Ken Reitz as a San Francisco Giant in 1975 (photo from Steiner Sports)
He Was a Giant?
Ken Reitz
By Tony the Tiger Hayes
Apparently San Francisco native Ken Reitz was on the Giants “Most Wanted” list after all.
And not for the reasons he may have envisioned.
Reitz – who grew up near the Cow Palace – had a love of sports and rooting for the Giants as a kid. Unfortunately, like most of the others kids in hard scrabble neighborhood on the Daly City border, Reitz also grew up with an
evergreen hole in the pockets of his blue jeans.
So when he wasn’t playing local organized sports, to feed his Giants appetite Reitz was honing his skills as one most prolific ticket taker evaders in the history of Candlestick Park.
While other kids in the neighborhood preferred the old bum’s rush approach to sneaking into Candlestick, the scrappy Kenny was better at scaling the exterior cyclone fences that surrounded the old concrete bowl.
So when Reitz received a call from the Giants in December of 1975, you couldn’t really blame him if he thought the financially struggling club was calling to collect on those unpaid tickets.
Thankfully, they were not. But the real reason the club’s director of scouting Jerry Donovon was calling was only slightly less troubling.
The Giants, who had long struggled at the box office, were on the brink of bankruptcy, and frantically looking for someone to purchase the club.
Meanwhile, the slick fielding Reitz had established himself as one of the most reliable third basemen in the the National League in his three season’s as the Redbirds main man at the Hot Corner (1973-75).
When the call came from the Giants, Reitz had just been awarded the league’s Gold Glove Award for third baseman.
Further more he had just bought a home in St. Louis and was looking to settle down the “Gateway to the West” city.
“First, I was shocked by the trade,” Reitz admitted. “ I thought there was one chance in a hundred that I’d be going so soon. And if I was going, I was wishing it would be to the Pirates. I’d been hearing that they were willing to give up Al Oliver or Richie Zisk for a third baseman.”
But once reality set in, Reitz grew to appreciate the deal to the Giants, or so he let on.
He’d be working out of the same clubhouse as his childhood hero’s.
“Now that I’ve thought about it I’m kinda glad to be a Giant. Id like to help turn the franchise
around. It was such a great one when was a kid, with Mays, MeCovey. Marichal and those wonderful players. Its been painful to see the franchise go down hill.”
The club was hesitant to deal Falcone – coming off a fantastic rookie season, but the hole was glaring at the hot corner.
The Giants had never really filled the position after the venerable Jimmy Davenport retired in mid-1970.
“I enjoyed watching Davenport. He was so steady. The team had superstar but Jimmy made so many contributions and was so consistent that you had to leave the ballpark as an admirer,” Reitz said.
Reitz attended his first Giants game in 1959, back at Seals Stadium, the club’s first San Francisco home after decamping New York.
“I was about six years old, I can’t remember who the Giants were playing but Willie McCovey hit two home runs.”
When Reitz reported to spring training in 1976 he was uniquely greeted by Bill Rigney, manager of the Giants in the first game Reitz attended. The elderly Rigney was rehired to manage the club in 1976 by new team owner Bob Lurie.
“He’s a professional player,” Rigney said of Reitz. “There isn’t anything he can’t do.”
Reitz would have a decent season in 1976 for the Giants, his only as a Giant. In 155 games, second most on the club, Kenny batted .267 with 5 home runs and 66 RBI for a fourth place Giants club that suffered from inner dissension and poor attendance at freezing Candlestick.
Nearly one year to that day that he was traded to his hometown team the Giants traded Reitz back to the Cardinals for right-handed pitcher Lynn McGlothen.
Reitz wasn’t shy about his joy returning to the mid-west.
“I’m real happy and saying that might be mild. There are many negative things out in San Francisco,” he said. “The writers are always on your back and the fans are rough on you too. I’m so happy, I can’t stand it.”
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