{{short description|American baseball player (born 1956)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Gary Redus |image=1979 Nashville Gary Redus.jpg |caption=Redus with the Nashville Sounds in 1979 |position=Outfielder |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1956|11|1}} |birth_place=Athens, Alabama, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 7 |debutyear=1982 |debutteam=Cincinnati Reds |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=July 23 |finalyear=1994 |finalteam=Texas Rangers |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.252 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=90 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=352 |stat4label=Stolen bases |stat4value=322 |teams= * Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1985}}) * Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1986}}) * Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1987}}–{{mlby|1988}}) * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|1988}}–{{mlby|1992}}) * Texas Rangers ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1994}}) }} '''Gary Eugene Redus''' (born November 1, 1956) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
==Career==
===High school=== Redus, a star at Tanner High School in Alabama, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 17th round of the 1977 MLB draft after playing at Calhoun Community College but he did not sign, opting to attend Athens State University. In 1977, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref>
===Professional===
====Cincinnati Reds====
The Cincinnati Reds then drafted him in the 15th round of the 1978 MLB draft; he signed with the Reds, who sent him to their Pioneer League farm team, the Billings Mustangs in Montana. Redus (who was nearly 21 and thus a few years older than most of the other players in the league) hit for a .462 batting average with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in just 253 at-bats. Redus' average set an all-time American professional baseball record, which still stands.<ref name=espn462>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/20959/in-78-redus-hit-462-in-season-for-the-ages|title=In '78, Redus hit .462, a season for the ages|work=ESPN.com|date=April 16, 2013|access-date=April 16, 2013|author=Williams, Doug}}</ref><ref name=biscuits/>
After working his way through the Reds' minor league system and hitting .333 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1982, Redus was recalled in September of that year, staying with Cincinnati through the 1985 season. Redus reached 5 home runs and 15 stolen bases at the start of his career the fastest of any MLB player. It took him 27 games to reach this mark (Barry Bonds did it in his first 30 games. Elly De La Cruz reached the mark in 40 games).<ref>{{cite web |title=Reds' Elly De La Cruz barges into Barry Bonds territory with extremely rare feat seen just twice before since 1900 | website=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/reds-elly-de-la-cruz-barges-into-barry-bonds-territory-with-extremely-rare-feat-seen-just-twice-before-since-1900/ar-AA1efqEN?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=69bec24476a14baeba664718ae935de2&ei=25 |access-date=24 July 2023}}</ref>
====Philadelphia Phillies==== He was traded along with Tom Hume from the Reds to the Phillies for John Denny and Jeff Gray on December 11, 1985.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1985/12/12/orioles-trade-roenicke-for-bordi-hudler/56425316-0377-4977-b5b5-c8c55cce6534/ "Orioles Trade Roenicke for Bordi, Hudler," ''The Washington Post'', Thursday, December 12, 1985.] Retrieved July 10, 2023.</ref>
====Chicago White Sox==== The Phillies traded him to the Chicago White Sox March 26, 1987 in exchange for Joe Cowley and cash. In 1987, that season, Redus finished third in stolen bases in the American League with 52.
====Pittsburgh Pirates==== Chicago traded Redus to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988 in exchange for Mike Diaz.
On August 25, 1989, Redus hit for the cycle for the Pirates in a 12–3 victory over the Reds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B08250CIN1989.htm |title=Pittsburgh Pirates 12, Cincinnati Reds 3 |website=Retrosheet |date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>
Redus had his best offensive season in 1989, and helped the Pirates to three straight National League East division titles from 1990 to 1992, but his production was hampered by injuries; after 1988, he never appeared in more than 98 games in any regular season. Redus led all batters with a .438 average (7-for-16) through the first six games of the 1992 National League Championship Series, having started four games at first base, and appearing as a pinch hitter once. Pirates manager Jim Leyland opted not to play Redus in the decisive seventh game, favoring left-handed batters against right-handed pitcher John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16350218/leyland_keeps_platoon_system_in_game_7/ |title=Leyland keeps platoon system in Game 7 |first=Gene |last=Guidi |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=October 15, 1992 |accessdate=January 7, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> In the seventh game, the Braves scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to erase a 2–0 Pirates lead and capture the National League pennant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1992/B10140ATL1992.htm |title=Atlanta Braves 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 2 |website=Retrosheet |date=October 14, 1992}}</ref>
====Texas Rangers====
Redus opted for free agency at the end of 1992, playing two injury-plagued seasons with the Texas Rangers before retiring at the end of the 1994 campaign.
