View source for Allie Reynolds

{{Short description|Native American baseball player (1917–1994)}}
{{redirect|The Superchief|the named passenger train|Super Chief|the DC Comics character|Super-Chief}}
{{distinguish|text=Ali Reynolds, a fictional character created by [[J.A. Jance]]}}
{{Good article}}{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Allie Reynolds
|image=Allie Reynolds 1953.jpg
|caption=Reynolds, {{circa|1953}}
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1917|2|10}}
|birth_place=[[Bethany, Oklahoma]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1994|12|26|1917|2|10}}
|death_place=[[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 17
|debutyear=1942
|debutteam=Cleveland Indians
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 25
|finalyear=1954
|finalteam=New York Yankees
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=182–107
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.30
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=1,423
|teams=
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1942}}–{{mlby|1946}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1947}}–{{mlby|1954}})
|highlights=
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1945 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1945]], [[1949 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1949]], [[1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1950]], [[1952 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1952]]–[[1954 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1954]])
* 6× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1947}}, {{wsy|1949}}–{{wsy|1953}})
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1952)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|AL strikeout leader]] (1943, 1952)
* Pitched two [[no-hitter]]s
* [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] honoree
}}
'''Allie Pierce Reynolds''' (February 10, 1917&nbsp;– December 26, 1994) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Reynolds pitched in MLB for the [[Cleveland Indians]] (1942–1946) and [[New York Yankees]] (1947–1954). A member of the [[Muscogee Nation]], Reynolds was nicknamed "'''Superchief'''".

Reynolds attended [[Capitol Hill High School]] and the [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College (A&M)]], where he was a multi-sport athlete. [[Henry Iba]], baseball [[coach (baseball)|coach]] of the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball|Oklahoma A&M baseball]] team, discovered Reynolds while he was practicing his [[javelin throw]]s. After excelling at baseball and [[American football]] at Oklahoma A&M, Reynolds chose to turn professional in baseball.

In his MLB career, Reynolds had a 182–107 [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]], 3.30 [[earned run average]], and 1,423 [[strikeout]]s. Reynolds was a six-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]] (1945, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954) and six-time [[World Series]] champion (1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953). He won the [[Hickok Belt]] in 1951 as the top American professional athlete of the year. He has also received consideration for induction into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]], though he has not been elected.

==Early years==
Reynolds was born on February 10, 1917, in [[Bethany, Oklahoma]].<ref name=gittleman20/> His father was a preacher in the [[Church of the Nazarene]].<ref name=gittleman20>Gittleman, p. 20</ref> His father, Dave Reynolds, was a member of the [[Muscogee (Creek) Nation]] and he also became enrolled.<ref name=obituary/>{{Failed verification|date=October 2024}} As a young child, he did not play baseball because his father did not approve of playing sports on Sundays.<ref name=gittleman20/> Reynolds threatened to run away from home if his father wouldn't let him play football; his father relented.<ref name=gittleman20/> Reynolds attended [[Capitol Hill High School]] in [[Oklahoma City]], where he starred in [[American football]] as a [[quarterback]] and [[running back]], and at track and field, where he excelled at the [[javelin throw]] and [[100-yard dash]].<ref name=gittleman21>Gittleman, p. 21</ref> He played [[fast-pitch softball]] for his father's church team, which did not play on Sundays.<ref name=gittleman21/> There, he began dating Dale Earleane Jones, who was named Capitol Hill High School's most outstanding female athlete; she had previously dated Reynolds's younger brother. The couple married on July 7, 1935.<ref name=gittleman21/>

