Gary Ruby, Done Right - 2

If the Tri-City Valley Cats won this game in September 2010, they won the league title. Reliever Michael Ness just had to hold on in the ninth with a four-run lead, according to The Troy Record.

After two singles, though, Ness was one batter away from maybe facing the potential game-tying run. Then out stepped Valley Cats pitching coach Gary Ruby, The Record wrote.

"Ruby came out and calmed me down and said, 'get a groundball,'" Ness told The Record after the big win.

Ruby calmed pitchers - and made them better - over a quarter century in the pros. He did so after his own brief playing career, one where he saw three seasons in the minors.

Ruby's career in baseball began in 1969, taken by the Indians in the 22nd round of the draft out of Arizona State University.

Ruby played three seasons in all. He started in the rookie Gulf Coast League and at AA Waterbury. He ended in 1971 at single-A Reno.

Ruby then left the game for a stretch. He earned his masters in education administration from the University of Scranton and even served as an assistant professor at the school from 1982 to 1985, according to his Grand Slam card.

He then started his coaching career. He began at single-A Quad City in 1987 as a pitching coach. He moved to single-A Palm Springs and AA Midland in 1989.

At Midland, Ruby had the difficult job of developing pitchers in a hitters park, according to The Los Angeles Times. Ruby tried to turn that into somewhat of a positive.

"If you can pitch here, you can pitch just about anywhere," he told The Times in August 1989. "Everything that could possibly work against you is here. The wind is blowing out here 99% of the time."

Ruby then made AAA Edmonton as pitching coach in 1991. He stayed at AAA with the Angels through 1995. He moved to the Indians and AAA Buffalo for 1996.

He became a minor league coordinator for the Angels, Phillies and Pirates, then returned to the minor league coaching ranks. He spent four seasons as pitching coach at short-season Tri-City in the Astros organization, then two at AA Corpus Christi.

Ruby has since retired from coaching, but has since gone into some youth instruction. In 2014, he told The Citizen's Voice about his basic approach prior to a youth clinic.

"I'd really like to see, in my own personal opinion, a lot of Little League coaches come in," he told The Voice. "I give them credit, because they're all volunteers and a lot of them give up their own time to do that. But pitching has to be done right. Listen when I tell you this: It's not rocket science. But you've got to know the fundamentals."

• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 13, 1989: It's Midland Madness
• Troy Record, Sept. 14, 2010: Cats win first NY-Penn title
• Citizen's Voice, Feb. 10, 2014: Ruby helps develop pitchers of all ages

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,752
Made the Majors:1,052-38.2%
Never Made Majors:1,700-61.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 440
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263

Kent Mercker, New Lease - 29

Originally published Sept. 11, 2011

Just three months earlier, in May 2000, Kent Mercker suffered a severe headache on the mound. The headache, though, turned out to be something much more serious: a brain hemorrhage.

But, there Mercker was, on Aug. 22, picking up his first major league win after making his way back. Mercker, though, was just happy to be back.

"That's why this is so great," Mercker told The Los Angeles Times afterward. "Every time I go to the mound, it's a new lease on life for me. This could be my last game ever, you never know. I'm just going to go as hard as I can and not worry about anything."

Mercker didn't just return, he continued pitching for eight more seasons, not throwing his final pitch until 2008.

In all, Mercker's was a career that spanned 23 seasons, serving as both a starter and a reliever. He also had a hand in two no-hitters, relieved in one, going the distance in the other.

Mercker's professional career began in 1986, taken by the Braves in the first round of the draft, out of Dublin High School in Ohio.

He played that first year in the Gulf Coast League, first hitting AA Greenville in 1988, then AAA Richmond in 1989. He also got a brief look at Atlanta that year, getting into two games as a September call-up.

Mercker was back in Atlanta by late June 1990, getting into 36 games in relief on the year, with a 3.17 ERA. He also picked up seven saves, along with four wins.

He picked up his first big league win with a two-inning relief appearance July 7. His first save came 10 days later, with a 1.2-inning performance where he gave up two earned runs.

In 1991, Mercker got into 50 games, four of them starts. One of those starts led to a no-hitter. On Sept. 11, Mercker went six innings of no-hit ball. Two relievers finished the job.

Three years later, Mercker finished the job. In April 1994, Mercker went nine innings for the win against the Dodgers, without giving up a hit.

"I kind of chuckled to myself: 'Here's a chance to put up or shut up,'" Mercker told The New York Times, thinking back to that first no-hitter. "And I put up tonight."

Mercker stayed with the Braves through the end of 1995, when he was traded to the Orioles. From there, he went to the Cardinals and then the Red Sox, before arriving with the Angels in 2000.

