Francisco de la Rosa, Not As Intended - 1406

Originally published July 27, 2010, updated January 2011

The Orioles bullpen needed some relief and Francisco de la Rosa was the called up to fill the gap, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The move didn't go as intended for the Orioles, or de la Rosa. It got de la Rosa to the majors. But back problems would limit his appearances to two, what would turn out to be the the only two appearances of his major league career.

De la Rosa began his career with the Blue Jays system, signed as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic. He played part of one season for the Blue Jays' rookie league team, with a 5.52 ERA, and was released.

It wasn't until late 1987 that de la Rosa caught on with the Orioles, playing 1988 at single-A Hagerstown. He returned to single-A Frederick in 1988, while posting a 2.38 ERA and getting promoted back to AA Hagerstown. In 18 appearances at AA, de la Rosa's ERA expanded to 4.55. Among his problems was a three-run double given up in August against Albany.

De la Rosa returned to Hagerstown for 1990, bettering his ERA to a more-than-acceptable 2.05, and getting a taste of AAA Rochester. He also got a look at starting. In one July game, de la Rosa threw a complete-game, three-hitter, according to the Reading Eagle.

Back to mainly relief for 1991, de la Rosa spent the year at Rochester and had a still-good 2.67 ERA. Then he got the September call-up.

De la Rosa debuted with the Orioles Sept. 7. In 1.1 innings, he gave up two hits and one walk. Then his back got sore, suffering spasms after his debut, according to The Sun.

His back was well enough by October to get back in a game. That game came Oct. 3 and it didn't go well. He pitched in another 2.2 innings, de la Rosa gave up four hits and two earned runs in a blow-out loss to the Yankees.

Whatever de la Rosa did in that outing, the Yankees saw something, other than extra runs. By the start of the 1992 season, the Yankees traded for him. As he went, de la Rosa gave up five runs in one inning of an Orioles intersquad game.

De la Rosa spent the next two seasons at AAA Columbus. In spring 1993, his spring training was delayed with visa problems, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

De la Rosa signed on with the Cardinals for 1995, playing at AAA Louisville. His career ended in 1996, with four appearances with the independent Northern League.

After several years of failing health, De la Rosa passed away in January 2011. He was 44.

• Baltimore Sun, Sept. 4, 1991: De la Rosa called up early to plug hole in bullpen
• Baltimore Sun, Sept. 18, 1991: At least 4 players headed to Instructional League
• Baltimore Sun, March 5, 1992: De la Rosa, who might be on way out, is hit hard
• Baltimore Sun, March 6, 1992: De la Rosa to Yankees Mesa next?

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,141
Made the Majors: 665 - 58.3%
Never Made Majors: 476-41.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 288
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Jerry Narron, Stayed Connected - 1431

Coming off his second managerial stint in 2008, Jerry Narron was ready to do anything the Rangers wanted him to do, he told MLB.com.

He also wanted to still stay connected to the game that he'd been involved with in some way or another for more than three decades.

"I love the game," Narron told MLB.com, "and I want to be a part of it."

Up until that point in 2008, Narron was a part of the game as a player, coach and manager, both in the minors and in the majors.

As a player, he got time in eight major league seasons, finding himself at one point in the impossible situation of taking over for a fallen teammate, a teammate who seemed destined for the Hall of Fame.

As a manager and a coach, Narron returned to the majors, staying there for much of the next two decades, his managerial time spanning five seasons with two teams.

Narron's career in baseball began back in 1974, taken by the Yankees in the sixth round of the draft out of Goldsboro High School in North Carolina.

With the Yankees, Narron started at rookie Johnson City, moving to single-A Fort Lauderdale in 1975. He made AA West Haven in 1977, then AAA Tacoma in 1978.

It was in April 1979 that Narron made his major league debut. But the catcher played sparingly, behind Yankees great Thurman Munson. Then came Aug. 2 and the plane crash that claimed Munson's life. In the first Yankees game after the tragedy, it was Narron behind the plate.

"I caught the night before his accident and I caught the night after it," Narron recalled to The New York Daily News in 2009. "It was very tough for everybody. It was like losing somebody in your family. It was a very difficult time for everybody."