==Personal life== Redus and his wife have four children; daughters Lakesha, Manisha, and Nakosha, and a son, Gary II, who played basketball for the South Alabama Jaguars and is currently the head coach of the Rutgers women's basketball team <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.topps.com/blog/1987-topps-baseball/ |title=Throwback Thursday: A Look Back at 1987 Topps Baseball |website=Topps |date=2017 |accessdate=January 7, 2018 |archive-date=January 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062913/https://www.topps.com/blog/1987-topps-baseball/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://usajaguars.com/news/2011/2/14/MBB_0214114711.aspx |title=From Hardball to Roundball: "G" Redus Takes a Different Path to Stardom |website=usajaguars.com |date=February 14, 2011 |accessdate=January 7, 2018}}</ref> In 2003, Redus was inducted to the sports hall of fame for Limestone County, Alabama.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lcshof.com/view.php?id=24 |title=Gary Redus |website=lcshof.com |accessdate=January 7, 2018}}</ref> As of 2013, Redus lives in Decatur, Alabama.<ref name=espn462/> In 2017, Redus joined the coaching staff of the Montgomery Biscuits, a Double-A farm team for the Tampa Bay Rays.<ref name=biscuits>{{cite news |url=http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/baseball/2017/04/04/gary-redus-returns-coaching-home-state-biscuits/100040100/ |title=Gary Redus returns to coaching in home state with Biscuits |first=Kamarri |last=Darrington |website=Montgomery Advertiser |location=Montgomery, Alabama |date=April 4, 2017 |accessdate=January 7, 2017}}</ref> A 1989 news article noted that Redus had been fixing up a 1934 Chevrolet Coupe and a 1935 Ford Sedan over the prior winter. "It's my hobby," he remarked. "I love cars. I really love the old cars, rebuilding them and driving them."<ref>{{cite web|page=C2|last=Perrotto|first=John|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19890323&id=x7kiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QLUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1318,4489722|title=Redus happy to be with Bucs|work=The Beaver County Times|date=March 23, 1989|accessdate=December 8, 2020}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * {{cite news |url=http://billingsgazette.com/where-are-they-now-gary-redus/article_13ab5517-eb1e-5cab-a889-e51d8e470a83.html |title=Where Are They Now: Gary Redus |first=Jeff |last=Welsch |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, Montana |date=September 1, 2014 |accessdate=January 7, 2018}} * {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgR5EDDLsLg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/qgR5EDDLsLg |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=1984 NBC Super Slam Contest - Reds Gary Redus vs Braves Dale Murphy |via=YouTube |accessdate=January 7, 2018}}{{cbignore}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=120988|espn=1171|br=r/redusga01|fangraphs=1010758|brm=redus-001gar|retro=R/Predug001}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{Succession box| before = Kevin McReynolds | title = Hitting for the cycle| years = August 25, 1989 | after = George Brett}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Redus, Gary}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Athens State University alumni Category:Baseball players from Decatur, Alabama Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Major League Baseball first basemen Category:African-American baseball players Category:Cincinnati Reds players Category:Philadelphia Phillies players Category:Chicago White Sox players Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Texas Rangers players Category:Billings Mustangs players Category:Greensboro Hornets players Category:Nashville Sounds players Category:Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players Category:Waterbury Reds players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Reading Phillies players Category:Cotuit Kettleers players Category:Calhoun Warhawks baseball players Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen