds fell one vote shy of election to Cooperstown
After waiting the required 5 years since hanging up his spikes, Allie Reynolds appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot. The writers gave him as much as 33.6% of the vote in 1968. That year he finished ahead of future Cooperstown men Arky Vaughan, Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, George Kell, Hal Newhouser, Bob Lemon, and Bobby Doerr.
The closest Reynolds got to a plaque was in 2009. That year he received 8 votes, just one shy of the required 75% from the Veterans Committee. He has since appeared in both 2011 and 2012 on the Golden Era Committee ballot.
With today’s advanced metrics it is unlikely Reynolds will ever receive baseball’s highest honor.
Shown here is a 1962 Fleer card autographed by the two-time AL strikeout leader. According to Baseball-Reference.com’s similarity scores, the two pitchers most similar to Reynolds are both in the Hall of Fame — Lefty Gomez and former Cleveland teammate Lemon.
Reynolds’ fate now rests solely in the hands of the Veterans Committee.
