Harold Reynolds

Harold Craig Reynolds (born November 26, 1960) is an American former professional baseball second baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and California Angels. Since his retirement, he has become a television analyst, working for MLB Network and Fox Sports.

For other people named Harold Reynolds, see Harold Reynolds (disambiguation).
Harold Reynolds
Reynolds with MLB.com at the 2008 World Series
Second baseman
Born: (1960-11-26) November 26, 1960
Eugene, Oregon
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1983, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
August 7, 1994, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average.258
Home runs21
Runs batted in353
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Early career

High school

Born in Eugene, Oregon,[1] Reynolds was raised in Corvallis and starred in football, basketball, and baseball at Corvallis High School. He was a member of the state championship (AAA) football team in 1978, graduated in 1979, and was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.[2] He was a member of Corvallis' American Legion baseball team that won state and regional titles in August 1978.[3]

College

Although Reynolds was selected in the 6th round of the 1979 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres on June 5, he opted not to sign and attended college initially at San Diego State University before transferring to Cañada College in Redwood City, California. In the 1980 MLB draft on June 3, Reynolds was selected in the 1st round (2nd pick) of the amateur draft (Secondary Phase) by the Seattle Mariners.

On June 1, 2013, Reynolds was inducted into the Cañada College Hall of Fame and was presented with the "Colts Lifetime Achievement Award".

Professional career

Reynolds spent several seasons in the minor leagues, playing for the Wausau Timbers (A) in Wisconsin in 1981, Lynn Sailors (AA) in Massachusetts in 1982, and Salt Lake Gulls (AAA) in Utah in 1983,[4] prior to his major league debut on September 2, 1983. During his time in the minors, Reynolds learned how to switch hit by working with minor league manager and former Cincinnati Reds catcher Bill Plummer. The following season, he played AAA ball in Salt Lake before being called up again in September 1984. The 1985 season was his official rookie season in Major League Baseball when he played for the Seattle Mariners.

Reynolds was an All-Star in 1987 and 1988, led the American League in stolen bases with 60 in 1987, in triples with 11 in 1988, and in at-bats with 642 in 1990. He was the only player other than Rickey Henderson to lead the American League in stolen bases during any season in the 1980s. In 1986, he played in Puerto Rico with the Mayagüez Indians.

In 1991, Reynolds won the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a Major League Baseball player selected for his character and charitable contributions to his community.[5]

On Oct. 26, 1992, Reynolds was granted free agency and signed with the Baltimore Orioles that December. After one season with the Orioles, he again entered free agency on Oct. 29, 1993. Reynolds signed with the San Diego Padres on Jan. 28, 1994, before being traded to the California Angels that March for Hilly Hathaway. The 1994 season was Reynolds' final season in the major leagues.

Reynolds led the league in double plays turned By a second baseman five times and in errors committed by a second baseman four times, and won three Gold Glove awards for his play at second base.

Broadcasting
Reynolds at the 2008 World Series

Reynolds joined ESPN in 1996 as a lead studio analyst on Baseball Tonight. He would appear at major baseball events on the ESPN set including the All-Star Game and the World Series. He also was a commentator for ESPN's coverage of the College World Series and Little League World Series. However, he was fired from the network in July 2006 following accusations of sexual harassment.[6] Reynolds called the incident "a total misunderstanding" and that a hug he had given a woman had been misinterpreted.[7] Reynolds filed a $5 million lawsuit against ESPN for payment of the remainder of his contract.[8][9] ESPN settled the case with Reynolds in April 2008, and paid him a seven-figure sum.[10]

Reynolds joined MLB.com as a commentator in June 2007.[11] In April 2008, he joined Mets pre-game and post-game coverage on SportsNet New York as a baseball commentator.[12] Reynolds also worked with TBS on their Sunday baseball telecasts, as well as the 2008 MLB Playoffs.

Reynolds has been an analyst on MLB Network since its launch in January 2009.[13] Reynolds regularly appears on MLB Tonight, Quick Pitch, Diamond Demo and MLB Network's breaking news and special event coverage, including the All-Star Game, Postseason and World Series. He was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award for his work as a studio analyst on MLB Network in 2011, 2012 and 2013.[14][15][16]

Reynolds became a member of the MLB on Fox pregame show in 2012, which at the time was being produced out of MLB Network's studios. Reynolds worked on Fox's pregame show for two years alongside Matt Vasgersian and Kevin Millar. After the 2013 season, Reynolds, along with Tom Verducci, was promoted to join Joe Buck on the network's top broadcast team following the retirement of lead analyst Tim McCarver, which lasted for two seasons until they were replaced by John Smoltz in 2016.

During the offseason, Reynolds co hosts the daily morning show Hot Stove with Vasgersian.

Personal life

Reynolds is a Christian[17][18] and is the youngest of eight children. His brother Don Reynolds is a former outfielder who played parts of two seasons with the San Diego Padres.[19]

See also

References
  1. Bellamy, Ron (February 11, 1994). "Second chance is all he seeks". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1B.
  2. "Six new inductees join Oregon Hall of Fame". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. June 30, 1998. p. 2D.
  3. "Corvallis upends Yakima for title". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. UPI. August 28, 1978. p. 6.
  4. Kragthorpe, Kurt (June 15, 1983). "Owen-Reynolds combination clicks". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 8B.
  5. "All-time winners". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  6. "ESPN's Reynolds let go over sexual harassment". July 26, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-11-07. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
  7. Marchand, Andrew (2006-07-26). "Accused of Sexual Harassment: Reynolds Wants ESPN Job Back". New York Post. Archived from the original on 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  8. "Reynolds sues ESPN for $5 million". Archived from the original on 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  9. Sandomir, Richard (February 8, 2007). "Reynolds's Pact Is Included in Amended ESPN Suit". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  10. "ESPN, Harold Reynolds settle lawsuit". Los Angeles Business Journal. April 16, 2008.
  11. "Former All-Star Reynolds joins MLB.com", MLB.com
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-04-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), metsblog.com
  13. http://mlb.mlb.com/network/personalities/?id=3686541
  14. "NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR THE 32ND ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS, AL MICHAELS TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  15. "NOMINEES FOR THE 33RD ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  16. "THE NOMINEES FOR THE 34th ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  17. Williamson, Don. "Harold Reynolds -- This Seattle Mariner Uses Baseball As A Platform For Teaching Kids". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  18. "Harold Reynolds". The Goal. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  19. Fred McMane, United Press International, Wolverines Popular in Baseball Draft, June 6, 1979
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