Gary Carter's 1985 Back Up Catcher: Ronn Reynolds (1982-1985)

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Ronn Dwayne Reynolds was born September 28th 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. After attending Community College, the six foot, 200lb catcher went to  the University of Arkansas where he joined a long list of Razorbacks to make the big leagues.

 In 1980 he was the New York Mets 5th round pick and was assigned to Little Falls in the NY / Penn. League & then the Lynchburg Mets. He spent the next two seasons with AA Jackson, belting 10 HRs, 100 hits while posting a .344 on base %. The Mets brought him up at the very end of the season where had his debut in the final two games of the season going 0-4.

 He was with the Mets early in the 1983 season but after batting .197 in 24 games, he was sent back down after June. That year veteran Ron Hodges finally got the main catchers job after a decade with the team. Hodges was at the end of his career, Junior Ortiz was behind him as back up (68 games). After that it was Reynolds, Mike Bishop & Mike Fitzgerald who would win the 1984 catching spot.

In 1984 Reynolds was Tidewaters main catcher hitting a career high 11 HRs there batting .261. In 1985 he got a chance behind Gary Carter who was a work horse catching 149 games. Reynolds saw action as his back up, playing in 28 games batting .209 (9-43) with just one RBI. Behind the plate he threw out 9 of 19 base stealers. Mets broadcasters Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy & Tim McCarver usually had fun with the idea Reynolds used two n's in his first name.

 Trivia: In George Plimpton's 1985 April Fools hoax, The Curious Case of Sidd Finch, Reynolds was the catcher who caught Finch's 168 mph fastball.

 The Mets traded him proper to the 1986 Championship season. He spent 1986 with the Philadelphia Phillies, 1987 with the Houston Astros & 1990 with the Sad Diego Padres for eight games before retiring.
On October 1st 1987, Reynolds was the victim of a rare triple-steal in a game against the Atlanta Braves. With the bases loaded, Reynolds made a return throw to pitcher Danny Darwin. The Braves Gerald Perry broke for home. Darwin threw back to Reynolds but Reynolds dropped the ball and all three runners were safe. All three were credited with stolen bases & Reynolds was injured on the play and left the game.

 In a six year career he batted .188 with 4 HRs 12 doubles 21 RBIs & a .228 on base % in 143 games. Behind the plate he 139 games throwing out 27% of would be base stealers.

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