[[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College (A&M)]] provided Reynolds a scholarship to attend and participate in track.<ref name=obituary/> Reynolds also played on the football team. He majored in education and graduated with a lifetime certification to teach public school in Oklahoma.<ref name=gittleman21/> [[Henry Iba]], coach of the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball|baseball team]], first noticed Reynolds when he was practicing his javelin throws.<ref>Gittleman, p. 19</ref> Iba asked Reynolds to throw batting practice while his pitchers recovered from sore arms.<ref name="usatoday">{{Cite news |last=DuPree |first=David |date=1994-12-28 |title=Former Yankees pitcher 'Chief' Reynolds dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-former-yankees-pitcher-chief/163471322/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=[[USA Today]] |page=11 |publication-place=McLean, Virginia |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Without taking any warmup pitches, Reynolds struck out the first four batters without any making contact.<ref name=gittleman20/><ref>{{cite web|title=Oklahoma State Hall of Honor |url=http://www.okstate.com/trads/hall-of-honor.html |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=Oklahoma State Cowboys |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216150245/http://www.okstate.com/trads/hall-of-honor.html |archive-date=December 16, 2011 }}</ref> Reynolds was the team's [[Captain (sports)|captain]] playing as an [[outfielder]]&ndash;[[pitcher]] during his senior year in 1938, and he led the team to victory in the state conference baseball championship.<ref name=gittleman24>Gittleman, p. 24</ref> Reynolds was drafted by the [[New York Giants]] of the [[National Football League]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]].<ref name=gittleman24/> Since Reynolds preferred baseball to football, and believed he could earn more money playing baseball, he chose not to sign.<ref name=gittleman24/>

==Professional career==
===Minor leagues (1939–1942)===
Iba was friends with Hugh Alexander, a [[scout (sports)|scout]] who worked for the [[Cleveland Indians]].  After Iba recommended Reynolds, the Indians signed Reynolds as an amateur free agent for a $1,000 signing bonus (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000|1939}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=gittleman25/> He was assigned to the [[Springfield Indians]] of the Class-C [[Middle Atlantic League]]. In 1940, he pitched for the [[Cedar Rapids Raiders]] of the Class-B [[Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League]]. Reynolds played [[right field]] for the Raiders when he wasn't pitching, as roster sizes were reduced to 17 as a result of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]].<ref name=gittleman25>Gittleman, p. 25</ref> The Indians wanted to convert Reynolds to [[catcher]] due to his athleticism, but Reynolds refused to change positions.<ref name=gittleman25/>

Reynolds started the 1941 season with the [[Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)|Wilkes-Barre Barons]] of the Class-A [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]], but was demoted to Cedar Rapids after three appearances.<ref>Gittleman, p. 26</ref> Becoming increasingly homesick and not wanting to spend his entire professional career in the minor leagues, Reynolds considered retiring after the 1942 season if he did not get promoted to the majors.<ref name=gittleman27>Gittleman, p. 27</ref> In 1942, Reynolds went 18–7 with a 1.56 [[earned run average]] (ERA), 11 [[shutout]]s, 21 [[complete game]]s, and 193 [[strikeout]]s in 231 [[innings pitched]],<ref name=gittleman27/> earning a promotion to the major leagues to finish the 1942 season.<ref name=gittleman28/>

===Cleveland Indians (1942–1946)===
Reynolds appeared in his first major league game on September 17, 1942, making two relief appearances for the Indians that season. With [[ace (baseball)|ace]] [[Bob Feller]] serving in the military during World War II, the Indians hoped that Reynolds would star for the Indians. Reynolds took a pre-enlistment physical,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uzkbAAAAIBAJ&pg=2925,2720494 |title=Three Tribe Stars To Get Exams |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]] |date=May 7, 1944 |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023133/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uzkbAAAAIBAJ&pg=2925%2C2720494 |url-status=live }}</ref> but due to his family and football injuries, he did not enlist in the military and was not eligible to be [[Conscription in the United States|drafted]].<ref>Gittleman, pp. 26–27</ref>

Reynolds began the 1943 season as a relief pitcher, making his first start on June 20.<ref name=gittleman28>Gittleman, p. 28</ref> Indians [[Player-coach#Player–manager|player-manager]] [[Lou Boudreau]] used Reynolds as a reliever in between starts due to his resiliency.<ref name=gittleman28/> Reynolds led the American League (AL) in strikeouts in 1943 with 151 and hits allowed per nine innings pitched with 6.34; however, he was third in walks allowed with 109.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1943-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1943 American League Pitching Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=November 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106024007/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1943-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Reynolds led the AL in walks with 130 in 1945.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1945-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1945 American League Pitching Leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 22, 2011 |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509132045/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1945-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

During his five years with the Indians he was primarily used as a starting pitcher, although he did display the versatility that would become his hallmark. He pitched in 139 games for the Indians, starting 100 and finishing 27. Early evidence of his versatility is demonstrated by his 41 complete games, 9 shutouts and 8 saves.<ref name=bref>{{cite web|title=Allie Reynolds|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynoal01.shtml|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309190629/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynoal01.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

