Gerry Reimer

Gerald Norman Remier

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lbs.
• School Western Washington College of Education

• Born February 25, 1938

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Gerry Remier is the father of major leaguer Kevin Reimer. He spent six seasons in AAA, led four leagues in five different offensive departments and had a career average over .300, but never made the majors.

Reimer set the Canadian school record for high jump (6' 4 7/8"), earning him a track scholarship to college. While in college, he learned to play baseball, setting him on the path he would pursue as a pro.

Gerry hit .278 as a rookie with the 1958 Johnson City Phillies. He was a star for the 1959 St. Petersburg Saints, producing at a .351/.407/.550 rate while reaching double digits in doubles (a Florida State League-high 31), doubles (12) and home runs (13). He also stole 17 bases, drove in 92 runs and scored 102 times. He finished second in the FSL behind former major leaguer Tom Hamilton in both average and slugging.

He led the 1960 Three-I League with 179 hits for the Des Moines Demons. Reimer had 104 runs, 37 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 99 RBI, 20 steals and a .331/.392/.544 line in another all-around stellar season. He was third in average behind Pete Ward and George Williams, tied Williams for 5th in runs, again led in doubles, led in both triples and slugging, tied for 4th in home runs, tied Williams for 9th in swipes and was 5th in RBI (one behind Boog Powell).

In '61, Reimer continued to excel, now with the Chattanooga Lookouts. He hit .323/.350/.492 with 35 doubles, 14 triples, 85 runs and 93 RBI. He ranked 6th in the AA Southern Association in average, tied for 4th in two-baggers, led in triples, 7th in RBI and 5th in slugging. In his first AA season, 1962, Gerry batted a solid .286/.346/.480 for the Buffalo Bisons but was now a back-up for the first time in his career. He had his 4th .300 season in 1963, split between the Macon Peaches (.325/.379/.441) and Arkansas Travelers (9 for 34, 2B, 3B, 5 BB). He was fourth in the South Atlantic League in average, trailing Marv Staehle, Costen Shockley and Willie Horton.

Gerry returned to Macon in 1964 despite his fine 1963 and hit .309/.362/.513 with 21 home runs and 95 runs. He was 5th in the Southern League in average, second in slugging (between Dick Kenworthy and Lee May), tied for 5th in homers (with Rich Barry; all the others in the top 10 would play in the majors at some point) and was third in runs (between George Spriggs and May).

Reimer split 1965 between the Knoxville Smokies (.310/.354/.474, 15 HR) and San Diego Padres (3 for 11, 2B). He led the SL in batting average, was second to Roy White in slugging and tied Bob Oliver and Leroy Reams for 9th in circuit clouts. He had his best AAA season with Buffalo in 1966, at .283/.327/.455 with 28 doubles and 16 home runs. He tied May and Adrian Garrett for 13th in the 1966 International League in homers - everyone else in the top 20 would be in the majors during their careers. He was also 4th in the '66 IL in doubles, behind Steve Demeter, Bill Robinson and Reggie Smith and had the best slugging percentage of any league qualifier who never played in The Show.

The Canadian flyhawk ended his career back in his homeland, with the 1967-1968 Vancouver Mounties. He hit .269/.325/.383 the first year, with 32 doubles, 8 triples and 74 RBI, then .249/.288/.353 the next to end his career. He was two doubles behind 1967 Pacific Coast League pacesetter Bobby Klaus.

He played a total of 11 minor league seasons in multiple organizations, with totals of .304/~.352/.468. He played at the AAA level from 1964 - 1968, hitting .270/.320/.410. An outfielder/first baseman, he had at least 65 outfield assists in just over 1,000 games with a season high of 12 (the 1959 St. Petersburg Saints and the 1967 Vancouver Mounties).

Related Sites

• Interview with Reimer