Harold Reynolds

During the 1980s, Harold Reynolds stood out as one of the best second basemen in the American League. A three-time Gold Glove Award winner, Reynolds showed tremendous range and a strong throwing arm at the keystone position for the Seattle Mariners. He was also an adequate hitter and a threat to steal bases. Reynolds led the Mariners for six straight seasons, and the league once, in that category.

After his playing days, Reynolds became known as one of the more knowledgeable broadcasters at ESPN and the MLB Network. He has called Little League and College World Series games, as well as World Series and All-Star Games. In later years, Reynolds appeared as an analyst in various programming across the MLB Network.

Harold Craig Reynolds was born on November 26, 1960, in Eugene, Oregon. He is the youngest of eight children (Janice, Sharon, Debbie, Don, Ron, Larry and Tim) born to John and Lettie (née Russell) Reynolds.1 Don Reynolds (born 1953) made it to the majors in 1978 and 1979 as an outfielder with the San Diego Padres.

John and Lettie divorced when Harold was young, and Lettie moved the family about 50 miles north in Oregon, to Corvallis. “I wanted my boys to grow up here because it is a small town,” said Lettie. “A couple of times I thought about moving, but it’s a happy environment here.”2  

The Reynolds family lived on A Street, which conveniently was located across from Parker Stadium, home of the Oregon State Beavers. While Lettie was working swing shifts at Wah Chang Corporation (a manufacturer of metals and alloys in Albany, Oregon), her sons were playing pickup football games with their friends at Parker Stadium. In the wintertime, the janitor at Gill Coliseum (home of the OSU basketball team) would let them shoot hoops on the side baskets. In the spring, you could find the Reynolds boys playing baseball on the OSU football practice field.

Don, a football star at Corvallis and later the University of Oregon, was eventually drafted in 1975 by the Padres. Larry was offered a $20,000 bonus to join the Minnesota Twins after high school, but instead he opted to play football at Stanford. He was drafted again after his junior year but chose to return to Stanford to finish his degree in psychology. After batting .337 his senior year in 1979, Larry was drafted in the fourth round by the Texas Rangers.3 He did not make the major leagues.

Then came Harold. He was a three-sport star at Corvallis High School. In football, Reynolds was an all-state defensive back and earned recognition as a wide receiver in helping to lead the Spartans to a 13-0 record and a state championship. In basketball, Reynolds started at guard. In the spring, he played shortstop; as a senior, he batted .542 and set a school record for hits in a season with 56.4 In his senior year, the Spartans made it to the state championship before losing in the last game. “This loss overshadows a lot of good things that have happened to us this year,” said Reynolds. “We may have lost this game, but we had a heck of a year. I think I’ve made more friends on this team than on any other team. It was a real fellowship. I’m happy to be associated with them.”5

Like his brother Don, Harold was drafted by San Diego. The Padres selected him in the sixth round on June 5, 1979.

Reynolds accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball at San Diego State instead of signing with the Padres. “I hit .325 during the fall, and I was going to be a starter,” said Reynolds, “but I wasn’t getting the full scholarship I was supposed to get. They didn’t come through, so I transferred to Canada.”6    

At Canada Junior College, located in Redwood City, California, Reynolds, a right-handed hitter, played center field and batted .333. He was selected to the Golden Gate Conference and the All-Northern California All-Star teams.

Reynolds was drafted by Seattle with the second pick in the first round of the secondary phase on June 3, 1980.7 The Mariners planned to move Reynolds to second base and make him into a switch-hitter.

Reynolds played for Fairbanks in Alaska’s summer league before signing with Seattle on November 4, 1980. He started his ascent through the Seattle farm system in 1981 with Class A Wausau of the Midwest League. Reynolds gave a good account of himself at the plate, batting .296 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs. He never again reached double digits in home runs during his professional career. He showed his value on the basepaths by stealing 69 bases, a high number at any professional level.

The following season, Reynolds was promoted to Lynn (Massachusetts) of the Class AA Eastern League. He hit .272 for the Sailors and swiped 39 bases. As a team, Lynn stole 212. His next stop was Salt Lake City of the Pacific Coast League in 1983. Reynolds led the team with 165 hits and 54 stolen bases while batting .309.

The Mariners called Reynolds up, and he made his major league debut on September 2, 1983, against the New York Yankees. Reynolds entered the game as a pinch-runner for Ken Phelps in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss.

