Making Reed the everyday shortstop was one of the changes made by new manager Joe Morgan in 1988 that turned the team around, leading to a division title. Reed finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting, batting .293 and scoring 60 runs in 338 at-bats while providing solid defense. Selected by the Colorado Rockies on November 17, 1992 in the expansion draft, Reed was dealt that same day to the Dodgers for Rudy Seanez. There he continued his stellar glovework, leading the league in fielding percentage the next two seasons.
Reed signed with San Diego in April 1995, and quickly became a local hero among teammates and fans. GM Kevin Towers dealt him to Detroit after the 1996 season to make room at second for Quilvio Veras, drawing the ire of Reed's legion of supporters. Ken Caminiti's assertion that Reed's defense had been essential to the 1996 division title may have been valid, since the Pods failed to make the playoffs the following year. (WOR/JT)
Contribute your recollections of Jody Reed by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 29, 1990: At Detroit, the Red Sox bang out 12 doubles, setting an American League record, in a 13–3 win over the Tigers. Wade Boggs has 3, while Tim Naehring, Jody Reed, and Ellis Burks each have 2. Greg Harris wins easily. The previous AL record was 11, set on July 14, 1934 by Detroit against New York. The 12 two-baggers will be tied in 1996 by Cleveland.
»June 15, 1993:
After baseball owners have an all day meeting in Denver to discuss, among other things, bench-clearing brawls, they arrive at Mile High Stadium for the 7th inning, and witness two fights and four ejections. After a Ramon Martinez brushback pitch, Andres Galarraga singles and breaks for second clipping 2B Jody Reed with his spikes. Martinez then plunks Charlie Hayes, who charges the mound, and the brawling starts. Rocks reliever Keith Shephard, a former boxer, throws at Cory Snyder in the 8th, then gestures him to come on. Brawl two and two more ejections. The Dodgers win, 12–4.
»September 19, 1995:
San Diego pummels Colorado, 15-4, as 3B Ken Caminiti drives home eight runs with four hits, including a pair of homers, again from each side of the plate. Caminiti has now hit a pair of homers, right and left-handed, in three of his last four games. He's the only major leaguer to ever to do it three times in a month. Jody Reed has four hits and four runs for the Pads. Andres Galarraga connects for his 30th homer, giving the Rockies four players with 30+ homers. This matches the 1977 Dodgers.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
