Ed Bailey

Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. (April 15, 1931 – March 23, 2007) was an American professional baseball player who appeared as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1953 through 1966. A six-time All-Star, Bailey was one of the top catchers in the National League in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Born in Strawberry Plains, in Jefferson County, Tennessee, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 205 pounds. His younger brother, Jim, was a left-handed pitcher who had a brief major-league trial as Ed's teammate on the 1959 Cincinnati Reds.

Bailey signed with the Reds in 1950 as an amateur free agent. He reached the majors in 1953, and in 1955 he was given a chance as the Redlegs' starting catcher, replacing Andy Seminick. When his offensive production floundered, Cincinnati traded Seminick for catcher Smoky Burgess, and Bailey was sent down to the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. With batting advice from Redlegs manager and former catcher Birdie Tebbetts, his hitting improved.

After his playing career ended in 1966, Bailey served on the city council in Knoxville, Tennessee. He died on March 23, 2007.