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The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) is widely regarded as the top collegiate baseball summer league in the world. Known for its high level of competition, the league showcases the finest talent in wood-bat play.

Over the years, more than a thousand CCBL alumni have reached Major League Baseball, achieving remarkable success. Players from the league have become Rookies of the Year, All-Stars, MVPs, and Hall of Famers.

In 2000, the CCBL established its own Hall of Fame to honor its exceptional players. The inaugural class featured twelve legendary athletes, including eventual Cooperstown man Frank Thomas, along with Thurman Munson, a former Rookie of the Year and AL MVP, and reliever Jeff Reardon.

The tribute to Reardon on the CCBL Hall of Fame website reads in part, “Cotuit Kettleers player 1974-1976. 231 innings, 2.69 ERA. All Star 1985, 1986 Expos, 1988 Twins, 1991 Red Sox. With 367 career saves 2nd on all time list at time of his retirement. Rolaids Reliever of the Decade in 1980s…”

Shown here is a publicity questionnaire filled out by another CCBL Hall of Famer Buck Showalter. At age 21 after the conclusion of his first season as a baseball pro Showalter answers each question. Near the bottom the former Yankee skipper is asked to identify his greatest thrill in baseball. His words reveal his collegiate accomplishments, “Being named 1st team All American for major universities in 1977 and breaking Thurman Munson batting average record in the Cape Cod League”.

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Born on October 1, 1956 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Jeff Reardon enjoyed a long and successful Major League Baseball career. He pitched for seven teams, including the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.

Reardon debuted with the Mets in 1979. He spent three seasons in New York before a trade sent him to the Expos in May 1981. In Montreal, Reardon emerged as a dominant closer, twice representing the club in the All Star Game. By the time he left Canada Reardon held the Expos franchise career record for saves. Forty years later, the mark is still his.

In 1987, Jeff joined the Minnesota Twins and played a pivotal role in their championships season. Reardon’s 31 saves earned him votes in both Cy Young and MVP balloting. Ending the season on a perfect note, Reardon retired the final three Cardinal batters in Game 7 of the World Series to earn the save.

After the ’89 season Reardon signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. In 1990 he was selected to his fourth All Star team. His three seasons in Beantown featured 88 saves. On June 14, 1992 Reardon recorded his 342nd career save to become the majors all-time save leader. Two months later the Red Sox traded him to Atlanta. In 11 appearances for the Braves Reardon went 3-0 with 3 saves and a stingy 1.15 earned run average.

Reardon was signed by the Reds in January of ’93. His closing days over, Jeff appeared in 58 games and recorded 8 saves. In February, 1994, the New York Yankees signed Reardon for what proved to be his final big league season. He posted a 1-0 record with two saves and an 8.38 earned run average before his release on May 6.

Over his 16-season career Reardon pitched 1,132 1/3 innings and won 73 games. At the time of his retirement, his 367 saves stood second all time. The only hurler with more than 20 saves every year from 1982 through 1992, Reardon finished his career with more saves (367) than walks (358).

Shown here is a pair of Topps cards autographed by Jeff Reardon. The one on the right is the 1983 edition with the Expos while the card on the right is from the 1990 Fleer set.

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From 1976-2012 Rolaids sponsored an award recognizing the best relievers in each league. Makers of an over-the-counter antacid medication, Rolaids partnered with Major League Baseball to form a mathematical formula to determine each year’s recipients.

From the award’s inception in 1976 through the 1987 season, pitchers earned two points for each win or save and had a point subtracted for every loss. In 1985 Reardon’s 2-8 record and league-leading 41 saves earned him 78 points and the Rolaids Relief Award.

Over in the American League the Royals Dan Quisenberry earned the nod behind an 8-9 record and AL-leading 37 saves. Quiz and Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera share the distinction of earning the honor a record five times.

Shown above is a 1980 Topps card featuring Royals rookie stars Renie Martin, Bill Paschall, and Quisenberry. Both Martin and Quiz affixed their signatures to this PSA-authenticated piece.

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After finishing 20 games below .500 and in sixth place in 1986, the Minnesota Twins were an unlikely champion in 1987. That magical year included just 85 regular-season wins, at the time the fewest of any World Series champ since baseball expanded to the 162-game schedule in 1961.