Reynolds appeared ready to step into the Mariners’ starting lineup, but his path was blocked by Jack Perconte, whom the Mariners had acquired in the offseason from Cleveland. Mariners skipper Del Crandall, who had managed Perconte in the minor leagues, named him the starter at second base.

Reynolds returned to Salt Lake City for the 1984 season. He led the Gulls again in hits with 165 and batted .296. He also repeated as team leader in stolen bases with 37. Seattle recalled Reynolds again in 1984. However, Perconte was having an impressive season in his first starting role, setting a team record in hits with 180. “I recognize the situation where Harold is the second baseman of the future and all that,” said Perconte. “But if I’m going to be here, I’m going to expect to be playing. This is the first time in my pro years where I’m established somewhat. It feels good.”8

Chuck Cottier replaced Crandall as the M’s skipper late in the 1984 season. Reynolds started the 1985 season with the big club as Perconte’s backup. He was sent down to Seattle’s new Triple-A affiliate, Calgary in the PCL, in early May.

On July 10, however, Perconte was batting .233 for the Mariners while Reynolds was terrorizing pitchers in the PCL. He was batting .363 for Calgary, and the Mariners’ front office felt he was wasting his time in the minors. Yet the question arose: why change the lineup now? Seattle had won 16 of 20 games from June 14 to July 6. They climbed into third place in the AL West, four games behind first-place California. The switch would also put Reynolds in the spotlight, under pressure to perform well while replacing a popular player. “Perconte was such a fan favorite,” said Reynolds. “And when I was brought in, the fans booed me to death. It was really rough, and I didn’t play real great.”9

After a month at Calgary, Perconte returned to the Mariners and hit over .300 in August and September. Conversely, Reynolds hit .144. Going into spring training the following season, it appeared that based on performance, Perconte would have a leg up over his younger competitor.

However, Cottier and his staff chose Danny Tartabull as the starting second baseman in 1986. It was a curious decision because Tartabull had not played that position regularly since 1983, when he was at Class AA. Nonetheless, the club liked Tartabull’s powerful bat – he had hit 43 homers for Calgary in 1985. Reynolds was sent back to Calgary and Perconte was waived at the end of spring training.

Injuries to Tartabull necessitated a change, and Reynolds returned to Seattle on May 14, 1986. When Tartabull was healthy again, he moved to the outfield. The second base job belonged solely to Reynolds, and, with no pressure or competition, he was able to settle into the position and play his game.

As a team, the Mariners posted a record of 67-95 in 1986, finishing in last place, 25 games behind AL West champion California. Noted turnaround specialist Dick Williams replaced Cottier, but the Mariners were not serious contenders. In Reynolds’ seven full seasons with the Mariners, they never finished higher than fourth place in the AL West; they were in last place three times.

Reynolds led the AL, and set a franchise record, with 60 stolen bases in 1987.10 He improved his batting average 53 points from 1986 (.222) to 1987 (.275).

Reynolds was selected to play in the All-Star Game on July 14, 1987, at Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum. His selection validated the work he was putting in to improve as a player. “My confidence has soared just being here,” said Reynolds about the honor. “Just seeing yourself with these kind of athletes really helps you. Last year, people were wondering if Harold Reynolds could play in the big leagues. Now, I’m playing here. That type of thing does something for you.

“Now I believe I belong here. I can see myself as one of the best. And I think this can be the beginning of things to come.”11

The confidence that was instilled in Reynolds carried over to 1988. He raised his average to .283, stole 35 bases, and tied Kansas City’s Willie Wilson and Milwaukee’s Robin Yount for the league lead in triples with 11. He was named to his second All-Star team. But perhaps the biggest prize was winning his first of three straight Gold Glove Awards.12 Reynolds’ emergence as a top-shelf second baseman was complete. “Earlier this year [1988], about the middle of May, Dick [Williams] had benched me and said I wasn’t concentrating. So, I sat on the bench and when that happens you get a whole different perspective on things.