===New York Yankees (1947–1954)===
[[File:President Harry S. Truman with Baseball Players.jpg|thumb|right|Reynolds (right) with the [[New York Yankees]] shaking hands with [[Harry S. Truman]] before [[Opening Day]] at [[Griffith Stadium]] in 1947]]
On October 11, 1946, the Indians traded Reynolds to the New York Yankees for [[second baseman]] [[Joe Gordon]]. A possible trade was speculated throughout the 1946 season. The Yankees had a wealth of infield talent, but needed pitching help. The Indians were managed by player-manager [[Lou Boudreau]], who played shortstop, but they needed help at second base.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1946/10/12/archives/gordon-of-yanks-traded-to-indians-star-second-baseman-goes-to.html|title=Gordon of Yanks Traded to Indians; Star Second Baseman Goes to Cleveland for Reynolds, Right-Handed Pitcher|access-date=December 4, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 12, 1946|page=24|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722194009/https://www.nytimes.com/1946/10/12/archives/gordon-of-yanks-traded-to-indians-star-second-baseman-goes-to.html|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref> Cleveland wanted Gordon and offered the Yankees any pitcher on their staff, with the exception of [[Bob Feller]]. Yankee executive [[Larry MacPhail]] discussed the potential trade with Yankees star [[Joe DiMaggio]]. Though MacPhail initially wanted [[Red Embree]], DiMaggio replied: "Take Reynolds. I'm a fastball hitter, but he can buzz his hard one by me any time he has a mind to."<ref name=obituary>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Claire|title=Allie Reynolds, Star Pitcher For Yankees, Is Dead at 79|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/28/obituaries/allie-reynolds-star-pitcher-for-yankees-is-dead-at-79.html|access-date=December 4, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 28, 1994|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101183830/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/28/obituaries/allie-reynolds-star-pitcher-for-yankees-is-dead-at-79.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gittleman30>Gittleman, p. 30</ref>

Reynolds promptly became the Yankees' best pitcher, recording the highest winning percentage in the AL in his first season as a Yankee. In 1949, joined by [[Vic Raschi]] and [[Eddie Lopat]], he was a star of a Yankee team that won the first of five consecutive league championships, a feat that had never been achieved before.<ref name=obituary/> He played many important roles for those teams. In his first six years with the Yankees he averaged over 232 innings, 17.5 wins, and 14 complete games. As a swingman, he averaged 26 games started and 9 games finished per season.<ref name=bref/>

{{quote box|align=right|width=25%|source=&nbsp;– Manager [[Casey Stengel]]<ref name=obituary />|quote="Reynolds was two ways great, which is starting and relieving, which no one can do like him. ... He has guts and his courage is simply tremendous."}}

In 1950, Reynolds won 16 games, even though he pitched with [[Osteochondritis|bone chips]] in his elbow for the entire season. His remarkable 1951 season began under very difficult conditions. Floating chips in his elbow prevented him from throwing a single pitch in spring training. He was resigned to having surgery which would have cost him at least half of the season. Dr. George Bennett of [[Johns Hopkins University]] recommended against surgery. Reynolds appeared in his first game one week after the season started.<ref name="autogenerated1951">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/890131502.html?dids=890131502:890131502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+30%2C+1951&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Allie+Reynolds+Voted+Player+Of+Year+By+New+York+Chapter+Of+Baseball+Writers&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131185141/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/890131502.html?dids=890131502:890131502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+30,+1951&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Allie+Reynolds+Voted+Player+Of+Year+By+New+York+Chapter+Of+Baseball+Writers&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Allie Reynolds Voted Player Of Year By New York Chapter Of Baseball Writers|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|agency=Associated Press|date=December 30, 1951|page=D3}}{{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref>

On July 12 and September 28, 1951, Reynolds threw [[no-hitter]]s. He was the first American League pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season and only the second player to do so in baseball history, after [[Johnny Vander Meer]] threw consecutive no-hitters in 1938.<ref name=reevaluating/><ref name="nohit">{{cite web|title=No Hitter Records|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_noh1.shtml|publisher=Baseball-Almanac.com|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=August 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817203011/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_noh1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> This is still the major league record for most no-hitters in a single season, a record that he and Vander Meer share with [[Virgil Trucks]] (1952), [[Nolan Ryan]] (1973), [[Roy Halladay]] (2010), and [[Max Scherzer]] (2015).<ref name="nohit"/>

