Editing Jeff Reardon (section)

==Career==
After graduation in 1973 from  [[Wahconah Regional High School]] in [[Dalton, Massachusetts|Dalton]], [[Massachusetts]], Reardon was drafted by the [[Montreal Expos]] in the 23rd round of the [[1973 Major League Baseball draft|1973 amateur draft]], but did not sign. Reardon played [[college baseball]] for the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]. While at UMass, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] for three years (1974–1976) with the [[Cotuit Kettleers]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]], and in 2000 was named a member of the inaugural class of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League#Hall of Fame and Museum|Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/hofnews/?article_id=247 |title=Hall of Fame Ceremony 20 January 2001 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref> After college, Reardon went undrafted and signed a [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] contract with the [[New York Mets]] in 1977, and was assigned to the [[Lynchburg Mets]] in the Single-A [[Carolina League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/reardje01.shtml|title=Jeff Reardon Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> Although undrafted, Reardon quickly made his way through the Mets' farm system, compiling a 30–9 record with a 2.68 ERA and 6 saves in 74 games combined between Lynchburg, [[Jackson Mets|Jackson]] in 1978, and [[Tidewater Tides|Tidewater]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=reardo001jef|title=Jeff Reardon Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref>

Reardon made his Major League debut with the Mets on August 25, 1979, and would stay in the majors for the rest of his career. He pitched for the Mets until midway through the 1981 season, working mostly as a middle reliever, when he was traded to the Montreal Expos along with outfielder [[Dan Norman]] for [[Ellis Valentine]]. Lacking a reliable closer on the big league staff, the Expos immediately turned Reardon loose in the ninth inning, and he responded by saving 146 games from 1982 to 1986.

When with the Expos, Reardon suffered streaks of inconsistency, occasionally blowing two or three save opportunities in a row. During one bad streak in 1983, Montreal players' wives were invited to appear on the field, and the Expos' fans at [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]] booed his wife.

During his time in Montreal, Reardon was named to the All-Star team twice (1985–1986), and led the majors in saves during the 1985 season, earning the [[Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award]].

[[File:Tony Oliva Jeff Reardon and 1987 Twins (cropped).png|thumb|Reardon (center) at the [[White House Rose Garden|White House]] in 1987]]
Prior to the start of the 1987 season, Reardon was again traded—this time to the Minnesota Twins along with catcher [[Tom Nieto]]—for pitchers [[Neal Heaton]], [[Yorkis Pérez]], and Alfredo Cardwood and catcher [[Jeff Reed (baseball)|Jeff Reed]]. Although his performance dropped compared to his previous five seasons, the trade would immediately pay dividends for the team as he would help the Twins win the [[1987 World Series]]. The next season, he reverted to form, was named to his third All-Star team, and became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to have 40-save seasons in both the American and National Leagues. After another good season in 1989, Reardon became a free agent and signed with the Boston Red Sox on December 6. In honor of Reardon's signing, his birthplace of [[Dalton, Massachusetts]], named its athletic field after him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballparkreviews.com/places/reardon.htm|title=Jeff Reardon Athletic Field|work=ballparkreviews.com|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> After saving ''only'' 21 games for the Red Sox in 1990, Reardon was named to his fourth and final All-Star team in 1991 after another 40-save season. He broke Rollie Fingers' all-time saves record in 1992 with his 342nd save. Later that season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for starting pitcher [[Nate Minchey]] and minor league outfielder Sean Ross. With the Braves, he pitched in his second World Series and was responsible for two of Atlanta's four losses versus [[Toronto Blue Jays|Toronto]], blowing a save in Game 2 and giving up the winning hit in Game 3.

Following the 1992 season, Reardon signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. However, his days of closing were over; he worked as the setup man to [[Rob Dibble]]. Reardon finished the 1993 season with his highest ERA (4.09) since 1987 and his fewest saves (8) since 1981. Granted free agency, Reardon signed with the New York Yankees on February 15, 1994. Although he went north with the team, Reardon retired on May 4, 1994, after compiling an 8.38 ERA while allowing 17 hits over {{frac|9|2|3}} innings in 11 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reardje01.shtml|title=Jeff Reardon Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> After his 16-year career, Reardon stood second on the all-time saves list (to Lee Smith), finishing with more saves (367) than walks (358) and was the only reliever to have more than 20 saves every year from 1982 to 1988.<ref name="go.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/jeff-reardon-1955 |title=Jeff Reardon |work=baseballbiography.com |access-date=July 25, 2015 }}</ref>