Rangers History Today: A Look Back at Kevin Reimer
On this date in Texas Rangers history, Kevin Reimer drove in Juan González in the 11th inning to help the Rangers to their second extra-inning walk-off victory in three games.
The date was May 27, 1990, and the Rangers were hosting the Chicago White Sox. Two games earlier, the Rangers defeated Kansas City, 4-3, in 13 innings. Against the White Sox, the Rangers didn’t have to wait quite that long to win the game.
In the bottom of the 11th, Reimer strode to the plate at Arlington Stadium with Juan González already on base. Reimer drilled a line drive down the first base line, one that allowed González to score and give the Rangers the victory.
Reimer started his pro career as an 11th round pick by the Rangers in the MLB Draft, and by 1988 he was named the Rangers Minor League Player of the Year. He was thought of as a player on the level of other young prospects in the Rangers’ organization at the time, including Gonzalez, catcher Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez, and third baseman Dean Palmer.
He certainly had his moments. He had a couple of cups of coffee with the Rangers at the end of the 1988 and 1989 seasons, but in 1990 he played 64 games, but only hit two home runs. Finally given a chance to play every day in 1991, Reimer’s numbers started to pick up. He hit a career-high 20 home runs in 1991, driving in 69 runs. Then, in 1992, he hit another 16 home runs with 58 RBI.
After the 1992 season, the Rangers had to expose some players to the MLB expansion draft for the league’s two expansion teams, the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. The Rockies selected Reimer with its ninth pick. But it’s what happened next that he’s likely best known for.
The Rockies dealt Reimer to Milwaukee for a relatively unknown player named Dante Bichette, who went on to be a four-time All-Star for Colorado.
Reimer played the 1993 season with the Brewers, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 60 runs. During that season he became just the second Brewer all-time to go 6-for-6 in a single game.
Reimer spent two seasons in Japan with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks before his professional career ended.
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