The Sporting News named Reuss Comeback Player of the Year in 1980, when he finished second in Cy Young voting and pitched a no-hit, no-run, no-walk game marred only by an error by shortstop Bill Russell. He struck out all three batters he faced in that year ‘s All-Star Game, and his lifetime 1-0, 0.00 in those games made up a little for his lack of playoff success. Reuss outdueled Ron Guidry in the pivotal fifth game of the 1981 World Series, and the Astros failed to score upon him in 19 innings of that year’s divisional
Reuss came up with the Cardinals in 1969 and was a .500 pitcher for three years. He then spent two seasons with Houston; he led National League pitchers in walks in 1973 (117), but later became one of the best control pitchers in the league. Going to Pittsburgh in return for Milt May after the 1973 season, he became the anchor of the Pirates’ staff and helped the slugging team to division titles in 1974 and 1975, having his best Pirate season the latter year, going 18 and 11 with an ERA of 2.54.
Traded straight up for the similarly-talented Rick Rhoden just prior to the start of the 1979 season, Reuss was 7 and 14, but he rebounded with his Comeback year and from 1980 to 1983 was one of the Dodgers’ more consistent winners (18-6, 10-4, 18-11, 12-11).
Three straight losing, injury-plagued seasons from 1984 to ’86 led to his release after just one game in 1987; picked up by the Cincinnati Reds, he was 0 and 5 and was released again. A stint with the Angels was slightly more successful (4-5), but at the end of 1987 he was allowed to become a free agent. Signed by the pitching-poor Chicago White Sox near the end of spring training in 1988, he again came back, going 13-9 with a 3.44 ERA despite being supported by the worst offense and defense in the league.