“Dick made it clear to me I was going to perform to the best of my ability, or I was not going to play.”13 

One person who was not enthused about Reynolds’ being awarded a Gold Glove was Kansas City general manager John Schuerholz. “It’s an absolute travesty,” said Schuerholz. “Harold Reynolds is a good, young ballplayer, but he’s not in Frank White’s class right now. I mean the guy who won it had 18 errors: Frank had four. It saved us $100,000, but that’s not the issue. The issue is that this is absolutely ridiculous.”14  

Despite the protests of Schuerholz, utility player Steve Lyons had his own appreciation for Reynolds’ defensive abilities. “Sometimes I’d write notes in the dirt just to see if I would get an answer,” said Lyons. “Once when I was playing second base, I asked opposing second baseman Harold Reynolds if he could get to a ball at a certain spot. I wrote, ‘Can you get to this ball?’ and then drew a long line in the dirt up the middle and behind second base. Two innings later he ranged far to his right, snagged a grounder, and threw out my teammate Greg Walker. It was the type of play that earned him a Gold Glove for his outstanding play at second. When I returned to the top of the next inning, I got my answer written in the dirt. It simply read: ‘Yes.’”15           

The 1989 Mariners were given an injection of youth and talent. Omar Vizquel took over at shortstop. The slick-fielding Venezuelan was a perfect complement to Reynolds. Ken Griffey Jr.  was the new center fielder. The Mariners featured a formidable trio up the middle. One year later, Edgar Martinez became the starting third baseman.     

Their foundation solidified even more in late May when the Mariners sent their best starter, southpaw Mark Langston, to Montreal as part of a five-player deal that netted Randy Johnson. At the time of the deal, Johnson was a question mark – but he harnessed his control and turned into one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.

Reynolds’ offense was improving every season. In 1989, he batted .300 and totaled 184 hits, both career highs. He added his secondGold Glove – and made it three in a row in 1990, although his average dropped to .252. However, his five homers were his best single-season total in the majors, and he drove in 55 runs. A career-high 81 walks also compensated to an extent for his lower average. Reynolds was not prone to striking out, fanning in just eight percent of his plate appearances in the majors.

His glovework also received rave reviews from STATS Inc. “His range is exceptional and his instincts outstanding, and he seems to average at least one circus catch a game on a pop fly. Reynolds is also fearless at turning the double play.”16

In 1991, for the first time in their history, the Mariners (83-79) finished over .500, albeit in fifth place. On July 7, 1991, Reynolds became the first Mariner to win the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the game on and off the field. Through his foundation, Harold Reynolds Children’s Charities, he paid for dinner and gifts for 800 needy families in Corvallis. A book that his foundation published, Hands to Love, carried an anti-drug message to children. “My message to you is that you need to have a goal,” said Reynolds. “If you have goals and something to shoot for, it keeps you out of trouble.”17

As for winning the prestigious award, “[i]t is a true honor,” said Reynolds, “because Roberto Clemente was a true humanitarian. He gave the ultimate – his life – to help people.”18

Reynolds had a career-high 57 RBIs in 1991. In 1992, however, the Mariners groomed Bret Boone – a stronger hitter – as their second baseman of the future. Boone started most of his team’s games over the last month of the season. Reynolds’ batting average over his last three seasons in Seattle was .251, with a mild slugging percentage of .340.

On December 11, 1992, Reynolds signed a free-agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles. To make room for Reynolds, the Orioles waived second baseman Billy Ripken. “We’re pleased he has decided to join the Orioles,” said Baltimore general manager Roland Hemond. “We wanted to add some speed, and he gives us that. He is a durable player – he played almost every game for five seasons before the Mariners decided to go with Bret Boone – and he is an excellent defensive player.”19 He started 138 games at second, but his offense (four home runs, 47 RBIs, .252 batting average) remained mediocre.

After the season, Reynolds signed a one-year deal with San Diego, which traded him to California before the season started. By then 33, Reynolds played in only 74 of the Angels’ 115 games before the 1994 season ended prematurely because of the players’ strike that began on August 12. He started just 51 times and hit a punchless .232, with no homers and 11 RBIs. California released Reynolds that October.

In 1995, Reynolds went to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. He was released on the final day of spring training and thereupon retired from baseball. His lifetime batting average was .258. As of 2025, he still ranked third all-time in stolen bases for the Mariners with 228, trailing only Ichiro Suzuki (438) and Julio Cruz (290).20        

In 1996, Reynolds joined ESPN as an analyst on their Baseball Tonight program. In addition, he provided commentary on the College World Series and Little League World Series.

