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 on November 1, 1956, is a former American 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.
Gary Redus: A Baseball Journey
High School and College Years
Gary Redus was a talented player at Tanner High School in Alabama. After playing at Calhoun Community College, he was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 17th round of the 1977 MLB Draft. However, he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to attend Athens State University. In 1977, he also played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Starting His Professional Career
Cincinnati Reds: A Record-Breaking Start
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Gary in the 15th round of the 1978 MLB Draft. He signed with the Reds and began his professional journey. They sent him to their Pioneer League team, the Billings Mustangs in Montana.
Gary was almost 21 years old, a bit older than most players in that league. But he quickly showed his amazing skills. He hit for an incredible .462 batting average. He also hit 17 home runs and had 62 RBI in just 253 at-bats. This batting average set an all-time record in American professional baseball, which still stands today!
Gary then moved up through the Reds' minor league system. In 1982, he hit .333 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. That September, he was called up to the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds. He stayed with them until the end of the 1985 season. Gary was one of the fastest MLB players to reach 5 home runs and 15 stolen bases in his career. It took him only 27 games to achieve this impressive milestone.
Philadelphia Phillies: A New Team
On December 11, 1985, Gary was traded from the Reds to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was traded along with Tom Hume in exchange for John Denny and Jeff Gray.
Chicago White Sox: Leading in Stolen Bases
The Phillies traded Gary to the Chicago White Sox on March 26, 1987. This trade brought the White Sox Joe Cowley and some cash. In 1987, Gary had a fantastic season. He finished third in the American League for stolen bases, with a total of 52.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Hitting for the Cycle
In 1988, Chicago traded Gary to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Mike Diaz. Gary had a memorable moment on August 25, 1989. He hit for the cycle for the Pirates in a 12–3 win against his former team, the Reds. Hitting for the cycle means a player hits a single, double, triple, and 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 never played more than 98 games in any regular season.
In the 1992 National League Championship Series, Gary led all batters with a .438 average. He had 7 hits in 16 at-bats through the first six games. He started four games at first base and also appeared as a pinch hitter. In the final seventh game, the Pirates manager decided not to play Gary. This was because the manager wanted more left-handed batters against the Atlanta Braves' right-handed pitcher, John Smoltz. The Braves ended up winning that game in the bottom of the ninth inning, taking the National League pennant.
Texas Rangers: Final Seasons
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.
Life After Baseball
Gary Redus is married and has four children: daughters Lakesha, Manisha, and Nakosha, and a son, 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.
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. Gary also has a cool hobby: he loves old cars! A news article from 1989 mentioned he was fixing up 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."
Gary's son, Gary Redus II, played basketball at the University of South Alabama. On April 20, 2022, he was named an assistant coach for the Louisiana State women's basketball team.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
