McGuire, Bobby

He began playing baseball in local independent leagues before actually attending high school in 1945 at Lexington. He was a standout high school player and earned interest from several major league teams that asked him to attend tryouts. Instead, he opted to work for Reynolds and play with the Reynolds Ramblers semi-pro team. In 1951, he joined the Navy and was stationed in Kingsville, Texas, where he played on the Navy team. He became a feared hitter in the competitive Coastal League, hitting .476 one season while also leading the league in homeruns. After being discharged, he was courted by numerous professional teams and ultimately went with the Detroit Tigers. After three weeks in camp, he was offered a modest contract and decided to return to Reynolds where he would make a higher annual salary. He began coaching youth teams in Lexington, winning 34 straight games during one stretch. He also played basketball at Lexington where he averaged 16 and 18 points, respectively during his final two seasons.