Gary Redus - 1989

Gary Redus was born November 1, 1956, in Tanner, Alabama.  After graduating from Tanner High School, Gary was signed to a baseball scholarship at Calhoun State Community College.  He rose to the top of the class in his sophomore year as he batted .390, making the Alabama junior College Athletic Association All Region XXII Team.  Gary was third on the team with 17 runs batted in and second in homeruns with three.  He again led the team in stolen bases with 13 steals in 17 attempts.  He led Calhoun to two state championships in 1975 and 1976.   

Moving from Calhoun to nearby Athens, Gary still ranked high in Alabama college baseball.  Batting.386 during the 1977 season, he drove in 30 runs and stole 36 bases.  He also had 6 homeruns.  He was named to the All-Southern State Conference Team and then to the All-District Team.  In 1978 Gary finished the season with All-Conference, All-District, and All-American recognition.  He climaxed a sterling college career with .41 batting average, 9 homeruns, 36 stolen bases, and 29 runs batted in.  A noteworthy accomplishment was the stealing of 5 bases in one game verses Manchester College of Indiana.  Gary also participated in the basketball program while enrolled at Athens. 

Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1978, and signed by area scout Larry Doughty, Gary was assigned to the Red’s Billings, Montana, entry in the Pioneer League.  His .462 batting average was the second highest in the history of the professional baseball, bettered only by the .477 batting average of Walter Malmaquist in the Nebraska State League at York, Nebraska, in 1913.  He also set new league records with 117 hits, 100 runs, and 42 stolen bases.  He also hit 17 homeruns. 

After five years in the minor leagues, Gary was called up to the major leagues in September 1982.  He played in 20 games and batted .217.  As the starting left fielder for the Reds, Gary led the team with 17 homeruns.  He batted .247 and was a candidate for Rookie of the Year honors.  Injuries in the early season hampered his chances at the coveted first year honor.  Gary still had 51 runs batted in, and he stole 39 bases in 53 attempts.  He had the game winning hit in 11 games. 

Gary was traded to the Chicago White Sox, prior to the 1987 season.  In August of 1988, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He has recently been signed to a two-year contract by the Pirates.