Then, on May 12, 2000, Mercker suffered the brain hemorrhage, a condition doctors called "very serious." But he came through, visiting his team by the end of the month and back pitching by August.

Mercker played through 2008. In 2006, pitching for the Reds, he injured his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery at the age of 38. After sitting out 2007, he was back and ready to go for spring 2008.

He also mounted his comeback shortly after being named in the Mitchell Report as a player who received Human Growth Hormone from Kirk Radomski. Mercker told The Hamilton Journal-News that he tried it once to help him return from injury. But he argued it didn't make him a better pitcher.

In that 2008 return, Mercker got into 15 games in relief, giving up five earned runs in 13.2 innings of work, finishing out his major league career.

• Gainesville Sun, Associated Press, Sept. 12, 1991: Braves' trio gets no-hitter, Part 2
• New York Times, April 9, 1994: Braves' 5th Starter, Mercker, Hurls No-Hitter
• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 23, 2000: Mercker Picks Up a Win to Remember
• Mitchell Report, December 2007: Pages 198 and 199
• Hamilton Journal-News, Feb. 8, 2008: Reds sign Mercker to minor-league deal

Jeff Barns, Multiple Positions - 9

The Midland Angels and Wichita Wranglers seemed to play a football game this night in April 1990. The two teams scored 50 runs between them, ending in a 33-17 score. The Wranglers took the win.

Catching for the losing side - the side that gave up 33 runs in seemingly odd ways - was sometimes backstop Jeff Barns.

"I went to our other catcher," Barnes told The Associated Press later of his shock, "and said, 'Mike, is it me?'"

Barns played multiple positions for Midland that year, six in all. He even pitched. He played those positions in his fourth season as a pro. He went on to play in eight seasons. He never got to play a position in the majors.

Barns' career began in 1987, taken by the Angels in the 15th round of the draft out of the University of South Carolina.

He started with the Angels at single-A Quad City. He got into 64 games and hit .258. He moved to single-A Palm Springs for 1988. He hit a two-run home run in June, one of two he hit on the year. He ended with a .242 average.

Barns made AA Midland in 1989. He hit .296 in 70 games. He then returned there for 1990.

In 1991, he got a brief look at AAA Edmonton, seven games, and 10 games back at Midland. He then moved to the Indians and AA Canton-Akron.

Barns played 1992 and 1993 with the Athletics at high-A Modesto. He then finished out his career with 22 final games in 1994, played with the Angels at Midland.

Barns has since settled in Texas. He serves in 2017 as a coach for the 18U Bullpen Bulls in Cypress.

• Daily Iowan, Associated Press, April 30, 1990: Wild game for Texas Leaguers underscores incredible hitting

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,751
Made the Majors:1,052-38.2%
Never Made Majors:1,699-61.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 440
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263

Kevin Trudeau, Played Harder - 19

A record crowd came out to watch the Orlando Twins in this June 1986 game and new Orlando reliever Kevin Trudeau didn't disappoint, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Coming in after the starter faltered, Trudeau went 5 1/3 innings, giving up just two hits in the Orlando win, The Sentinel wrote.

"A great game for the fans," Trudeau told The Sentinel afterward. "This was one we wanted to win for them. When there's that many people out there, the adrenaline flows and you just feel like you play harder."

Trudeau arrived at Orlando and saw that crowd in his third season as a pro. He went on to see crowds at AAA. In seven seasons, he never saw crowds in the majors.

Trudeau's career began in 1984, taken by the Yankees in the sixth round of the January draft out of Chabot College.

Trudeau started with the Yankees in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He went 2-1, with a 1.96 ERA in 10 outings, eight starts.

He moved to short-season Oneonta for 1985. He came on in relief in a July game, getting out of a jam and picking up the win. Overall, he went 8-3, with a 1.64 ERA.

Trudeau arrived with the Indians to start 1986. He played at single-A Waterloo and AA Waterbury before arriving with the Twins and AA Orlando mid-year. He played 1987 and 1988 between Orlando and AAA Portland.

For 1989, the Twins sent Trudeau along with Bert Blyleven to the Angels. He then played between AA Midland and AAA Edmonton. He went 7-8 on the year, with a 3.52 ERA.

Trudeau then returned to Edmonton and Midland in 1990. He picked up a win in relief in early September for Edmonton. He went 7-4, with a 4.59 ERA to end his career.

