Find a Grave Ken Reitz (1951-2021)

Find a Grave Ken Reitz (1951-2021)
Ken Reitz
Birth 24 Jun 1951
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA
Death 31 Mar 2021 (aged 69)
Saint Charles, St. Charles County, Missouri, USA
Burial Details Unknown
Baseball Player

He played the third base position for four Major League Baseball teams (St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates) from 1972 to 1982. He attended Jefferson High School in Daly City, California and was subsequently drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 31st round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.

After almost four years in the minor leagues, he was called up to the Cardinals’ main team on September 5, 1972. He went on to play for the Cardinals for the next three years before being traded to the San Francisco Giants before the 1976 season. While with the Cardinals, he gained the nickname “Zamboni” for his skill at scooping up ground balls on the artificial turf of Busch Memorial Stadium.

He led all National League third basemen in fielding percentage in both 1973 and 1974, and won the NL Gold Glove Award at the position in 1975. He played for the Giants for one year before he was traded back to St. Louis on December 10, 1976. He went to play for the Cards for the next four years. During his second stay with the Redbirds, he again led the National League in fielding percentage at third base in 1977, 1978, and 1980.

In 1977, he also established the NL record for fewest errors by a third baseman (9) and bettered that record by committing only eight in 1980. He was the starting third baseman in the 1980 MLB All-Star Game. In December of 1980, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and went on to play for the team for one year. In 1981, he led the National League in fielding percentage for the sixth time.

Find a Grave Ken Reitz (1951-2021)

He went on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1982 season, his last in an almost eleven year career. After retiring from baseball, he did promotional work for the Cardinals and also played some golf on the celebrity tour.