Craig Reynolds (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Craig Reynolds is a former shortstop
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Seattle Mariners
, and Houston Astros
.
Reynolds attended Reagan High School
and was named Houston's Top High School Athlete of 1971. He was drafted in the 1st round of the 1971 Summer Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was one of their top minor league prospects, batting .293 over six minor league seasons. He made his major league debut for the Pirates in 1975 and split time between the major league club and the triple-A Charleston Rebels
for the next two seasons before being traded traded by the Pirates with Jimmy Sexton
to the Mariners for Grant Jackson after the 1976 season.
Reynolds immediately became a starter in Seattle and enjoyed a particularly successful season in 1978 when he hit .293 and was selected to play in the 1978 MLB All-Star Game
. After that season, his hometown Astros traded for him in exchange for future AL strikeout champion Floyd Bannister
.
Reynolds's steady glove filled the hole at shortstop for the Astros created by the departure of long-time starter Roger Metzger
. He was once again selected to the 1979 all-star game (mostly on the merit of his fielding), but his best season offensively was in 1981 when he tied the major-league record with three triples in one game and led the league with 12 in spite of the strike-shortened season. He played with Astros for 11 seasons, finishing second only to Metzger in all-time games played at shortstop for the team.
Reynolds currently serves as the Preaching & Teaching pastor at Second Baptist Church
North Campus in Houston.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the 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...
, 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...
, and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Reynolds attended Reagan High School
Reagan High School (Houston)
John H. Reagan High SchoolPrincipal AdministratorConnie BergerFounded1927School typePublic school Religious affiliationNoneLocationHouston, Texas, United StatesEnrollment1,683 students...
and was named Houston's Top High School Athlete of 1971. He was drafted in the 1st round of the 1971 Summer Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was one of their top minor league prospects, batting .293 over six minor league seasons. He made his major league debut for the Pirates in 1975 and split time between the major league club and the triple-A Charleston Rebels
Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...
for the next two seasons before being traded traded by the Pirates with Jimmy Sexton
Jimmy Sexton
Jimmy Dale Sexton was a Major League Baseball infielder, and played in professional baseball from 1970–1984. He played with the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals at the major league level. Sexton signed his first professional contract with the Pittsburgh...
to the Mariners for Grant Jackson after the 1976 season.
Reynolds immediately became a starter in Seattle and enjoyed a particularly successful season in 1978 when he hit .293 and was selected to play in the 1978 MLB All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. After that season, his hometown Astros traded for him in exchange for future AL strikeout champion Floyd Bannister
Floyd Bannister
Floyd Franklin Bannister is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched for the Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Royals , California Angels , and the Texas Rangers .-History:In 1973, as a high school...
.
Reynolds's steady glove filled the hole at shortstop for the Astros created by the departure of long-time starter Roger Metzger
Roger Metzger
Roger Henry Metzger was a Shortstop for the Chicago Cubs , Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants . A light-hitting shortstop, he was known for his strong defense and good running speed.- Career :Metzger won the 1973 Gold Glove Award at Shortstop...
. He was once again selected to the 1979 all-star game (mostly on the merit of his fielding), but his best season offensively was in 1981 when he tied the major-league record with three triples in one game and led the league with 12 in spite of the strike-shortened season. He played with Astros for 11 seasons, finishing second only to Metzger in all-time games played at shortstop for the team.
Reynolds currently serves as the Preaching & Teaching pastor at Second Baptist Church
Second Baptist Church Houston
Second Baptist Church Houston is a megachurch in Houston, Texas, USA affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention that has a membership of over 53,000. Its senior pastor is Dr...
North Campus in Houston.