Pokey Reese
A defensive wizard at second base, his spectacular glove work earned him Gold Gloves and a key role in breaking the Red Sox's championship curse.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American baseball player·Birthday: June 10·Generation X
Biography
Calvin "Pokey" Reese Jr. played the infield with a kind of electric grace that made difficult plays look routine. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, he quickly became known less for his bat and more for his breathtaking range, soft hands, and a cannon for an arm that allowed him to make throws from deep in the hole look easy. His two Gold Glove Awards with the Reds were a testament to his defensive mastery. Reese's career found a storybook ending when he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Though not an everyday starter, his reliable defense at multiple infield spots provided crucial stability, and he earned a World Series ring as part of the team that finally ended Boston's 86-year championship drought.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Pokey was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pokey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Pokey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his defensive play at second base (1999, 2000).
- Was a member of the historic 2004 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series, breaking the 'Curse of the Bambino'.
- Stole 66 bases during his MLB career, showcasing his speed alongside his defensive skills.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Pokey' was given to him by his grandmother because he was a slow eater as a child.
He was originally drafted as a shortstop before becoming an elite second baseman.
In 1999, he became the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since 1989.
“You can't be afraid to dive for the ball; the dirt washes off.”
