"I enjoy working with kids. I enjoy the game," Bailey told The Sentinel-News. "I've learned from some of the best players and coaches over the years."
Bailey turned to coaching after a four-season professional playing career with the Cardinals. Bailey made it to high-A, but didn't make it higher.
Bailey's playing career began in 1990, signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kentucky.
He started with the Cardinals at short-season Hamilton. The hurler got into 16 games, starting 15 of them. He went 4-6, with a 3.98 ERA.
He moved to single-A Savannah for 1991 and turned reliever. He also proved durable. He got into 73 games in relief, picking up eight wins and a 2.49 ERA. He still held the South Atlantic League's record in 2016 for most games pitched in a season.
Bailey arrived at high-A St. Petersburg for 1992, then split time between St. Petersburg and single-A Springfield for 1993. He got into 54 games with a 3.82 ERA in 1992 and 40 in 1993 with a 3.89 mark. His 1993 campaign proved to be his final as a pro.
Bailey soon returned home to Shelbyville and started coaching. In 1998, future major leaguer Jon Rauch cited Bailey, along with another American Legion coach in helping him along, according to The Louisville Courier-Journal.
"They gave me a chance to improve," Rauch told The Courier-Journal. "What I've become, I owe to them."
- Louisville Courier-Journal, July 6, 1998: Oldham County product grows into prospect
- Shelbyville Sentinel-News, April 29, 2010: Bailey named Collins baseball coach
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,534
Made the Majors:1,015-40.1%
Never Made Majors:1,519-59.9%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 422
10+ Seasons in the Minors:259
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