Jul 18 2006 11:57 AM
Gainey dies of heart failure
Ex-Davidson star was third-round pick of Mets
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
By MIKE HERNDON
Sports Reporter
Byron Gainey, a former Press-Register prep baseball player of the year and New York Mets third-round draft pick, passed away last month of heart failure. He was 30.
A power-hitting first baseman, Gainey hit .471 with 15 homers and 55 runs during his senior year at Davidson High in 1994, earning Press-Register Player of the Year honors and a selection to the U.S. Junior Olympic team. He was New York's first pick of the third round in the 1994 draft and remained in the Mets system for several seasons, reaching the Class AA level. After his time with the Mets, he also played in an independent league. 
From 1996-2000, he hit at least 13 home runs and had at least 51 RBIs each season in the minor leagues. His best season was 1999 with the Binghamton (N.Y.) Mets in the Double-A Eastern League -- he hit .237 with 25 homers and 78 RBIs.
"Byron was a good kid," said Eddie Blasingame, who was Gainey's baseball coach at Davidson. "He wasn't a troublemaker. He was a good kid that everybody liked. He always wanted to get to practice early so he could get some extra cuts (of batting practice) and he always stayed late to get extra cuts. (His death) is just a total shock."
Lonnie Rawlins, who helped coach Gainey at Mims Park and was later a volunteer coach at Davidson, described Gainey as "a great kid who was fun to be around."
"He could hit a baseball as hard and far as any kid I've ever seen," Rawlins said. "One Saturday, he hit four home runs in one game against LeFlore. Guys still talk about him and about how far he could hit home runs out of the park. He was a pretty good football player, too, a weapon at tight end."
Gainey, who died on June 10, was buried at Rock Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Collins, Miss. He is survived by his wife, Shana; two sons, Bryson and William; his parents, Harold and Towanda McBeath Gainey; and three brothers, Harold Gainey Jr. of Tampa, Jason Thomas Gainey of Mobile and Corey Antwon Martin of Birmingham.