Mike Reed’s connection to Roscoe Enloe Post 5 American Legion Baseball in Missouri came full circle, from a state championship player in 1965 to coaching the first junior Legion state championship-winning team 24 years later. The senior Legion team later won the state championship in 1998 and moved on to the World Series. His story is a testament to a strong work ethic, player and mentor relationships, and the value of community.
In 1965, Reed was a standout player for the Post 5 baseball team in Jefferson City. The team captured the state title that year, a moment Reed would never forget: “I would put our team against any team in the past or present. We had great pitching in Larry Theroff and Kelly Whitaker, and great teammates including my good friends Dennis Green, Tony Jones, Mike Moody, Roger Taggert, Ed Mille, and many others. We were unstoppable.”
After the season, his coaches and mentors Wyman Baysinger and Tony Weber imparted advice that would stay with him for the rest of his life: “Pay it forward.” They asked him to either contribute financially or donate time to future generations of players, ensuring that others would have the same opportunities and experiences he had. "I didn’t fully understand the impact of those words at that time,” Reed reflected. “But looking back, I see how important that message was, and how it shaped my choices later in life.”
Fast-forward 20 years later, and Reed found himself back on the baseball field - not as a player, but as a volunteer and coach. Close friend and past commander of Post 5 Charley Goodin enlisted his help by cleaning the field, grilling burgers and other tasks to keep the complex running smoothly. Reed also became a member of Sons of The American Legion Squadron 5. After years of playing and reflecting on the lessons his coaches had shared with him, Reed had honed his coaching skills. He built a rigorous schedule of 50 games to teach his players a strong work ethic. He worked closely with fellow coaches and friends such as Jim Vieth, Larry Bloomer, Eddie Fairchild, Jim Bob Allison, George Baker and others who valued the game. In 1989 Vieth took the managerial role and Reed coached third base, and they took the junior Legion team to the state championship. Reed explained that his goal as a coach was not only to win a state championship but also to teach his players about the value of friendship and working as a team.