On July 7, 2004, Reynolds married the former Kelley Browne on the island of Maui. They have one daughter, Sophia.

Reynolds was fired in 2007 when a female intern accused him of sexual misconduct. A judge ordered that ESPN give him Reynolds’ personnel file. “It had what they claimed was in there,” said Reynolds, “but for the first time I saw what they were going on, and I felt their stories were misrepresented. It’s kind of sad.”21 He said it was “a brief and innocuous hug.”22 Reynolds sued ESPN for the remainder of his contract, and the suit was settled out of court.

After he was let go, Reynolds worked as a studio analyst for the New York Mets Studio 21 and for TBS during their postseason coverage.

MLB TV launched its programming in 2009, and Reynolds has been there since its inception. “Harold has a great reputation as a baseball analyst, and we are comfortable with that,” said Bob Bowman, President of MLB Advanced Media. “We asked about his situation, he addressed our questions, and we were satisfied.”23  

In 2014, Reynolds replaced Tim McCarver as lead analyst for FOX, a position he held for two seasons. 

As of 2025, Reynolds is in his 16th season as a studio analyst at MLB TV. He offers strong viewpoints on what could be done to improve the game of baseball. He is unwavering in his critique of players and teams. He’s like the viewers who tune in: a fan of the game. He wants to see baseball improve on and off the field. Agree with him or not, Reynolds has a solid background that commands respect.

And that’s all any of us can really ask.

Last revised: October 29, 2025

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Mike Eisenbath and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Photo credits: Harold Reynolds, MLB Network and Trading Card Database.

Notes

1 Scott Peznecker, “Ready for her third century,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, January 1, 2000: 5.

2 Randy Hammericksen, “Lettie Reynolds talks about her son,” Corvallis Times, October 22, 1975: 15.

3 Randy Hammericksen, “Pro teams draft Reynolds brothers.” Corvallis Times, June 6, 1979: 17.

4 “Reynolds, William Named Top Athletes,” Corvallis Gazette-Times, May 31, 1979: 45.

5 Randy Hammericksen, “Special team,” Corvallis Times, June 4, 1979: 23.

6 Roy Gault, “Reynolds No. 2 draft choice,” Corvallis Times, June 4, 1980: 25.

7 The secondary phase of the draft was for players who had previously been drafted. 

8 Bill Plaschke, “M’s Halt Trade Talks on Perconte,” The Sporting News, January 28, 1985: 25.

9 Bill Tuthill, “Harold Reynolds: He’s Good and Getting Better,” Baseball Digest, December 1988: 66.

10 Rickey Henderson led the American League in stolen bases from 1980 to 1988. In 1987, he missed 67 games due to a hamstring injury. He stole 41 bases. 

11 Steve Kelley, “Long and lonely days lead M’s Reynolds to All-Star night,” Seattle Times, July 15, 1987: F-7. 

12 It should be noted that each year Reynolds won the Gold Glove Award, he led the league in errors.

13 Tuthill, “Harold Reynolds: He’s Good and Getting Better,” Baseball Digest, December 1988: 66.

14 Bob Nightengale, “No Glove a Slap in Face for White,” The Sporting News, December 19, 1988: 50.

15 Lyons, Steve & Rocks, Burton, The Psycho 100: Baseball’s Most Outrageous Moments, Chicago: Triumph Books, 2009, 100.

16 Harold Reynolds, The Scouting Report, STATS Inc, 1990: 309.  

17 Geordie Wilson, “Baseball hero in new venture: Books for kids,” Seattle Times, December 11, 1991: D-1.

18 Bob Finnigan, “Reynolds honored for his charity,” Seattle Times, July 8, 1991: A1, A4.

19 Peter Schmuck, “Reynolds comes, B. Ripken goes,” Baltimore Sun, December 12, 1992: C1.

20 Seattle Mariners website, All-Time Mariners Player Hitting Stat Leaders | Seattle Mariners  Accessed May 24, 2025.

21 Richard Sandomir, “Reynolds Finds New Home at MLB.Com as Analyst,” New York Times, June 13, 2007.

22 “ESPN: Suit Settled with Reynolds,”SI.Com, April 15, 2008. Players Clip File, Baseball Hall of Fame

23 Richard Sandomir, “Reynolds Finds New Home at MLB.Com as Analyst,” New York Times, June 13, 2007.