Born:  LaPorte, Ind., 11/2/1942

B-R, T-R...  6'6", 225 lbs

 

A top athlete who played on the professional level in two sports, Ron Reed was one of the mainstays in the Phillies' bullpen in 1980. Second on the team in saves behind Tug McGraw, Reed saw action as a set-up man most of the time, winning seven games to go along with his nine saves.  Although he struggled in the LCS against the Astros, Reed was back in form for the World Series, earning a save in Game 2 against the Royals.

 

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 W

 L

Saves

ERA

1980

     59

  7

 5

9

 4.05

LCS

        3

  0

 1

    0

18.00

WS

        2

  0

 0

1

  0.00

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

  L

  S

   K

ERA

1966

Braves

     8.1

   1

   1

    0

       6

2.16

1967

Braves

   21.1

   1

   1

    0

    11

2.95

1968

Braves

 201.2

 11

10

    0

  111

3.35

1969

Braves

 241.1

 18

 10

    0

  160

3.47

1970

Braves

 134.2

   7

 10

    0

    68

4.41

1971

Braves

 222.1

 13

 14

    0

  129

3.72

1972

Braves

 213.0

 11

 15

    0

  111

3.93

1973

Braves

 116.1

   4

  11

    1

    64

4.41

1974

Braves

 186.0

  10

  11

    0

    78

3.39

1975

Braves

    74.2

    4

    5

    0

    40

4.22

1975

Cardinals

 175.2

    9

    8

    0

    99

3.23

1976

Phillies

 128.0

    8

    7

  14

    96

2.46

1977

Phillies

 124.1

    7

    5

  15

    84

2.75

1978

Phillies

 108.2

    3

    4

  17

    85

2.24

1979

Phillies

 102.0

 13

    8

    5

    58

4.15

1980

Phillies

   91.1

    7

    5

    9

    54

4.04

1981

Phillies

   61.1

    5

    3

    8

    40

3.08

1982

Phillies

    98.0

    5

   5

  14

    57

2.66

1983

Phillies

    95.2

    9

   1

    8

    73

3.48

1984

White Sox

   73.0

    0

   6

  12

    57

3.08

TOTALS

 

2477.2

146

140

103

1481

3.46

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  Acquired from St. Louis, 12/9/75, for Mike Anderson.

 

1979 Season:  Once again was the workhorse of the Phillies bullpen pitching 102 innings...  Had thirteen wins and five states... Had a 0.43 ERA in his first 12 appearances...  Put together a five-game winning streak between 4/24 and 6/3...  Was 3-0 vs. Montreal and 7-3 against the Cubs.

 

Career:  Since coming to the Phillies, he has 51 saves in four seasons after a career as a starting pitcher...  Was an 18-game winner for the Braves in 1969 when they won the NL West...  Was the winning pitcher the night Hank Aaron hit HR number 715 off the Dodger's Al Downing...  Got the save in the Phillies' pennant clincher in Pittsburgh in 1978.

 

Personal/Misc:  Attended Notre Dame University where he played baseball and basketball...  From 1965 to 1967 he was the only athlete to play major league baseball and professional basketball as he played for the NBA Detroit Pistons as a rebounding forward averaging 7.5 and 8.5 points per game and pulling down over 700 rebounds.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  First year he has pitched under 100 innings in the major leagues since 1967...  Had in and out season but still won seven games and saved nine, second on club to McGraw (20)...  Was 3-0 vs. LA in six games and 5-1 vs. the West.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Picked up save in Game # 2 of the World Series to preserve win for Carlton...  Was losing pitcher in Game # 2 of LCS.

 

Career:  Has been workhorse of the Phillies bullpen ever since coming to Phils as a starter in 1976...  Made transition to bullpen where he has saved 60 games in five seasons with Phils...  Was an 18-game winner with Atlanta in 1969 when they were Western Division champions...  Was the winning pitcher the night Hank Aaron hit HR number 715 off the Dodgers Al Downing...  Got the save in Phils division clincher at Pittsburgh in 1978.

 

Personal/Misc:  Attended Notre Dame University where he played baseball and basketball...  From 1965 to 1967 he was the only athlete to play major league baseball and professional basketball playing for the NBA Detroit Pistons as a rebounding forward averaging 7.5 and 8.5 points per game and pulling down over 700 rebounds.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Bright Blue (color of my two little girls eyes when they're happy)
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Oak Ridge Boys (if you could see them in concert, you'd know why)
  • Favorite Song:  Dream On, Oak Ridge Boys solo by Richard Sterban
  • Favorite City:  Funny you should ask- Atlanta
  • Least Favorite City:  New York
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Ayatollah Khomeni in a dark alley
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Mickey Mantle and Ernie Banks (wish I could have hit like them)
  • Biggest Turn-On:  Sitting in front of the fireplace with my family
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  Obsenities yelled at athletes by some fans
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Theology under the late Father Brennan (only Notre Dame alumni can appreciate this answer)
  • Favorite TV Show:  Real People (it shows how delightfully dumb we can be in everyday life)
  • Favorite Book:  Guiness Book of World Records- this puts me in my place because there is not one record I can come close to
  • Person You Most Admire:  My wife Julie, she is always busy
  • Greatest Achievement:  My overall pitchin in 1978- I would love to have another year just like it
  • Most Memorable Moment:  The first time I stepped on the basketball court at Notre Dame and the crowd sang the Notre Dame victory march
  • Hobbies:  Deer hunting, golf and arguing with Harry Kalas on what dogs to bet at the Greyhound Track in St. Petersburg, Fla.
  • Toughest Batter You've Faced:  All of them- there ain't no easy ones!
  • Other Comments:  It's hard to single out a certain "toughest" batter because there are so many good ones.  However, I don't fear any of them- respect them yes- but fear them- no!