One of Minnesota’s key moves heading into the season was the February acquisition of All Star closer Jeff Reardon. The 6’0″, 190-pound right-hander had a major impact on the club. He appeared in 63 games, finished 58, and recorded 8 wins and 31 saves. His performance earned Reardon votes in both Cy Young and MVP balloting.

It was all enough to compel the Twins to an American League Western Division crown. Minnesota was glad they had Rearson in the postseason. After saving two of the Twins four victories in the ALCS against Detroit, Reardon was even better in the Fall Classic.

In Game 2 Minnesota jumped out to a 8-1 lead after six innings. St. Louis mounted a comeback, scoring one in the 7th and two in the 8th. Twins skipper Tom Kelly summoned Reardon in the 9th to shut the door. Less than a dozen pitches later, the Minnesota claimed the victory.

In Games 5 and 6 Reardon combined to toss 2 2/3 scoreless frames. With everything on the line in Game 7, the Cardinals started the scoring with two runs in the second inning. Minnesota responded with single runs in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 8th innings. Down to their last three outs, the Cardinals had their 3, 4, and 5 hitters due up. Kelly again gave Reardon the ball. Eleven pitches later the Twins were champions of baseball.

Shown here are two baseball cards signed by Twins two-time World Series-winning manager Tom Kelly.

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Jeff Reardon was one of baseball’s best save men during his 16-year career. Eleven times he saved 20 or more games. Seven times he had 30+. In three seasons he reached the 40-save plateau.

As his career wound down, Reardon approached Rollie Fingers’ MLB career saves mark. With Boston in 1992 Reardon, Reardon entered the June 14th contest with 341 saves, tied with Fingers. With his team clinging to a 1-0 lead, Red Sox manager Butch Hobson summoned Reardon from the bullpen.

Reardon retired the first two Yankee hitters before allowing a Don Mattingly single. Designated hitter Kevin Maas came up representing the winning run. Reardon quickly got ahead of him. On a 1-2 count with 33,577 fans at Fenway on their feet, Reardon flipped a breaking pitch that Maas waved at for the final out. Reardon pumped his fist before his teammates mobbed him. Here’s a video of the emotional scene.

Reardon now stood alone as the game’s most prolific closer.

The letter above is written by Fingers, the man Reardon overtook for the top saves spot. Fingers writes what it means to him to be in the Hall of Fame.

The handwritten letter reads in part, “I sit at induction ceremonies with Koufax, Gibson, Ford, Feller, Mays, Robinson, all players I idolized as a kid and now to have my name in the same sentence as these players is something you can’t explain. Being honored as a Hall of Famer means you were the best at what you did and that your dreams came true.”

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Jeff Reardon’s all-time save record did not last long. As his career wound down Cardinal closer Lee Smith was on his heels and at the top of his game.

Smith entered 1993 campaign needing just two saves to catch Reardon. The St. Louis right-hander started fast, closing out each of the first two games of the season to tie the record. Two days later on April 10th Smith took the mound in the 9th poised to make the record his own. Instead the Reds tagged him for a game-tying run to send the game into extra innings. Though the Cardinals won, Smith blew the save.

St. Louis soon traveled to Los Angeles for a their next series, a three game set against the Dodgers. With his team up 9-7 in the 9th, Smith took the hill in the April 13th contest. After getting the first out, Smith induced an Eric Davis ground ball to third. Todd Zeile booted it for an error. Darryl Strawberry flew out to left for the second out. Up came Eric Karros. On Smith’s 1-1 pitch Davis took second on defensive indifference. Two pitches later, Smith walked Karros. Speedster Tom Goodwin replaced Karros at first.

The next batter, Dodger third baseman Tim Wallach, came up representing the winning run. On the first pitch to Wallach, Davis and Goodwin engineered a double steal to put the tying run in scoring position. On the fourth pitch of the at bat Wallach lifted a fly ball to short right field. Mark Whiten raced in and gloved the ball for the final out. The record was Smith’s.

Lee pitched until 1997 and finished his Hall of Fame career with 478 saves.

In the collection is this contract with Topps baseball cards signed in June of 1987. The year the terms of the pact ended was 1991 when Smith had one of his best seasons, leading the league with a career-high 47 saves. That season he placed second in Cy Young voting.