In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, McReynolds endeared himself to Mets fans by scoring all the way from first base on a two-run bloop single to center field by Gary Carter that just eluded the diving John Shelby with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. McReynolds led the National League in outfield assists in three seasons, including with a career-high 18 in 1988. Overall it was a really good season for me, the second half especially." "It's just I was kind of an afterthought to some pitchers sometimes. "It wasn't like I had blazing speed or anything," McReynolds said. Indeed, McReynolds was successful on all 21 stolen base attempts in 1988, which stood as the major league record for the highest number of steals in a season without being thrown out until Chase Utley of the Phillies went 23 for 23 in 2009. "I think that was the season where I stole bases and never was caught," McReynolds said. 288 with 27 home runs and 99 RBI and finished third in the National League MVP vote behind Kirk Gibson of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his teammate Darryl Strawberry with the Mets. His best season in the majors came in 1988. 386 batting average, 17 home runs and 57 RBI. McReynolds won the Southwest Conference's first triple crown at Arkansas in 1980 with a. "I mean, he had power, he could hit, he could run. "He was probably the most talented player I had been around," said former Arkansas Coach Norm DeBriyn. 4 on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's list of the best Razorbacks in professional baseball. The North Little Rock native slots in at No. 265 with 211 home runs and 807 RBI for the San Diego Padres (1983-86), the Mets (1987-91), the Kansas City Royals (1992-93) and a final season with the Mets in 1994. McReynolds, who played most of his career in left field, got the job done to the tune of a career batting average of. But I was out there to get the job done the best way I know how." I guess that was my natural gait, or whatever it is. It wasn't like I was loafing like people said I was. Some people think that's the only way they can do it. "All I was doing was going out to play the best way I knew how. "I was never trying to play to please anybody in particular," McReynolds said. He was both beloved and despised by fans during his five-year run with the New York Mets, whom he helped to the brink of the World Series in 1988. McReynolds didn't try to bring attention to himself with his words or his off-the-field actions, and some mistook his Arkansas-paced delivery and demeanor for a lack of passion. McReynolds' natural talent as a hitter, fielder and runner served him well for 11 seasons in the major leagues, and the ease with which he displayed it also created fuel for some of his critics.
FAYETTEVILLE - One of Kevin McReynolds' greatest assets on the baseball diamond was making the game look effortless at times.
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