Pokey Reese

From SoSH

Calvin "Pokey" Reese, Jr. was born in Columbia, South Carolina on June 10, 1973. The weak-hitting shortstop/second baseman played for the Red Sox during the 2004 season. He throws and bats right-handed.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

Pokey was selected in the 1st round (20th overall) of the 1991 amateur entry draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He worked his way through the minors before making his major league debut in 1997. After five seasons with the Reds, he was traded to the Red Sox for Scott Hatteberg, but two days later was not tendered a contract, making him a free agent. A month later he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for two years (2002-2003).

In December of 2003, Pokey signed as a free agent with the Red Sox. Though he wasn't much of a treat at the plate, his flashy defense carried the 2004 team during long spells of defensive inefficiency.

After the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, Pokey signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners and proceeded to miss the entire 2005 season with a shoulder injury. After the team declined the club option for 2006, he signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins. On March 5, 2006, after Pokey left camp and hadn't been heard from for three days, the Marlins terminated his contract. His agent later stated that he had simply lost his passion for the game.

Many have guessed that the decision to be with his family instead of playing ball stemmed from a series of personal tragedies he suffered in the mid-90's. His fiancee died in a car accident in 1993. Three years later, the mother of his son died while delivering the child of another man. On the heels of that traumatizing incident, Pokey sent his son to live with his maternal grandmother and great-grandmother, both of whom were murdered the following year, on Christmas Eve.

Awards

• 2-time National Leauge Gold Glove - 2B (1999 & 2000)

Moment in the Sun

• Hit an inside-the-park home run at Fenway Park on May 8, 2004 against the Kansas City Royals. He also hit a home run over the Green Monster in the same game. That snapped his homerless streak which dated back to April 4, 2003.

• Pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra grounded out to Pokey at 12:01am for the final out in the 2004 ALCS vs the New York Yankees.

Trivia

• Was nicknamed "Pokey" as an infant by his grandmother.
• "Pokey would've had it." was a common phrase in 2004, whenever Mark Bellhorn made an error.
• Finished fifth in the National League with 28 stolen bases in 1999.

Transactions

• June 3, 1991: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1991 amateur draft. Player signed June 3, 1991.
• December 18, 2001: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Dennys Reyes to the Colorado Rockies for Gabe White and Luke Hudson.
• December 19, 2001: Traded by the Colorado Rockies to the Boston Red Sox for Scott Hatteberg.
• December 21, 2001: Granted Free Agency.
• January 30, 2002: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• November 9, 2003: Granted Free Agency.
• December 23, 2003: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• November 1, 2004: Granted Free Agency.
• January 4, 2005: Signed as a Free Agent with the Seattle Mariners.
• November 1, 2005: Granted Free Agency.
• January 3, 2006: Signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.
• March 5, 2006: Released by the Florida Marlins. Contract terminated.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis