Ken Reynolds – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Kenneth Lee Reynolds managed to carve out a solid six-year run in Major League Baseball during the 1970s, pitching for four different teams before he finally hung up his cleats in 1976. He was born on January 4, 1947, in Trevose, Pennsylvania, and this lefty made his mark in both the American and National Leagues during what many call baseball’s golden era.

Reynolds pitched in 103 MLB games, suiting up for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers between 1970 and 1976. His journey in pro baseball took him from the draft rooms in Philly to the mounds of big league stadiums, showing just how much dedication it takes to compete at the sport’s top level.

Ken Reynolds’ story gives us a peek into the lives of those journeyman players who really made up the backbone of 1970s baseball. He went from playing college ball at New Mexico Highlands University to the majors, and then later transitioned into coaching roles. His path highlights both the hurdles and opportunities that shaped a baseball career during this transformative decade.

Early Life and Education

Kenneth Lee Reynolds started out in Trevose, Pennsylvania, born on January 4, 1947. Later, his family moved to Massachusetts, where he’d become a standout three-sport athlete.

His high school years at Marlborough High School were key in laying the groundwork for his future baseball career. College at New Mexico Highlands University opened the door for him to enter pro baseball.

Birth and Family Background

Kenneth Lee Reynolds came into the world on January 4, 1947, in Trevose, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Massachusetts, and that’s where he spent most of his formative years.

He grew up in a family that loved sports. His older brother Byron also played baseball. The two brothers competed in the Blackstone Valley League during the summers before Reynolds got into Legion baseball.

At 12, Reynolds broke his left wrist in an accident. That injury forced him to learn to throw right-handed, but he kept batting and pitching left-handed.

“I broke my left wrist when I was 12 so that’s when I learned to throw right-handed,” Reynolds once explained. This twist made him ambidextrous, which is pretty rare, and it ended up helping his baseball career.

Marlborough High School Years

Reynolds became a three-sport star at Marlborough High School and graduated in 1964. He played football, basketball, and baseball, each under different coaches who helped shape his athletic path.

On the football field, Reynolds played both halfback and safety for coach Frank Kronoff. In his senior year, his team went undefeated and won the Class C state championship.

Reynolds’ High School Sports:

• Football: Halfback/Safety under Frank Kronoff
• Basketball: Forward under Jesse Wade
• Baseball: Pitcher/Outfielder under Arthur Duplessis

In basketball, he played forward for coach Jesse Wade. Even though he didn’t have much size, his teams stayed competitive and made it to the tournament his senior year.

Baseball was where Reynolds really shined at Marlborough. He pitched and played outfield for coach Arthur Duplessis, and developed tough rivalries with Shrewsbury and Milford.

Ted Rolfe noticed him and asked if he’d join the new Northborough Legion team. Because Reynolds could pitch left-handed one day and play outfield right-handed the next, his ambidextrous skills gave him a real edge.

Attending New Mexico Highlands University

Reynolds picked New Mexico Highlands University, a small NIAA school, to keep playing baseball. The university gave him a shot to compete against schools from Texas and Colorado.

His freshman year was special. He earned All-American honors and helped his team reach the Small College World Series. That early success got him noticed by pro scouts.

“I was an All-American my freshman year and we went to the Small College World Series,” Reynolds recalled about his college days.

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the 4th round of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft while he was still at New Mexico Highlands. That forced a tough decision about whether to keep studying or go pro.

“It was a tough decision to make,” Reynolds said about leaving school. The Phillies drafted him as both a pitcher and outfielder, seeing the versatility he’d developed in high school.

Path to Major League Baseball

Ken Reynolds reached the majors through the Philadelphia Phillies organization after they picked him in the 1966 amateur draft. He spent several years in the minors, working on his pitching before finally making his MLB debut in 1970.

MLB Draft and Signing

The Philadelphia Phillies picked Ken Reynolds in the 4th round of the 1966 amateur draft. Scouts noticed him while he was playing at New Mexico Highlands University.

He stood out in college for his versatility. He pitched left-handed and played outfield right-handed, showing off his athleticism at multiple positions.

The Phillies liked his potential and let him keep playing outfield after they drafted him. He also pinch-hit and pinch-ran during his early days.

Reynolds became the first and only major leaguer to come out of New Mexico Highlands University. That’s a unique path, coming from a smaller college program.

His time at Marlborough High in Massachusetts really set the stage for his skills before college.

Minor League Development

Reynolds spent four years working his way through the Phillies’ minor league system from 1966 to 1970. At first, he played multiple positions, but the organization eventually had him focus only on pitching.

By the time he made it to the majors, Reynolds was strictly a pitcher. He had to leave his days as a position player behind.

The minor leagues gave him the experience he needed for the big leagues. He spent that time sharpening his left-handed pitching and learning what it takes to play pro ball.

Reynolds made his MLB debut on September 5, 1970, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched one inning, gave up no hits or runs, and walked one batter.

Those four years in the minors were crucial for his jump to the majors, where he’d spend most of his time with the Phillies.

MLB Career Overview

Ken Reynolds pitched for four teams during his six-year MLB career from 1970 to 1976, with a one-year gap in 1974. He spent the most time with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1970 to 1972, then had shorter stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres.

Debut with Philadelphia Phillies

Reynolds made his Major League debut on September 5, 1970, with the Phillies at age 23. That first season, he only made four relief appearances, pitching just 2.1 innings with a spotless 0.00 ERA.

In 1971, Reynolds got his shot as a starting pitcher. He played in 35 games, started 25, and logged 162.1 innings. He finished with a 5-9 record and a 4.49 ERA, throwing two complete games and notching his only career shutout.

His last year with the Phillies in 1972 was rough. He started 23 of 33 games, ended up with a 2-15 record, and posted a 4.26 ERA over 154.1 innings. Even though the win-loss record looked bad, he struck out 87 batters and showed decent control.

St. Louis Cardinals Tenure

Reynolds joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975 after missing the 1974 season. The team changed his role from starter to reliever during his time in St. Louis.

He appeared in 10 games, all out of the bullpen. Reynolds pitched 17 innings and put up an impressive 1.59 ERA, his best mark in the majors. He gave up only 12 hits, walked 11, and struck out seven.

His short run with the Cardinals showed he could adapt to different roles. That low ERA made you wonder if maybe he was better off as a reliever than a starter at that point.

San Diego Padres Period

Reynolds wrapped up his MLB career with the San Diego Padres in 1976. He pitched in 19 games, made two starts, but mostly worked out of the bullpen.

His final season was tough. Reynolds finished with a 6.40 ERA over 32.1 innings, went 0-3, and allowed 38 hits and 29 walks while striking out 18. He did pick up his only career save with San Diego.

The high walk rate and ERA showed his command was slipping. His time with the Padres marked the end of his six-year big league run at age 29.

American League Season with Milwaukee Brewers

Reynolds had his shortest MLB stint with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973, his only season in the American League. He appeared in just two games, started one, and pitched 7.1 innings.

That brief experience didn’t go well. He posted a 7.36 ERA and an 0-1 record, giving up five hits, walking 10, and striking out only three. Control problems really hurt him.

His time with the Brewers lasted less than a season, and after that, he missed all of 1974 before returning to the National League with St. Louis.

Notable Achievements and Records

Ken Reynolds’ six-year MLB career from 1970-1976 had its share of challenges and mixed stats. He finished with 7 wins and 29 losses, playing for four teams in both leagues.

Pitching Performance Highlights

Reynolds’ best season came in 1971 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had 5 wins and 9 losses with a 4.49 ERA across 35 games. That was his best year for both wins and innings pitched.

He started 25 games that year and pitched 162.1 innings. He threw 2 complete games and 1 shutout. His 81 strikeouts in 1971 were his highest single-season total.

Reynolds showed he could switch from starting to relieving. In 1975 with St. Louis, he posted his lowest ERA, 1.59, in 10 relief appearances. That short stretch really showed he could adjust his pitching style when needed.

In his last season, 1976 with San Diego, he picked up his only career save. He played in 19 games, made 2 starts, and mostly came out of the bullpen.

National League Record

Reynolds spent five of his six MLB seasons in the National League. In the NL, he had 7 wins and 28 losses with a 4.40 ERA in 101 games.

The Philadelphia Phillies used Reynolds the most during his National League years. He appeared in 72 games for them from 1970-1972, starting 48 times.

His NL time also included short stints with St. Louis in 1975 and San Diego in 1976. He completed 4 games and had 1 shutout during his NL career.

The teams he pitched for weren’t exactly powerhouses, especially the Phillies in those years, which made his win-loss record look worse than his pitching numbers sometimes showed.

Major League Statistics

Reynolds left MLB with a career record of 7-29 and a 4.46 ERA in 103 games. He pitched 375.2 innings, struck out 197 batters, and walked 196.

His stats also show 51 starts, 20 games finished, and 4 complete games. He notched 1 shutout and 1 save in his career.

The lefty gave up 370 hits and 29 home runs. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was 1.507, which points to some control issues.

He played for the Phillies, Brewers, Cardinals, and Padres, bouncing between both leagues. That versatility let him adapt to different teams and pitching philosophies.

Transition and Retirement

Ken Reynolds’ last years in baseball brought his challenging but memorable six-year MLB career to a close. He pitched his final game on July 30, 1976, ending his time as a big league pitcher.

Final Seasons and Retirement in 1976

Ken Reynolds pitched his last MLB game on July 30, 1976, closing the chapter on his major league days. He was a lefty who fought through tough seasons, ending up with a 7-29 record while spending most of his time with struggling teams.

His toughest year happened in 1972 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Reynolds dropped his first 12 decisions that season, tying a National League record for most consecutive losses to start a year.

He finally picked up a win on September 1st and finished that rough year at 2-15.

The 1972 Phillies finished at 59-97, so success was a long shot for any pitcher on that squad. Even Steve Carlton managed 27 wins, but the team just couldn’t get it together.

After his major league days, Reynolds didn’t step away from baseball right away. He joined the Hawaii Islanders in 1976, playing for manager Roy Hartsfield.

That connection with Hartsfield turned out to be helpful when Hartsfield landed the Toronto Blue Jays’ first managerial job.

Career Legacy

Reynolds took on a player/coach role for two years with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after he left the majors. He joined up with several former Hawaii Islanders teammates who also moved to the Blue Jays, like John Scott, Dave Roberts, and Jerry Johnson.

His time at New Mexico Highlands University set him apart. He still stands as the only major leaguer to come out of that northern New Mexico school.

Later on, Reynolds kept his baseball ties by coaching in the Chicago Cubs organization from 1985 to 1989. He spent time with the Wytheville Cubs from 1985-1986 and then with the Geneva Cubs from 1987-1989.

Eventually, Reynolds returned to Massachusetts. He became a physical education teacher at Marlborough High School, the same place where he’d played ball as a student.

His 1971 Topps rookie card featured him with two other pitchers named Reynolds—Archie and Bob. That card, quirky as it is, became a bit of a collector’s item and a nod to three pitching prospects.

Life After Baseball

Ken Reynolds moved from his big league career into coaching and teaching, spending some years with the Toronto Blue Jays organization before shifting into education. He managed to stay close to the game while also building a career in schools.

Coaching in Minor and Major Leagues

After wrapping up his MLB career in 1976, Reynolds worked as a player-coach for two years with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He reunited with old Hawaii Islanders teammates like John Scott, Dave Roberts, and Jerry Johnson, who also joined the Blue Jays system.

He’d played for the Hawaii Islanders in 1976 under Roy Hartsfield, who soon became the first manager for the Toronto Blue Jays. That connection definitely helped Reynolds land his coaching spot.

As a player-coach, he shared his six years of major league experience with younger guys. Reynolds focused on developing pitchers and teaching them the mental side of pro baseball.

That coaching experience let Reynolds stay involved in the game while easing out of playing. He used what he’d learned as both a starter and reliever to help the next wave of players.

Physical Education and Academic Involvement

After coaching, Reynolds shifted into education and started working in physical education. His athletic background made that transition feel pretty natural.

He brought real-life stories from pro baseball into his teaching, giving students a taste of teamwork, discipline, and what it takes to perform at a high level.

That move from pro sports to education let Reynolds keep working with young people in a way that mattered. He brought the same kind of dedication to teaching that he’d shown on the mound.

Retirement Activities

Reynolds kept in touch with baseball long after he retired. He stayed close with old teammates and kept up with the sport that shaped his early years.

After leaving professional athletics, he moved into education and got involved in his community. Reynolds used his baseball background in new ways, always looking for opportunities to help others.

You can really see how he shifted from a major league pitcher to a coach and educator. His story makes you wonder how many athletes could find purpose after the game ends.