• Orlando Sentinel, June 28, 1986: Record Crowd Of 6,391 Cheers O-Twins Past Blue Jays, 11-7

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,750
Made the Majors:1,052-38.3%
Never Made Majors:1,698-61.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 440
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263

Dave Justice, Six Series - 28

Originally published April 30, 2011

Called up to the Braves in May 1990, Dave Justice spent his time platooning at first base. He got into his share of games, but he wasn't a regular. Then came early August and the Braves traded away the beloved Dale Murphy.

Fans didn't like it and Justice wasn't even sure the price was worth the result. But the move made Justice the Braves' regular right fielder, a job he wouldn't relinquish until five years and three World Series appearances later.

"You know, you'd think I'd be happy because I get to play everyday with Murph gone," Justice told The Los Angeles Times that August, "but I'm miserable. He meant so much to me. It feels strange without him."

But Justice made do, enough so to win the Rookie of the Year award at season's close, an award he attributed directly to that trade and his move to regular right fielder.

Justice went on to have a long major league resume, with 14 major league seasons, three All-Star appearances, six World Series and two titles. He also sat out a seventh World Series injured. But he would also have something else on his resume: a mention in the Mitchell Report with allegations he later denied.

Justice's career began in 1985, taken by the Braves in the fourth round of the draft, out of Thomas More College. He made AA Greenville in 1987, AAA Richmond in 1988 and then got his first brief look at the majors in 1989.

In his Rookie of the Year campaign in 1990, Justice debuted with Atlanta May 15 and went on to hit .282 with 28 home runs. Coming back for his sophomore year in 1991, Justice hit .275 with another 21 home runs. He also helped the Braves to Atlanta's first World Series appearance.

That postseason Justice helped contribute to two Braves NLCS losses, after missing third base on a play where he should have scored the tying run in Game 5, and committing a Game 4 throwing error that contributed to another Braves loss in Game 4.

In the World Series, though, he contributed to a Braves win, with a Game 5 home run. "For us to get a victory like this is a big boost," Justice told The Associated Press after the Braves went up 3 games to 2.

The next year Justice helped will the Braves back to the Series, making a big Game 7 NLCS catch. He also provided an rallying point.

"David Justice said no matter if we get down, let's stay up no matter what," Braves manager Bobby Cox told reporters. "Every pitch, every hitter - and we did."

The next year, Justice had a career year and continued hitting. Justice hit .270 with 40 home runs. But the Braves missed the World Series that year. They didn't win one until 1995, and it was a Justice home run that did it.

In Game 7 of the 1995 Series, Justice's home run was the difference in a 1-0, 4 games to 3, Braves victory over the Indians. "When I hit it, I knew I got it," Justice told reporters.

Justice dislocated a shoulder 40 games into 1996. By spring 1997, the Braves traded him to the Indians. Then came another World Series, helping his new team get there with his offense, and his support of his teammates.

"I think I'm a natural rah-rah guy," Justice told The New York Times before the Indians took on the Marlins. "Eventually, I just started opening up more, because I know only one way of playing, and that's getting behind my teammates."

Justice's final two World Series came in 2000 and 2001, with the Yankees. His final year as a player came in 2002 with the Athletics.

It allegations stemming from after the 2000 World Series that got Justice in the Mitchell Report. Former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski told baseball investigators that Justice purchased HGH from him once after the series. He then later allegedly admitted to Brian McNamee, the one-time Yankees assistant strength coach, that he purchased it.

To The Times after the report's release, Justice said he never used performance enhancing drugs.

"This is what we've all got to deal with," Justice told The Times. "Some people are going to believe you. Some people don’t care. And some people aren't going to believe you."

• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 8, 1990: Padres Prosper in Land of the (Murphy-Less) Braves
• Williamson Daily News, Associated Press, Nov. 7, 1990: Atlanta's Dave Justice is NL's Rookie of the Year
• Milwaukee Journal, Journal wire services, Oct. 15, 1991: There's no Justice for Braves
• Florence Times Daily, Oct. 16, 1992: A seventh game to remember
• Spartanburg Herald-Journal, wire reports, Oct. 29, 1995: Justice prevails as he backs up his harsh words
• New York Times, Oct. 18, 1997: Justice Fits In
• New York Times, Dec. 15, 2007: Justice Attempts to Clear His Name

Joe Grahe, His Ability - 12

Joe Grahe came into this September 1991 with a 1-7 record and still looking for his first win as a starter, according to UPI.

Grahe responded by throwing a complete-game that ended in a walk-off Angels win and a win for Grahe, UPI wrote.

"I've been able to get a big monkey off my back," Grahe told UPI afterward. "It's not a question of doubting my ability. It was just a question of when am I going to get a break and win a game."

Grahe's focus later turned from notching wins for himself to wins for the team, and recording saves in the process. He turned closer for the Angels the next year and tallied 21 saves. He then tallied double-digit saves his next two seasons.

