Gary Redus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Redus |
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Redus with the Nashville Sounds in 1979
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 1, 1956 Athens, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 1982, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 23, 1994, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .252 | ||
| Home runs | 90 | ||
| Runs batted in | 352 | ||
| Stolen bases | 322 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Gary Eugene Redus (born November 1, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Gary played for several teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
Contents
Baseball Career Highlights
Early Days and College Baseball
Gary Redus was a talented player at Tanner High School in Alabama. After high school, he played baseball at Calhoun Community College. In 1977, the Boston Red Sox picked him in the MLB Draft. However, Gary decided to go to Athens State University instead of signing with the Red Sox. That same year, he played summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Starting Professional Baseball
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Gary in 1978, and he signed with them. They sent him to their minor league team, the Billings Mustangs. Even though he was a bit older than most players there, Gary had an amazing season. He hit for a .462 batting average, which is a record for professional baseball that still stands today! He also hit 17 home runs and had 62 RBI.
Gary continued to play well in the Reds' minor league system. By 1982, he was playing for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he hit .333. He was then called up to the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds in September 1982. Gary quickly made an impact, becoming one of the fastest MLB players to reach 5 home runs and 15 stolen bases in his career. He did it in just 27 games!
Philadelphia Phillies
After the 1985 season, Gary was traded from the Reds to the Philadelphia Phillies. This trade happened in December 1985.
Chicago White Sox
In March 1987, the Phillies traded Gary to the Chicago White Sox. During that 1987 season, Gary was one of the best base stealers in the American League, finishing third with 52 stolen bases.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The White Sox traded Gary to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988. While playing for the Pirates, Gary achieved a rare feat on August 25, 1989. He hit for the cycle in a game against his former team, the Reds. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game!
Gary had his best offensive season in 1989. He also helped the Pirates win three straight National League East division titles from 1990 to 1992. However, injuries started to affect his playing time. After 1988, he didn't play more than 98 games in any regular season. In the 1992 National League Championship Series, Gary played very well, hitting .438. But the Pirates lost the series in a very close Game 7.
Texas Rangers
After the 1992 season, Gary became a free agent. He then played two seasons with the Texas Rangers. These seasons were also affected by injuries. He retired from baseball at the end of the 1994 season.
Personal Life
Gary Redus is married and has four children: three daughters named Lakesha, Manisha, and Nakosha, and a son named Gary II. In 2003, Gary was honored by being inducted into the sports hall of fame for Limestone County, Alabama. As of 2013, he lives in Decatur, Alabama.
Gary has a passion for cars, especially old ones. A news article from 1989 mentioned that he enjoyed fixing up classic cars like a 1934 Chevrolet Coupe and a 1935 Ford Sedan. He said, "It's my hobby. I love cars. I really love the old cars, rebuilding them and driving them."
In 2017, Gary joined the coaching staff for the Montgomery Biscuits. This team is a Double-A minor league team for the Tampa Bay Rays. His son, Gary Redus II, played basketball at the University of South Alabama and later became an assistant coach for the Louisiana State women's basketball team in 2022.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
