MLB Power Rankings: Each team’s best trade ever

Los Angeles Dodgers

This trade, made in 1939, might go down as the most lopsided trade ever. The Los Angeles Dodgers (playing in Brooklyn at the time) acquired future Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese in exchange for cash and Red Evans, who didn’t even pitch after the 1939 season. Reese, like many middle infielders during his era, was not known for his hitting. His .269 career average is proof of that. Most of his value came through his base running and his defense.

However, one could argue that his leadership and commitment to winning might have been his greatest asset. When Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers, most of his teammates were outraged. Reese was not. His refusal to sign a petition to refuse to play if Robinson was on the team set the standard in the club house: Robinson was a Dodger.

Reese befriended Robinson and famously stood with his arm around Robinson in front of a Brooklyn crowd when he was booed. Had it not been for Reese, perhaps Robinson wouldn’t have been a Dodger. Maybe he doesn’t play in the majors at all. Reese was a great player, but his greatest contribution to the Dodgers was ensuring that Jackie Robinson would be the guy to break the color barrier in baseball. For that, every baseball fan should be grateful that Reese was an even better human being than he was a baseball player.

Next: Miami Marlins