His first [[no-hitter]], on July 12, 1951, was a 1–0 defeat of his former team, the Indians. [[Gene Woodling]]'s solo home run was the only run scored during the game. Reynolds retired the last 17 Indians he faced. Only four Indians reached base; he walked three and [[Bobby Ávila]] reached on an [[error (baseball)|error]] by [[Phil Rizzuto]]. It was his third shutout of Cleveland that season. [[Bob Feller]] also threw a strong game and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, when [[Mickey Mantle]] doubled. Feller threw a complete game and allowed only four hits. Feller had thrown a no-hitter eleven days earlier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1681450722.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+13%2C+1951&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=Yankees+Triumph%2C+1-0%2C+On+Reynolds%27s+No-Hitter&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718041811/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1681450722.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+13,+1951&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Yankees+Triumph,+1-0,+On+Reynolds's+No-Hitter&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|title=Yankees Triumph, 1–0, On Reynolds's No-Hitter|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=July 13, 1951|page=17}} {{subscription required|date=April 2012}}</ref>

His second no-hitter, on September 28, 1951, was an 8–0 defeat of the [[Boston Red Sox]] which allowed the Yankees to clinch at least a tie of the [[American League]] pennant. The Yankees clinched the pennant in the second half of the September 28 double-header. Reynolds struck out nine hitters. He walked four, but "not one Boston batter seemed close to getting a hit". With two outs in the ninth inning, [[Ted Williams]] hit a pop fly to Yankees catcher [[Yogi Berra]]. Berra dropped the ball and prolonged the at bat against the dangerous Williams. Reynolds remained calm, telling Berra, "Don't worry Yogi, we'll get him again." Reynolds was correct and Williams once again popped up, but Berra caught this one.<ref>{{cite news|last=Drebinger|first=John|title=Yanks Clinch Flag, Aided by Reynolds' No-Hitter|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 29, 1951|page=25|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/09/29/archives/yanks-clinch-flag-aided-by-reynolds-nohitter-dodgers-lose-race-tied.html|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722190902/https://www.nytimes.com/1951/09/29/archives/yanks-clinch-flag-aided-by-reynolds-nohitter-dodgers-lose-race-tied.html|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|date=December 2011}}</ref> In the spring of 1953, Stengel made Reynolds predominantly a reliever, although he notched 15 starts and 5 complete games, because of Reynolds' ability to pitch without much rest and to use his blazing fastball late in the Yankees' afternoon games when the shadows crept over the mound.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sdhBAAAAIBAJ&pg=5071,580426&dq=allie+reynolds&hl=en|title=Allie Reynolds Is Impressive; May Open Series|newspaper=The Portsmouth Times|date=September 23, 1953|access-date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023123/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sdhBAAAAIBAJ&pg=5071%2C580426&dq=allie+reynolds&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Reynolds injured his back in July when the team bus was on the way to the train station after a game in Philadelphia—robbing Reynolds of his control. During the '53 World Series—his final one—Reynolds started the opener at home and struggled because of his back injury, but recovered to appear in two more as a reliever—winning the sixth and final game of the Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/10/01/archives/reynolds-reinjures-back-and-may-be-sidelined-for-remainder-of.html|title=Reynolds Reinjures Back and May Be Sidelined for Remainder of Contests; Return of Pitcher Appears Doubtful: Reynolds Says He Injured His Back in Third and Fifth&nbsp;– Stengel Praises Martin|first=Louis|last=Effrat|date=October 1, 1953|page=37|access-date=December 22, 2011|work=The New York Times|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722193509/https://www.nytimes.com/1953/10/01/archives/reynolds-reinjures-back-and-may-be-sidelined-for-remainder-of.html|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|date=December 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Allie Reynolds 1951.jpg|thumb|left|Reynolds, circa 1951]]
Reynolds led the AL in shutouts in 1951 with seven.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1951-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1951 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920122750/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1951-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1952, he had his greatest single season performance. He won twenty games for the only time in his career (against eight losses). He led the American League in earned run average (2.06), strikeouts (160), and shutouts (6).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1952-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1952 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202000742/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1952-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He also saved six games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-whole-was-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts|title=The Whole Was Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts|first=John|last=Brattain|date=January 13, 2005|work=[[The Hardball Times]]|access-date=April 20, 2012|archive-date=August 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830214433/http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-whole-was-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He also played in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star Game]]s of 1949, 50, 52, 53, and 54 (no official All-Star selection or game was held in 1945). With the Yankees, Reynolds reached the [[World Series]] in [[1947 World Series|1947]], [[1949 World Series|49]], [[1950 World Series|50]], [[1951 World Series|51]], [[1952 World Series|52]], and [[1953 World Series|53]]. Reynolds had a 7–2 record with a 2.79 ERA over 77 innings in the [[World Series]]. He made six relief appearances in the World Series, recording a win or save in each of them, including the clinching games of the 1950, 1952 and 1953 series.<ref name=obituary /> He also [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] .308 in 26 [[at-bats]] in his World Series appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=reynoal01&t=b&post=1|title=Allie Reynolds Postseason Batting Gamelogs|publisher=Baseball Reference|access-date=April 20, 2012|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828133509/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=reynoal01&t=b&post=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reynolds won the [[Hickok Belt]] as the top professional athlete of the year in 1951. He also was voted the Player Of Year in 1951 by the New York chapter of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]],<ref name="autogenerated1951" /> and finished third in voting for the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|AL Most Valuable Player Award]], behind Berra and [[Ned Garver]] of the [[St. Louis Browns]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1951.shtml#ALmvp |title=1951 Awards Voting |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=December 22, 2011 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228204857/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1951.shtml#ALmvp |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1952, he was the MVP runner-up to [[Bobby Shantz]] of the [[Philadelphia Athletics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1952.shtml#ALmvp |title=1952 Awards Voting |publisher=Baseball Reference |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329092634/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1952.shtml#ALmvp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reynolds suffered a back injury when the Yankees' charter bus crashed into an [[overpass]] in Philadelphia during the 1953 season. He retired after the following season as a result of the injury.<ref name=obituary />