In all, Narron saw time in 61 games that year for the Yankees. He moved to the Mariners for 1980 and 1981. With the Mariners in 1981, Narron got into what would be a career high 76 games.

He moved to the Angels in 1983, playing there through 1986. He then played his last four major league games in 1987 back with the Mariners. In all, over eight seasons, Narron's major league career consisted of 392 games played, 21 home runs and a .211 batting average.

One of those home runs came in a May 1985 game, a grand slam. "I was just trying to hit it back up the middle," Narron told The Associated Press after the game of his slam.

Narron's final season as a player came in 1988, with the Orioles at AAA Rochester. From there, Narron turned manager, taking over the Orioles single-A affiliate at Frederick.

Narron then took over at AA Hagerstown in 1990, then AAA Rochester in 1992. In 1993, Narron moved back to the majors, as Orioles bench coach.

Narron returned to the majors as Orioles manager Johnny Oates made good on a previous promise, according to The Baltimore Sun.

"I'm pretty excited right now," Narron told The Sun after the announcement. "I talked to Johnny a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't know anything for sure until two nights ago. I'm really looking forward to it."

Narron served as bench coach that year, moving to third base coach for 1994. For 1995, he moved to the Rangers, serving as third base coach there into 2001.

It was in 2001 that Narron got his first major league managerial job, taking over the Rangers mid-season. He stayed with them through 2002.

In 2005, Narron got his second look at a major league managerial office with the Reds, staying there into 2007.

In May 2007, Narron had his team reviewing fundamentals after a poor stretch in the field, according to MLB.com.

"Our infielders get a lot of work done every day, a lot of work done early and during BP," Narron told MLB.com. "The outfielders probably don't get enough throwing, especially in cut-off relay situations."

Narron lasted with the Reds until the end of that June. It was in 2011 that he returned to the majors, as bench coach with the Brewers, the team where his brother Johnny Narron serves as hitting coach. He continues in that role for 2013.

• Harlan Daily Enterprise, Associated Press, May 16, 1985: Grand Slam Erases Blue Jays
• Baltimore Sun, Nov. 21, 1992: Dempsey may manage on O's farm 
• MLB.com, Feb. 18, 2007: Notes: Narron focuses on defense
• MLB.com, Feb. 25, 2008: Notes: Narron back in the fold
• New York Daily News, Aug. 1, 2009: Jerry Narron recalls night he replaced Thurman Munson

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,141
Made the Majors: 665 - 58.3%-X
Never Made Majors: 476-41.7%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 288-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Steve Culkar, Back Pocket - 1405

Maybe it was the injury he suffered the previous season. Maybe it was the worker's compensation claim that followed. Or maybe, in his fifth season, Steve Culkar's time was just up.

Whatever the reason, according to The Chicago Tribune in August 1991, Culkar had just been given his release by the Orioles.

With that release, though, Culkar did have other options, The Tribune noted. In his back pocket, Culkar already had a TV communications degree.

Culkar's professional baseball career began in 1987, taken by the Orioles in the 14th round, out of the University of Kentucky.

At Kentucky, Culkar was called the team's top reliever in 1987, helping the team to the SEC tournament, its first in six years. By tournament time, Culkar had three saves and an ERA of 2.30. An apparent video of an April 1987 Culkar appearance is on YouTube.

With the Orioles, Culkar played his first season between rookie Bluefield and short-season Newark. In 11 outings, Culkar posted a 2.57 ERA.

For 1988, Culkar played at single-A Hagerstown and single-A Virginia. Culkar also saved eight games for Hagerstown, picking up his seventh in a July game. He also got his first look at AA Charlotte, getting 15 games and a 3.00 ERA there.

Culkar then split 1989 between AA Hagerstown and at the next level higher, AAA Rochester. He got 26 games at Hagerstown, getting a 1.34 ERA there. At Rochester, he got into 23 games, posting a 3.99 ERA.

It was in 1990 that Culkar had his abbreviated season. Sent back to Hagerstown, Culkar's season consisted of just two outings, giving up four earned runs in 5.2 innings of work.

