Wayne State University Athletics

Reck, a native of Detroit and graduate of Detroit Denby HS, lettered in baseball in 1969, 1970 and 1971, and received a minor baseball award in 1968. An outstanding left-handed fastball pitcher, Reck set or tied 12 Wayne State pitching records during his career. A walk-on at Wayne, Reck emerged as one of the state's leading pitchers and professional prospects before an arm injury his senior year finished his career. Though Reck signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers in 1972, he reinjured his arm during spring training that year, and was released by the organization. With Wayne State, Reck made 38 appearances during his career, compiling an 18-13 record and 2.76 ERA. Among his records still standing today are Most Strikeouts in a single season (121 in '71), Career Strikeouts (280), Most Wins in a single season (9 in '71), Most Shutouts in a single season (3 in '71), Most Complete Games in a single season (8 in '71), and Best Single Season Winning Percentage (.818 in '71) for eight or more decisions. His records now broken include Most Career Wins (18), Most Games Started in a single season (13 in '71), and Most Innings Pitched in a single season (89 in '71). Reck's 1971 campaign was his best in a Tartar uniform. He went 9-2 and compiled a 1.52 ERA, both that led the team. His 121 strikeouts was the third-best mark ever in state history then. He threw a no-hitter in a 21 victory over Buffalo, and a one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Central Michigan, and then ranked NO.1 in the NCAA College Division. He was a tri-captain of the 1971 squad, and was named the team's Most Valuable Player at the season's conclusion. Reck injured his pitching arm near the end of the 1971 season, while playing catch on a team trip to Chicago. He pitched a complete-game, 43 victory over Oakland that aggravated his injury, and in his last collegiate start, went two innings against Detroit before being knocked out. Though he played on the ITM Club that went to Europe in 1971, Reck never regained his form, and his career ended when he was released by the Tigers. In 1970 Reck pitched for Sullivan's of Grand Rapids, which won the National Amateur Baseball Congress Championship in Wichita, Kansas, the most prestigious amateur title in the United States. Reck went 2-0 in the tournament, and had 18 strikeouts in both games. At Detroit Denby Reck played baseball and basketball. He was a pitcher and first baseman, earning AII-PSL and East Side MVP honors his senior year while compiling a 9-1 record. He also was the team's captain. Denby finished second for the city championship in 1967 to Detroit Northwestern, led by John Mayberry. After being released by the Tigers in 1972, Reck finished his education, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education from Wayne that year. He then taught at several Catholic schools until 1975, when he joined the Jim Saros Agency as an insurance agent. Saros and Reck are former Tartar teammates. In 1981 Reck opened his own agency, Metro, Inc., which he still owns and operates today. Reck and his wife, Susan, reside in Detroit, and are the parents of one daughter, Jennifer, 8. During the past several winters, Reck has assisted the boys' basketball team at Harper Woods Notre Dame HS.