==Nickname==
David Dupree explained a common view of how he was given the nickname, Superchief, "he was part Creek Indian and always in command on the pitching mound."<ref name=usatoday/> At this time it was very common for baseball players with Native American heritage to be called 'Chief'. Jeffrey Powers-Beck explains that in the early half of the 20th century, "it appeared virtually impossible for a baseball player of admitted native origin to be known popularly as anything but "Chief".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Powers-Beck|first=Jeffrey|title="Chief": The American indian integration of baseball, 1897–1945|journal=[[American Indian Quarterly]]|date=Fall 2001|volume=25|issue=4|pages=508–538|doi=10.1353/aiq.2001.0038|s2cid=161347816|url=https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22it+appeared+virtually+impossible+for+a+baseball+player+of+admitted+native+origin+to+be+known+popularly+as+anything+%22|access-date=February 11, 2021|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023025/https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22it+appeared+virtually+impossible+for+a+baseball+player+of+admitted+native+origin+to+be+known+popularly+as+anything+%22|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}{{Subscription required|date=February 2021}}</ref>

Former teammate and [[American League]] President [[Bobby Brown (third baseman)|Bobby Brown]] noted his heritage and a popular railroad influenced the baseball media to use the nickname, "But for some of you too young to remember, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe Railroad]] at that time had a crack train (called the ''[[Super Chief]]'') that ran from California to Chicago, and it was known for its elegance, its power and its speed. We always felt the name applied to Allie for the same reasons."<ref name=lastrespects>{{cite news|url=http://newsok.com/article/2488282|last=Bentley|first=Mac|title=Last Respects Paid to Reynolds|access-date=December 4, 2011|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman|Daily Oklahoman]]|date=December 31, 1994|archive-date=June 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623094927/http://newsok.com/article/2488282|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|date=December 2011}}</ref>

Brown notes that Reynolds was not comfortable with the nickname because of the importance of the 'chief' title. He also explained that his teammates called him Chief. "When we talked with him, we called him Allie... But when he wasn't in the room, he was referred to as the Chief, because we felt he was the one at the top, the real leader."<ref name=lastrespects/>