Culkar came back for nine total outings in 1991, at high-A Frederick and at Hagerstown, but they were the last outings of his career.

Culkar has since gone on to use that communications degree. According to his LinkedIn profile, Culkar is currently a senior account executive at Fox Sports Net.

• Harlan Daily Enterprise, May 14, 1987: Kentucky Meets Florida In SEC Tourney
• Chicago Tribune, Aug. 16, 1991: Real collector's item
• YouTube, posted March 4, 2013: Auburn @ UK April 1987

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,140
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.3%
Never Made Majors: 476-41.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Paul Thorpe, High-Pressure - 1414

Daytona Beach manager Jim Hutto had a reliever he used in high-pressure situations in June 1985 and that was Paul Thorpe.

It was just on this night, Hutto told The Daytona Beach Morning Journal, he thought he should spread around the pressure.

"I stayed with (Larry) Heise because I've put Paul Thorpe into too many do or die situations already this year and I thought it was somebody else's turn," Hutto told The Morning Journal.

By the time Thorpe's time with Daytona Beach was done that year, he'd gotten into 24 games in relief, picking up four saves, with an ERA of 2.51.

Thorpe was in his second professional season that year. He went on to play in seven seasons. He never got to play in the majors.

Thorpe's professional career began in 1984, signed by the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of his native Scarborough, Ont.

With the Orioles, Thorpe started at rookie Bluefield. In 25 outings, Thorpe put up a 2.67 ERA, picking up seven saves.

Thorpe then moved to single-A Daytona Beach and short-season Newark for 1985. He then moved to single-A Hagerstown for 1986, returning to Hagerstown for 1987.

In 1988, Thorpe got his first look at AA, with Charlotte. At Charlotte, Thorpe got into 67 outings, finishing with a 2.67 ERA.

Thorpe returned to AA in 1989, headed back to Hagerstown. He also got his first look at AAA Rochester. At Rochester, Thorpe got into 14 games, with a 2.66 ERA. That would be Thorpe's only time at AAA.

Thorpe played just one more season, back at AA Hagerstown. He ended up saving 12 games, picking up his 11th at the end of July, a two-inning outing. But Thorpe's career ended with season's end, short of the majors.

Thorpe's time at AA Hagerstown, though, did earn him a mention by the Hagerstown Suns Fan Club, as a member of the 1989-1992 All-Affiliate Team's bullpen.

• Daytona Beach Morning Journal, June 19, 1985: Islanders Rattle Red Sox, 4-2
• Hagerstown Suns Fan Club, Feb. 1, 2011: All Affiliate Team

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,139
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.3%
Never Made Majors: 475-41.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Mike Sander, Toughest Part - 1413

Mike Sander had some challenges as a pro, he told his hometown Allentown Morning Call. Foremost among those challenges was dealing with defeat, and trying to get himself out of it.

"I won wherever I went and always did well," Sander told The Morning Call in 1989 of his success in high school and college. "The toughest part to swallow is seeing your record go from 3-7 to 3-8 to 3-9."

Sander was then 4-9 for AA Hagerstown, The Morning Call wrote. He would eventually end up 9-10 on the season. Sander, though, would never end up in the bigs, his career ending the next season, still at AA.

Sander's pro career began in 1986, signed by the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Alabama.

In signing with the Orioles, Sander gave up his senior season. He also started play that fall in the instructional league.

"I'm excited, what else can I say," Sander told The Morning Call that October as he left for instructional ball.

Sander then first hit the field in the regular season in 1987, playing at short-season Newark. There, he had success, going 9-4, with a 3.40 ERA. He then moved to high-A Hagerstown for 1988, going 14-11, with a 3.65 ERA.

For 1989, he arrived at AA, back at Hagerstown as the AA affiliate moved there. He then turned in that 9-10 mark, with a 4.49 ERA. He picked up one of his wins in relief in an August game against Canton-Akron.

Sander returned to Hagerstown as a reliever in 1990, getting into 38 games, two starts. His ERA hit 2.48 and he picked up seven saves. But it was his final season as a pro. 

