Believed to be the first Central graduate to play in baseball’s major leagues, the speedy Bartee has made his mark as a rangy outfielder for three teams and now as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Central all-state player accepted a scholarship to Creighton, helping the Bluejays to their only appearance in the College World Series in 1991. Drafted by Baltimore in 1993, he made his major-league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 1996. Over parts of six seasons with the Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies, Bartee became best known for his speed on the base paths and slick defense. He swiped 36 bags in his career, successful on two-thirds of attempts. And in 1996 he led the American League in range factor, a measure of ground covered in the outfield. Now he’s passing on his knowledge to the next generation of players. He spent nine seasons as Pittsburgh’s minor league base running and outfield coordinator and managed the team’s Class A affiliate in 2011. Then in 2017, he returned to the major leagues as the Pirates’ first base, outfield and base running coach.
Kimera passed away in 2021 at the age of 49.