Red Sox infielder Pokey Reese
Pokey Reese was a fan favorite at Fenway in his single season playing for the Red Sox. He had a couple big things working in his favor – a great nickname and he was a member of the curse breaking 2004 team. If Calvin Reese Jr. came to the Red Sox in 2005, he definitely doesn’t get remembered the same.
Pokey is remembered for is his stellar defensive performance more than anything he did at the plate. He came to town with a pair of Gold Gloves to his name and he showed off that fielding ability throughout the 2004 season, routinely making leaping grabs and backhanded stabs on balls that otherwise surely would’ve been hits.
Reese hit .221/.271/.303 with three home runs and six stolen bases in 268 plate appearances with the Red Sox in 2004, the final season of his career.
He served primarily as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement in the ’04 playoffs, but did record the assist for the final out of the ALCS against the Yankees and was on the field for the final out of the World Series, cementing his place in Red Sox lore forever.