• Allentown Morning Call, Oct. 12, 1986: Mike Sander Is Ready For Bright, New Future
• Allentown Morning Call, July 31, 1989: Palmerton's Mike Sander Seeing How The Other Half Lives

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,138
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.4%
Never Made Majors: 474-41.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Dave Bettendorf, Award Winner - 1419

Dave Bettendorf had a good year for Kent State in 1987. It was good enough to win Mid-American Conference baseball player of the year honors.

Bettendorf won the award by hitting .412, knocking 15 home runs and 15 doubles, according to The Associated Press.

Bettendorf's performance that year also won him a selection in that June's draft. But Bettendorf's pro performance could only get him four seasons. He also never made the majors.

Bettendorf was taken that June by the Orioles in the 20th round, out of Kent State. With the Orioles, he started at rookie Bluefield, hitting .249 over 61 games.

For 1988, Bettendorf moved to single-A Hagerstown, hitting .327 over 115 games. In late August, Bettendorf knocked a double and a triple in a game against Prince William, he also got the game-winning hit.

Bettendorf moved up to AA with the city of Hagerstown for 1989, hitting .276 on the season. He knocked three singles in one July game against Canton-Akron. Later that month, he also knocked in three runs in a game against Reading.

Bettendorf also received multiple other honors in 1989. He was named to that year's all-star team. In early June, he was named player of the week with an 11-for-24 run.

For 1990, Bettendorf returned to AA Hagerstown again. This time, though, his stay was brief, just 23 games. He homered in a July game, one of three he had total. But he hit just .211. It was his final pro season.

• Owosso Argus-Press, Associated Press, May 20, 1987: Lamphere Again Earns All-MAC Honors

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,137
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.4%
Never Made Majors: 473-41.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

Chris Myers, Same Thing - 1412

Originally posted Feb. 23, 2012

Chris Myers told Orioles director of player development in early April 1990 that he didn't want his age to hold him back, Melvin told The Baltimore Sun.

Myers, still just 21, needed more time at AA before being moved up, something that wasn't unusual for young pitchers in similar situations, Melvin told The Sun.

"We did the same thing with (Bob) Milacki two years ago," Melvin told The Sun, "and it worked out fine."

But, while Milacki made the majors, pitching in a total of eight seasons, Myers never did make the majors in seven seasons of pitching. Myers' big league resume consisted of only a September call-up, one where he was told not to report.

Myers' carer began with promise, taken by the Orioles in the first round, seventh overall, in the 1987 draft. The Orioles selected him out of Plant High School in Tampa, where he'd gained a reputation as one of the state's top prospects.

Myers started with the Orioles at rookie Bluefield, starting 10 games. He went 3-2, with a 2.32 ERA.

In 1988, he moved up to single-A, at Hagerstown, where he started only seven games. He gave up 12 earned runs in 39.2 innings.

He started 1989 with time in spring training, throwing a scoreless inning in one game. But he was sent back to single-A for the start of the season, at Frederick. He got 21 starts with a 3.99 ERA and a 8-10 record. But he also saw AA, moving up the year Hagerstown also moved up. He went 4-2 there in six starts, with a 2.56 ERA.

Back at Hagerstown for 1990, instead of Rochester, Myers went 6-11 in 21 starts. His ERA increased to 3.44. That ERA was pushed up in a late August start, where he gave up five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work against Albany.

That September, he got his call-up to Baltimore, but not really. According to The Sun, the Orioles called up Myers and two other players, but told them not to report.

Myers did make Rochester for 1991. He started 21 games for the AAA club, going 8-7 with a 4.49 ERA. By late August, though, Myers was traded to the Expos for Richie Lewis.

Myers, though, played just one more year in affiliated ball, 21 outings in 1992 across three Expos levels. He then is credited with returning for a final season in independent ball in 1995, with eight outings at Adirondack and Florence, ending his career.

• Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, April 6, 1990: Flamboyant Perez Wears His Millions
• Baltimore Sun, Sept. 16, 1990: Harnisch shows Robinson he's more than talk

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,136
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.5%
Never Made Majors: 472-41.5%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173