[1] A right-hander who was listed as 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and 205 pounds (93 kg), he was born in Dike, Texas, an unincorporated community in Hopkins County.

Reeder's pro career began in 1940 in the Class C East Texas League, and was interrupted by three years of World War II service in the United States Army.

[2] Reeder resumed his baseball career in 1946 and was acquired by the Cardinals in that autumn's minor league draft.

He was a member of the Redbird pitching staff for the full 1949 campaign, splitting two decisions with no saves and a 5.08 earned run average in 21 appearances, 20 of them in relief.

[3] One month to the day later, Reeder earned his only MLB victory against the same team, throwing three shutout frames in relief against the Giants to enable the Redbirds to erase an 8–4 deficit and come back to win, 11–8.