Robert "R.J." Reynolds

 Robert “R.J.” Reynolds

 More interested in basketball, Robert Reynolds never played a high school varsity baseball game. While attending community college in 1979, Robert’s coaches talked him into baseball, and two years later he was the starting center fielder and most valuable player for Jerry Weinstein’s Sacramento City College Panthers. He was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second round draft pick in 1980 and was signed by the great Ronnie King who drove him to his first rookie ball game in Lodi.

The following year he was given the nickname “R.J.” in Vero Beach by his manager because of the multitude of Roberts on the team. He will answer to Robert, Bob, or “R.J.”, just don’t call him Bobby. 1983 was a great year for Robert as he tore through Texas League pitching, batting .337 with 18 home runs, 89 RBI’s, and 43 stolen bases. The Dodgers called him up, and he joined fellow Sacramento residents Steve Sax and Dusty Baker for the stretch run. Robert played three eventful years in Los Angeles and his epic squeeze play against the Braves during the 1983 pennant race is ranked as the 13th greatest call of Vin Scully’s storied career.

After being traded to Pittsburgh in 1985, Robert would provide veteran leadership to a young team on the rise featuring Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds. In the 1986 home opener, Robert homered off former Cy Young Award winner, Dwight Gooden. His best year for the Pirates was in 1989, when he hit .270, with 98 hits, 6 Home Runs, and 22 stolen bases. Robert is remembered fondly in Pittsburgh, and the organization, hearing that he was being honored in his hometown, sent a special congratulatory message included in this program. 

He rounded-out his career with three seasons in Japan, and an additional three years in Mexico, becoming one of the few ball players to play professionally in three countries. Robert played 8 seasons in the big leagues and hit .267 with 109 stolen bases. He is remembered not just as a great athlete, but a tremendous teammate.