By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications
Clarence “Perk” Reitemeier, a member of K-State baseball’s All-Century Team, passed away this past Sunday in Parsons, Kansas. He was 86.
Reitemeier was not just a three-year starter for the Wildcat baseball team but an outstanding pitcher and hitter from 1950-51 and 1954. In 1950, he led the team with 65 innings pitched and 50 strikeouts while in 1951, he paced the Wildcats in batting average (.383) and home runs (4). Also in 1951, Reitemeier had a 4-4 record as a pitcher, striking out 35 in a team-best 55 2/3 innings.
After a two-year stint serving in the U.S. Army from 1952-53, Reitemeier returned to Kansas State where he once again led the team in innings pitched while hitting .356 in 1954.
Reitemeier was also a practice team member for K-State’s 1951 Final Four basketball team.
Reitemeier graduated from Kansas State with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education before working as an educator and school administrator throughout Kansas for nearly 20 years. He later went on to work for School Specialty Supply and retired as the company’s vice president in 1993.
In 2000, in celebration of 100 years of K-State baseball, Reitemeier was one of 21 former Wildcats named to the school’s All-Century Team. He was the lone player on the honorary team selected from the 1950s.
A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Reitemeier is survived by his wife, Norene, as well as five daughters, one son, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10 am on Thursday, February 5 at St. Patrick’s Church in Parsons.
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