Pokey Reese
Encyclopedia
Calvin "Pokey" Reese, Jr. (born June 10, 1973), is an American retired professional baseball
infielder
. Reese is a two-time National League
Gold Glove Award
winner and played with the Cincinnati Reds
(-), Pittsburgh Pirates
(-), and Boston Red Sox
. He batted and threw right-handed.
and began his career in with the Toledo Mud Hens
of the Rookie-level Appalachian League
in . The next season, Reese moved up to Single-A when he joined the Charleston Wheelers of the South Atlantic League
in .
He advanced to the Reds in 1997 and played with the team through 2001, winning two Gold Glove Awards along the way.
Following the 2001 season, Reese spent time on four different teams in the span of about 45 days. On December 18, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
. The next day, he was traded to the Red Sox for first baseman
Scott Hatteberg
, but the Red Sox did not tender him a contract, making him a free agent
two days later. On January 30, 2002, he signed with the Pirates.
In 2002, he battled Abraham Núñez for playing time. After an injury-riddled season in 2003, Reese turned down a higher-paying deal offered by Pittsburgh to play for the Red Sox.
In 2004, he was a member of Boston's first World Series
winning team in 86 years.
On May 8, 2004, at Fenway Park
, Reese had the first two-homer
game of his career in a Red Sox 9-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals
. Reese hit an inside-the-park home run
and one of the conventional type over the Green Monster
, to snap a 172 at-bat
homerless streak dating to April 4, 2003. The last Red Sox player to hit a conventional homer and an inside-the-park homer in the same game was Tony Armas
on September 24, , at Tiger Stadium.
On January 5, , he signed with the Seattle Mariners
, but never played in a game before being put on the 60-day disabled list
and missing the entire season due to injury.
In , Reese signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins
. His contract was terminated on March 5, 2006, after leaving the club on March 1 and not having direct contact with anyone on the team for over 72 hours.
In , Reese was signed by the Nationals to a minor league contract and played for Triple-A Columbus
where in two games he strained both hamstrings and was placed on the DL for several weeks. On July 3, 2008, he returned from the disabled list to Single-A Hagerstown
, but was quickly sent back up again to Triple-A Columbus. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
After becoming a free agent, Reese retired from professional baseball.
more often than he walked
, posting a career 0.43 walk-to-strikeout ratio
(226-to-531). He did hold his own in clutch situations and he had a little power. On the bases, Reese had above-average speed. A high-percentage base stealer
(144-for-170), Reese always looked to take the extra base, but he was not able to get on base consistently (a career .307 on-base percentage).
In an eight-year career, Reese was a .248 hitter with 44 home run
s and 271 RBI
in 856 games.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. Reese is a two-time National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
winner and played with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(-), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(-), and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He batted and threw right-handed.
Career
Reese was born in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and began his career in with the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
of the Rookie-level Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
in . The next season, Reese moved up to Single-A when he joined the Charleston Wheelers of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in .
He advanced to the Reds in 1997 and played with the team through 2001, winning two Gold Glove Awards along the way.
Following the 2001 season, Reese spent time on four different teams in the span of about 45 days. On December 18, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. The next day, he was traded to the Red Sox for first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Scott Hatteberg
Scott Hatteberg
Scott Allen Hatteberg is a former American Major League Baseball first baseman and catcher.- Early life :...
, but the Red Sox did not tender him a contract, making him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
two days later. On January 30, 2002, he signed with the Pirates.
In 2002, he battled Abraham Núñez for playing time. After an injury-riddled season in 2003, Reese turned down a higher-paying deal offered by Pittsburgh to play for the Red Sox.
In 2004, he was a member of Boston's first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
winning team in 86 years.
On May 8, 2004, at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
, Reese had the first two-homer
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
game of his career in a Red Sox 9-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Reese hit an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
and one of the conventional type over the Green Monster
Green Monster
The Green Monster is a popular nickname for the thirty-seven foot , two-inch high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team...
, to snap a 172 at-bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
homerless streak dating to April 4, 2003. The last Red Sox player to hit a conventional homer and an inside-the-park homer in the same game was Tony Armas
Tony Armas
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...
on September 24, , at Tiger Stadium.
On January 5, , he signed with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, but never played in a game before being put on the 60-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
and missing the entire season due to injury.
In , Reese signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. His contract was terminated on March 5, 2006, after leaving the club on March 1 and not having direct contact with anyone on the team for over 72 hours.
In , Reese was signed by the Nationals to a minor league contract and played for Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
where in two games he strained both hamstrings and was placed on the DL for several weeks. On July 3, 2008, he returned from the disabled list to Single-A Hagerstown
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
, but was quickly sent back up again to Triple-A Columbus. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
After becoming a free agent, Reese retired from professional baseball.
Playing style
At the plate, Reese was an impatient hitter who struck outStrikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
more often than he walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, posting a career 0.43 walk-to-strikeout ratio
Walk-to-strikeout ratio
In baseball statistics, walk-to-strikeout ratio is a measure of a hitter's plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone. Generally, a hitter with a good walk-to-strikeout ratio must exhibit enough patience at the plate to refrain from swinging at bad pitches and take a base on balls, but he...
(226-to-531). He did hold his own in clutch situations and he had a little power. On the bases, Reese had above-average speed. A high-percentage base stealer
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
(144-for-170), Reese always looked to take the extra base, but he was not able to get on base consistently (a career .307 on-base percentage).
In an eight-year career, Reese was a .248 hitter with 44 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 271 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 856 games.