Pokey Reese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pokey Reese |
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Reese celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the 2004 World Series
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| Second baseman / Shortstop | |||
| Born: June 10, 1973 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 1, 1997, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 2004, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .248 | ||
| Home runs | 44 | ||
| Runs batted in | 271 | ||
| Stolen bases | 144 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Calvin "Pokey" Reese Jr. (born June 10, 1973) is a former American Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was an infielder, meaning he played in the infield positions. Pokey Reese played for the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Red Sox between 1997 and 2004. He helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Reese was known for his amazing defense, winning two Gold Glove Awards during his career. He batted and threw with his right hand.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Pokey Reese was born in Columbia, South Carolina. When he was young, he lived in a small home with many relatives. His father faced personal challenges and was often not around. Pokey started playing Little League baseball when he was nine years old. He had to borrow a glove because he didn't own one until high school.
Reese first went to A.C. Flora High School. Later, he moved to Lower Richland High School, which was famous for its sports teams. During his second year of high school, professional baseball scouts noticed him. They were there to watch another player, but they were very impressed by a long throw Pokey made. Because of his talent, the Cincinnati Reds chose him in the first round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 20th player picked overall!
Pokey Reese's Professional Baseball Career
Pokey Reese began his professional baseball journey in 1991. He played for the Princeton Reds in a league for new players. The next year, he moved up to a higher level, joining the Charleston Wheelers.
Making it to the Major Leagues
Reese made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1997. He played with the Reds until 2001. During his time there, he showed off his incredible defensive skills. He won two Gold Glove Awards in 1999 and 2000, which are given to the best defensive players at each position.
Moving to New Teams
After the 2001 season, the Reds traded Pokey Reese to the Colorado Rockies. The very next day, the Rockies traded him to the Boston Red Sox. However, the Red Sox decided not to offer him a contract, so he became a free agent. In January 2002, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 2003, Reese had a chance to sign a higher-paying deal with the Pirates. But he chose to play for the Boston Red Sox instead, showing his desire to be with that team.
Memorable Moments with the Red Sox
On May 8, 2004, Pokey Reese had a fantastic game at Fenway Park. He hit two home runs in one game for the first time in his career! One of his home runs was an inside-the-park home run, where he ran all the way around the bases after hitting the ball. The other went over the famous Green Monster wall. This ended a long streak of games without a home run for him.
Later that year, Pokey Reese made a crucial play in the 2004 American League Championship Series. He fielded a ground ball and threw it to Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out. This win meant the Red Sox won their first league championship since 1986. Just one week later, they went on to win the 2004 World Series!
Later Career and Retirement
After his World Series win, Reese signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2005. However, he missed the entire season due to an injury. In 2006, he signed with the Florida Marlins, but his contract ended early for personal reasons.
In 2008, Pokey Reese signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He played for their Triple-A team, the Columbus Clippers. After dealing with more injuries, he became a free agent at the end of the season. He then decided to retire from professional baseball.
Pokey Reese's Playing Style
Pokey Reese was known for his strong defense. He was also a good base stealer, successfully stealing 144 bases out of 170 attempts during his career. This means he was very fast and smart on the bases.
Over his eight years in the major leagues, Reese played in 856 games. He had a career batting average of .248, hit 44 home runs, and had 271 RBI (Runs Batted In).
Life After Baseball
In May 2015, Pokey Reese returned to his old high school, Lower Richland High School, in Hopkins, South Carolina. He became the high school baseball coach there, sharing his knowledge and love for the game with young players.
Pokey Reese's Family Life
Pokey Reese has faced some sad personal losses in his life. He had a daughter born in 1992 with his fiancée, Tieronay Duckett, who later passed away. He also had a son born in 1992 with Rhonda Richardson, who also passed away a few years later. Reese had a third child, MacKayla Barnes, in 1997.
