Jerry reuss
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in other ways not as much, because if you find a sport where you’re not doing too well, the time could be better spent doing something else. There are more decisions to make, more things to do and more options to choose today.
BTS: Tell us a little about after high school.
JR: I played American Legion ball. What made a big difference for me, as a 14-year old freshman, I made the team. There wasn’t a junior American Legion team so I was competing against guys nineteen, twenty years old in some cases. At fourteen, that’s a huge gap. The coach took some heat when he told all the kids that didn’t make it in place of me, “This kid’s going to make it. He’s one of the best I’ve come across.” So he kept me and as a result, my confidence was so high, that by the time I entered my sophomore year, I was playing two varsity sports. That was a big thing because we had a high school that at one time or another, during those three years, was the largest in the State of Missouri, so there were a lot of kids to choose from. I was fortunate. I was blessed with the ability to throw a baseball, I came along at the right time and had the right people in place to help me.
time or another, during those three years, was the largest in the State of Missouri, so there were a lot of kids to choose from. I was fortunate. I was blessed with the ability to throw a baseball, I came along at the right time and had the right people in place to help me.
BTS: What was your entrée in to Major League Baseball?
JR: I signed out of high school as a second-round draft choice of the St Louis Cardinals. My parents and I met with the club and they made a strong offer. My parents allowed me to make the ultimate decision. I decided, this is what I wanted to do, as opposed to the college scholarships that I had. I had a couple of full rides, maybe as many as 4 or five. I can’t remember now, but I had one to S. Illinois and another one to the Univ. of Missouri, which were both excellent schools, but they were both for baseball and basketball. Half baseball – half basketball!
Schools did not give full scholarships for baseball then because they were limited to just 8.5 baseball scholarships. Still, it was a scholarship that took care of everything. But I realized that in order to do all that, I would be busy every minute of every year, so I had a decision to make. Choose four years in college, playing baseball, basketball and receiving a degree, or serve my passion and make my way through the minor leagues immediately. For me, signing a professional contract was the right decision. I was fortunate. I had two options, and both were good!
Friends that played college baseball told me, “you did the right thing”. They were right, I made it to the Big Leagues, 27 months after I graduated from High School. Nineteen years old and my first Spring Training……how about that!
Schools did not give full scholarships for baseball then because they were limited to just 8.5 baseball scholarships. Still, it was a scholarship that took care of everything. But I realized that in order to do all that, I would be busy every minute of every year, so I had a decision to make. Choose four years in college, playing baseball, basketball and receiving a degree, or serve my passion and make my way through the minor leagues immediately. For me, signing a professional contract was the right decision. I was fortunate. I had two options, and both were good!
Friends that played college baseball told me, “you did the right thing”. They were right, I made it to the Big Leagues, 27 months after I graduated from High School. Nineteen years old and my first Spring Training……how about that!
BTS: Tell us about your first year as a professional ball player?
JR: It was a few weeks after I graduated from High School. I went to rookie league in Florida and spent ten days there, then went to Class “A” ball.
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