Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Astros outfielder Josh Reddick began his recent talk on financial planning at Spring Oaks Middle School with a confession, calling himself a bad young investor. 

At 19, he blew through the first substantial money he had ever seen – $100,000 – by buying himself a new truck, making other impulsive buys, and then helping out his parents. Too soon, his first “real” money was gone.

Today, the 32-year-old Reddick has a multi-million dollar Astros contract. Before he signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2006, however, he delivered pizzas and worked odd jobs to supplement $800 monthly pay in his minor league career.

“Anyone like ramen noodles? You won’t like them when that’s all you live on,” he said rhetorically, speaking to 26 sixth-graders enrolled in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston Shared Space Club. “Peanut butter sandwiches and ramen – that was me back then.”

SBISD community partner, Bank of America, hosted Reddick and his financial talk on Sept. 12 along with a bank volunteer-led financial literacy workshop with selected Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston (BGCGH) students. Spring Oaks Middle is located at 2150 Shadowdale, near Spring Woods High School.

Bank of America volunteers led students through group discussion and exercises about setting and then reaching key goals – from first cars to paying for college.

“Whether you’re a Spring Oaks middle school student or professional ball player, money management is a critical life skill,” said Hong Ogle, who is Houston market president for area Bank of America. “We are also proud of our partnerships with BGCGH and Major League Baseball. It enables us to bring meaningful education and experience to deserving students in our community.” 

Kevin R. Hattery, BGCGH’s president and CEO, said Bank of America’s program was a “perfect fit for the Clubs because it ties into our pillars of supporting academic success and career readiness for kids and teens.”  

The Astro’s winning season hasn’t hurt the effort – for Reddick, Bank of America, or BGCGH. This past Sunday, Sept. 22, the Astros clinched the American League’s West division title by beating the Angels, 13-5, at Minute Maid Park. It was their third straight American League West title. Go Astros!

After the win, right fielder Reddick joined his teammates Sunday in a televised, raucous locker room celebration. It was a world away from this middle school student talk, which detailed a relatively fast climb from a junior-college team to the Astros starting line up.

Reddick’s financial prospects rose along with his career in Major League Baseball. In 2016, he signed a four-year deal worth a reported $52 million with the Astros.

Just a year later, his statistics with the Astros, who won the World Series that year, included 134 Houston game appearances, 13 home runs and 82 Runs Batted In, or RBIs. His batting average was .314 during that national title season.

Born in Savannah, Ga., Reddick retains a country-casual attitude and honesty. Yes, he owns a big house near Crosby and has a Lamborghini (base price for the Italian luxury sports car begins at $200,000 or more) as a World Series gift to himself.

On the other hand, most of his money is professionally managed today. “I learned the hard way how to handle money. You can’t just write checks. You need to plan ahead, and stay alert. Once you get a little money, you learn that your trust circle becomes a lot smaller.”

Players like Reddick face uncertain futures. In his career, Reddick counted out at least five separate years of injuries; he has had several surgeries and returned to professional play.

Ironically, the Astros star outfielder told the Spring Oaks students that in Georgia growing up he was cut from his middle school team – twice!

On a related note, Spring Oaks Middle Principal Mary Lou Davalos encouraged all students to focus on their passion and goals, no matter what others may say. She spoke directly to them about her own educational goals and achievements, too. 

“Don’t let other people bring you down. Keep your goals,” Principal Davalos said. Students attending the special event received T-shirts from the Astros player and sponsors.