Tommie Reynolds: Mid Sixties Mets Reserve Outfielder (1967) & Long Time Coach Under Tony LaRussa
In 1963 while playing at Burlington, he led the A-ball Midwest League in batting (.332) & tied for the league lead in RBIs (88).
MLB Career: That same year he was given a September call up & appeared in eight games going 1-19. Reynolds would play parts of three seasons with Kansas City (1963-1966). In 1965 he played in 90 games batting .237. On September 2nd, Reynolds had a four-hit game, with a double & RBI in a loss to Cleveland.
MLB Career: That same year he was given a September call up & appeared in eight games going 1-19. Reynolds would play parts of three seasons with Kansas City (1963-1966). In 1965 he played in 90 games batting .237. On September 2nd, Reynolds had a four-hit game, with a double & RBI in a loss to Cleveland.
In 1966 he played in the Pacific Coast League at AAA Vancouver batting .248 with 15 doubles 11 HRs & 61 RBIs. That November he was drafted (Rule V) by the New York Mets.
Mets Career: In 1967, Reynolds would be a fourth outfielder for Wes Westrum's tenth place Mets (61-101) 151 games). Westrum resigned with 11 games left on the season when he found out Gil Hodges would be taking over the following year.
Mets Career: In 1967, Reynolds would be a fourth outfielder for Wes Westrum's tenth place Mets (61-101) 151 games). Westrum resigned with 11 games left on the season when he found out Gil Hodges would be taking over the following year.
Reynolds would struggle to bat near the .200 mark most of the year.
Walk Off HR: On June 18th, in the first game of a double header at Shea Stadium against the Chicago Cubs, Reynolds came in the 8th inning as a defensive replacement for Ron Swoboda in right field. In the bottom of the 10th inning, he led off the inning with a walk off HR off (future Met) pitcher Cal Koonce.
Five Hit Double Header: In an August 17th double header, Reynolds collected five hits with a pair of RBIs, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping the Mets to a 6-5 win in the first game.
Post Mets Career: In 1969, in a full season with the A's, he played in 107 games batting .257 playing outfield alongside Reggie Jackson & Rick Monday.
Retirement: After his playing days Reynolds, would coach & manage in the A's minor leagues.
Family: Tommie Reynolds is the cousin of former MLB player Floyd Robinson who played nine years in the major leagues as an outfielder.
Robinson spent seven seasons with Chicago White Sox (1960-1966) hitting over .300 there, three times. In 1961 he came in third in the Rookie of the Year voting, making the Topps All Star Rookie Team. In his career he would also receive votes for the MVP Award four times.
After his time with the White Sox, he played with the Cincinnati Reds (1967) Oakland A's (1968) & Boston Red Sox (1969). Floyd Robinson was a lifetime .283 hitter with 929 hits 67 HRs 140 doubles 36 triples 426 RBIs & a .365 on base %.
Walk Off HR: On June 18th, in the first game of a double header at Shea Stadium against the Chicago Cubs, Reynolds came in the 8th inning as a defensive replacement for Ron Swoboda in right field. In the bottom of the 10th inning, he led off the inning with a walk off HR off (future Met) pitcher Cal Koonce.
Three days later his 1st inning sac fly was one of two Mets runs, that helped Jack Fisher beat the Phillies Jim Bunning 2-0 in a tight game at Philadelphia.
On September 2nd, Reynolds added an RBI base hit in a Mets four run 4th inning, leading them to a 5-4 win at Wrigley Field.
Reynolds finished the year batting .206 with two HRs, one double 16 runs scored & nine RBIs. He posted a .278 on base % & .535 OPS. He saw action in 101 games 72 as an outfielder.
Reynolds said he disliked his time in New York because he didn't get enough playing time.
In 1968 he spent the season at AAA Jacksonville hitting .319, best batting average amongst the regular starting players. He was second to Amos Otis on that club with 18 stolen bases. Reynolds hit 9 HRs with 16 doubles with 50 RBIs. In the off season he was drafted away (Rule V) by the Athletics who were now relocated in Oakland.
Post Mets Career: In 1969, in a full season with the A's, he played in 107 games batting .257 playing outfield alongside Reggie Jackson & Rick Monday. On May 30th, he hit a pinch-hit HR off the Indians, Luis Tiant.
In May 1970, Reynolds contract was purchased by the California Angels where he played for two seasons (1970-1971). In 1970 with the Angels he had four muti- three hit games. In 1972 he was traded to the Brewers for Andy Kosco. In 72 games with Milwaukee, he batted .200.
Minor League Career: Reynolds would play in the Pacific Coast League for the next six seasons with Sacramento & Spokane. In his 13-year minor league career he batted .302 with 187 HRs & 808 RBIs.
Career Stats: Reynolds played parts of eight MLB seasons, batting .226 with 265 hits 12 HRs 35 doubles 5 triples 141 runs scored & 87 RBIs, He also stole 12 bases, posted a .306 on base % & .602 OPS.
Retirement: After his playing days Reynolds, would coach & manage in the A's minor leagues. In his days with the Athletics, he formed a friendly relationship with Tony LaRussa. He would coach under LaRussa with the Oakland A's for seven seasons (1989-1995) winning a World Series during the 1989 Earthquake in the Bay Area.
Reynolds then followed LaRussa to St. Louis, along with Dave Duncan & Dave McKay coaching there in 1996.
In 1962 Floyd led the AL in doubles (45) while batting .312 (third in the NL) with 109 RBIs (4th in the NL). He had 187 hits, ten triples 11 HRs & 89 runs scored as well.
After his time with the White Sox, he played with the Cincinnati Reds (1967) Oakland A's (1968) & Boston Red Sox (1969). Floyd Robinson was a lifetime .283 hitter with 929 hits 67 HRs 140 doubles 36 triples 426 RBIs & a .365 on base %.
Retirement: Floyd & his wife were partners in real estate & a grocery store. They established the Floyd Robinson Foundation & own a low-income senior citizen apartment complex in San Diego.