Reitz was called “The Zamboni Machine” in St. Louis for the way he sucked ground balls off the carpet. In both of his first two seasons, he led NL third basemen in fielding percentage (.974 in 1973 and ’74), but captured his Gold Glove in 1975. His nine errors at third in 1977 were the fewest ever in the NL, and he bettered that mark by committing just eight miscues in 1980. A handsome figure with long, dark hair, Reitz was with the Cardinals from 1972 to 1980, except for 1976, which he spent in San Francisco. A consistent yet unspectacular hitter, in 1977 he smashed 17 homers, by far his greatest show of power.