==Honors==
[[File:Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Allie P. Reynolds Stadium]] in [[Stillwater, Oklahoma]], home of the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys]]]]
The Yankees dedicated a plaque in Reynolds' honor, to hang in [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] on August 26, 1989.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BwwPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3356,4665551 |title=Yankees Honor Allie Reynolds With Plaque |page=36 |work=Deseret News |date=August 27, 1989 |access-date=December 22, 2011 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023025/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BwwPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3356%2C4665551 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reynolds was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 1986<ref>{{cite web|work=Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/ok-sports-hof/hall-of-fame-members/reynolds-allie/|title=Allie Reynolds|publisher=The Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=December 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524170902/http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/ok-sports-hof/hall-of-fame-members/reynolds-allie/|archive-date=May 24, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and into the [[Oklahoma Hall of Fame]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oklahomaheritage.com/HallofFame/ByName/tabid/89/Default.aspx | title=Oklahoma Hall of Fame | access-date=November 16, 2012 | archive-date=December 10, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210230923/http://oklahomaheritage.com/HallofFame/ByName/tabid/89/Default.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref> Oklahoma State renamed their [[Allie P. Reynolds Stadium|baseball stadium]] after Reynolds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.okstate.com/facilities/allie-p-reynolds.html |title=Allie P. Reynolds Stadium&nbsp;— Oklahoma State Official Athletic Site |publisher=Okstate.com |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=January 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102011210/http://www.okstate.com/facilities/allie-p-reynolds.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1993, Reynolds received the [[Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award]] from the Jim Thorpe Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/awards/lifetime-achievement-award/ |title=Lifetime Achievement Award |publisher=The Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=April 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428050015/http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/awards/lifetime-achievement-award/ |archive-date=April 28, 2012 }}</ref> The association established the "Allie P. Reynolds Award" in 1998. It is presented annually to the Oklahoma "high school senior who best reflects the spirit of Allie Reynolds by maintaining the highest standards in scholarship, leadership, civic contributions and character".<ref>{{cite web|title=Allie P. Reynolds Award|url=http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/awards/allie-p-reynolds-award/|publisher=The Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=December 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130092822/http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/awards/allie-p-reynolds-award/|archive-date=November 30, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Baseball Hall of Fame candidacy===
When Reynolds was eligible for election to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] by the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]], his highest vote percentage was 33.6% in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1968|the 1968 balloting]], short of the 75 percent required for election.<ref name=reevaluating/> That year, he finished ahead of future Hall of Famers [[Arky Vaughan]], [[Pee Wee Reese]], [[Phil Rizzuto]], [[George Kell]], [[Hal Newhouser]], [[Bob Lemon]], and [[Bobby Doerr]].

Reynolds was named as one of the ten former players that began their careers before 1943 to be considered by the Hall of Fame's [[Veterans Committee]] for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2009|2009]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_584857.html|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|title=Reynolds, Gordon, Stephens on Hall ballot|agency=Associated Press|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=December 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913034822/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_584857.html|archive-date=September 13, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He received eight votes, one shy of the nine votes required for election.<ref name=reevaluating>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/sports/baseball/hall-committee-reviews-yankees-allie-reynolds.html|title=Re-evaluating a Gruff, Tough Yankee|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 19, 2011|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=March 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305025103/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/sports/baseball/hall-committee-reviews-yankees-allie-reynolds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reynolds was on the new [[Golden Era Committee]] ballot in 2011 for [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2012|2012]], (replaced the Veterans Committee)<ref name=reevaluating/> receiving fewer than three votes (12 votes are required for election to the Hall of Fame).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2011/12/west_michigan_native_former_ml.html|title=West Michigan native, former MLB pitcher Jim Kaat falls short of Hall of Fame|publisher=[[MLive]]|date=December 5, 2011|first=James|last=Schmehl|access-date=April 20, 2012|archive-date=February 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203215614/http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2011/12/west_michigan_native_former_ml.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Committee meets and votes every three years on ten candidates selected from the 1947 to 1972 era. He was not a candidate in 2014 (none were elected by the committee).