Overall, Grahe played in seven major league seasons, recorded 22 wins and 45 major league saves.

Grahe's career began in 1989, taken by the Angels in the second round of the draft out of the University of Miami.

At Miami, Grahe earned the description "one of the finest pitchers" in school history over his three seasons. He completed 11 games in 1988 and 10 in 1989, school records. He also recorded 433 strikeouts and 34 wins. He later won induction into the school's Hall of Fame.

Grahe also recorded Miami's only win in the 1989 College World Series. He threw a five-hitter and struck out eight.

"We hit the home runs and played pretty good defense," Miami Coach Ron Fraser told reporters after the win. "But I thought the night belonged to Joe Grahe."

With the Angels, Grahe started in 1990 and quickly climbed the ladder. He played at AA Midland, AAA Edmonton and then, in August, debuted with California.

Grahe started eight games for the Angels in 1990. He went 3-4, with a 4.98 ERA. He then returned for 1991 and finished 3-7, with a 4.81 ERA over 18 outings, 10 starts.

Grahe then turned closer mid-season 1992. He saved those 21 games for the Angels, but let an August one get away with some wildness.

"I was trying to run a 'cutter' in on him," Grahe told The Los Angeles Times after the loss. "It's been a good pitch for me, but I got a little overaggressive and it hit him. It can happen that way."

Grahe returned to the Angels for 45 more relief outings in 1993. He saved 11. He then got 40 outings in 1994 and saved 13.

He played 1995 with the Rockies, getting into 17 games, starting nine. He went 4-3, with a 5.08 ERA.

Grahe then underwent shoulder surgery. He lost all of 1996 and then played 1997 in independent ball and 1998 in independent ball and the minors before he returned for one final stint in the bigs in 1999 with the Phillies. He recorded his first win back in September.

"It was a long road back," Grahe told The Associated Press after the win. "I went through some tough times, but I still had faith in myself."

Grahe played his last games in the minors in 2000. He has since returned home to Florida, where he works in real estate.

• DataOmaha, June 3, 1989: Miami (Fla.) 5, LSU 2
• UPI, Sept. 7, 1991: Angels 2, Brewers 1
• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 17, 1992: Canseco Delicately Delivers a Single to Defeat Angels, 5-4
• CBSNews, Associated Press, Sept. 25, 1999: Mets Lose, Time To Get Scared

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,749
Made the Majors:1,052-38.3%-X
Never Made Majors:1,697-61.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 440-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263

Mark Howie, Paced Himself - 7

Mark Howie played a different job to start 1992. In his ninth pro season, the infielder no longer played regularly, The Nashville Tennessean wrote.

But, that May, he got his chance to do so again after an injury. He preferred the regular role, he told The Tennessean.

"When I came here, my role changed and it was and adjustment getting into the lineup on something other than a regular basis," Howie told The Tennessean. "When that happens, you try to make something happen immediately instead of pacing yourself."

That season marked Howie's first regular time at AAA over his nine seasons. But, no matter how he paced himself, Howie didn't make the majors that year or in his career. That season marked his final as a pro.

Howie's career began in 1984, taken by the Athletics in the third round of the draft out of Louisiana State University.

Howie started with the Athletics at short-season Medford. He hit .266 in 71 games. He then moved to single-A Madison for 1985. He hit .265 over the full season there. He went 2 for 3 in a July game.

Howie played again at Madison in 1986. He hit .309 that year and won MVP honors in the league all-star game.

He made AA Huntsville and AAA Tacoma for 1987. He played 1988 with the Indians at AA Williamsport and signed iwth the Angels for 1989 and played at AA Midland.

Howie hit .331 at Midland in 1989. He went on to play three seasons at Midland, including hitting .364 there in 1991, with 123 RBI. He hit a three-run home run in the AA All-Star Game, and won game MVP. His time at Midland later earned him a spot in the Texas League Hall of Fame.

Howie signed with the Reds for 1992 and gained some notice that spring from manager Lou Piniella. The notice, however, withered with his age, 29.

"I thought he was a young Barry Larkin until I found out he was older than Barry Larkin," Piniella told The Associated Press of Howie.

Howie spent that season at Nashville. He hit .246 in 105 games to end his career.

Howie passed away in 2007 at the age of 44.

• Colorado Springs Gazette, Associated Press, March 19, 1992: Reds Larkin a mile high over Denver
• Nashville Tennessean, May 19, 1992: Howie happy to get a chance

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,748
Made the Majors:1,051-38.3%
Never Made Majors:1,697-61.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 439
10+ Seasons in the Minors:263