Known for his fine defensive play and leadership, shortstop Harold Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was the captain of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team in the 1940s and 1950s. The "Little Colonel" led Brooklyn to seven National League titles and a World Series victory in 1955. The intangibles Reese brought to the game earned him top ten mention in the MVP voting eight times and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1947, Reese gained attention off the field by befriending teammate Jackie Robinson, who was the first black baseball player allowed to play in the major leagues. Reese's friendship with Robinson was instrumental in easing Robinson's acceptance among his Dodger teammates and Major League Baseball. Reese's historic actions remain a symbol of social progress in American civil rights.

Further Reading:

Golenbock, Peter. Teammates. San Diego, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990.

Wolpin, Stewart. Bums No More! The Championship Season of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. New York, St. Martin's Press, 1995.