[[Rob Neyer]], in evaluating Reynolds' candidacy, believes Reynolds was "probably as good" as [[Jesse Haines]], [[Lefty Gomez]] and [[Waite Hoyt]], who have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, he added that "they're all marginals."<ref name=reevaluating/> Adapting [[Bill James]]' [[sabermetric]] statistic known as [[win shares]], Dr. Michael Hoban, a [[professor emeritus]] of mathematics at [[City University of New York]], found that Reynolds falls short of his threshold for induction, and scored lower than Haines and Gomez.<ref name=reevaluating/>

On November 5, 2021, he was selected to the final ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Early Days Committee for consideration in the [[2022 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|Class of 2022]]. He received six of the necessary twelve votes.<ref name="VeteransHOF">[https://baseballhall.org/news/six-candidates-elected-to-hall-of-fame-as-part-of-class-of-2022 "Fowler, Hodges, Kaat, Miñoso, Oliva, O'Neil Elected to Hall of Fame"]. baseballhall.org. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.</ref>

==Post-playing career==
Reynolds became a successful [[Petroleum|oil]] businessman after his playing career.<ref name=obituary/> He began investing in oil wells during his playing career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T9IdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3646,3854815|title=Allie Reynolds Pitches For Oil|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=November 9, 1952|access-date=December 5, 2011|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023132/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T9IdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3646%2C3854815|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite retiring, Reynolds was allowed to remain a member of the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]]. He served as the American League player representative in the negotiations with owners to create the players' pension plan.<ref name=obituary/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e0FSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5986,3757546|title=Frick, Kiner Wage Sharp Verbal War|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=December 8, 1953|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023027/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e0FSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5986%2C3757546|url-status=live}}</ref> He later sued administrators of the pension plan in federal court for "whittling away" the rights of retired players.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/12/16/archives/reynolds-suit-hits-new-pension-plan.html|title=Reynolds Suit Hits New Pension Plan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 16, 1966|access-date=December 4, 2011|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722193517/https://www.nytimes.com/1966/12/16/archives/reynolds-suit-hits-new-pension-plan.html|url-status=live}}{{subscription required|date=December 2011}}</ref>

In 1969, Reynolds was named the President of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], a [[Triple-A (baseball)|Class AAA]] baseball league. The Association had been dormant for the previous six years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Allie Reynolds President of 'Association.'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19690127&id=DexOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4111,2405070|access-date=December 4, 2011|newspaper=[[The Blade (Toledo)|Toledo Blade]]|page=18|agency=Associated Press|date=January 27, 1969|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023030/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19690127&id=DexOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4111%2C2405070|url-status=live}}</ref>  Reynolds served as president until 1971, when he resigned to spend more time with his family and due to competing business interests.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=30Q_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3675,1665275 |title=Career over as Reynolds resigns |newspaper=[[Windsor Star]] |date=November 9, 1971 |access-date=December 21, 2011 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111023156/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=30Q_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3675%2C1665275 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also the President of the [[National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians]] in [[Anadarko, Oklahoma]], from 1978 until his death.<ref name=obituary/>

Reynolds died in [[Oklahoma City]] due to complications of [[lymphoma]] and diabetes.<ref name=obituary/> He was survived by a son, a daughter, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.<ref name=obituary/>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball|Oklahoma}}

==References==
;Bibliography
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NgvvZnwnU6EC&q=Reynolds,+Raschi+and+Lopat:+New+York%27s+Big+Three+and+the+Great+Yankee+Dynasty+of+1949-1953|title=Reynolds, Raschi, and Lopat: New York's Big Three and the Great Yankee Dynasty of 1949–1953|first=Sol|last=Gittleman|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7864-3936-2|access-date=December 4, 2011}}
;Inline citations
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats |mlb=121100 |br=r/reynoal01 |fangraphs=1010860 |almanac=reynoal01 |brm=reynol003all}}
*{{Find a Grave}}

{{S-start|header={{s-ach|ach}}}}
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{{Succession box | title=[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters|No-hitter pitcher]] | before= [[Bob Feller]]<br />Allie Reynolds | years= July 12, 1951<br />September 28, 1951 | after= Allie Reynolds<br />[[Virgil Trucks]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{AL ERA champions}}
{{AL strikeout champions}}
{{Hickok Belt}}
{{Monument Park honorees}}
{{1947 New York Yankees}}
{{1949 New York Yankees}}
{{1950 New York Yankees}}
{{1951 New York Yankees}}
{{1952 New York Yankees}}
{{1953 New York Yankees}}
{{Cleveland Indians Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, Allie}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
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[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
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[[Category:Muscogee Nation people]]
[[Category:Deaths from lymphoma in the United States]]
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[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:20th-century Native American people]]
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