Tony Mosley signed out of high school because he loved the game; Saw seven seasons, made AA

Tony Mosley signed with the Red Sox out of high school in June 1987 and his father Charles Mosley explained to The Tampa Tribune the importance.

"He's going into a dream," the father told The Tribune. "He signed because it's an opportunity. All he's ever talked about is professional baseball. ... He signed not because of the bonus but because of his love for the game."

Mosley took his love for the game on to seven pro seasons. He couldn't take it to the majors. He topped out at AA.

Mosley's career began in 1987, taken by the Red Sox in the 22nd round of the draft out of Fort Meade High School in Florida.

He started at short-season Elmira. The pitcher went 3-2 over 17 mostly relief appearances, with a 3.44 ERA. He then moved to single-A Winter Haven for 1988. He went 2-8, with a 5.09 ERA in 33 outings, six starts.

That April in 1988, Mosley got caught up in a crackdown on balks. He got called for two in a game that saw six total, The Tribune wrote. Mosley didn't like the new emphasis.

"After I got called for the first one in that game, I was just so worried about the balks that I couldn't throw strikes. It's ridiculous," Mosley told The Tribune.

Mosley played 1989 back at Elmira, then 1990 mostly at high-A Winter Haven. He played 1991 at high-A Lynchburg, then made AA in 1992 at New Britain. He went 2-4, with a 5.00 ERA at New Britain over 49 outings, two starts.

He then split 1993 between high-A Fort Lauderdale and New Britain. Late that August, he came on in a jam and induced a double-play, The Hartford Courant wrote.

"I just wanted to get ahead of (him). I like coming in situations like that because my adrenalin is flowing," Mosley told The Courant.

Mosley saw 32 relief appearances overall in 1993. He went 2-1, with a 5.21 ERA. That season proved his last as a pro.

• Tampa Tribune, June 6, 1987: Mosley fulfills dream by signing with Sox
• Tampa Tribune, April 26, 1988: Base-balk isn't restricted to big-league pitchers anymore
• Hartford Courant, Aug. 31, 1993: Britsox get ahead in ninth

More: The 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,924
Made the Majors:1,307-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,617-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:327-X

Felix Colon got some key hits over decade in pros; Topped out at AA

The bases loaded in the seventh, short-season Elmira's Felix Colon stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter in this July 1991 game and promptly hit a grand slam, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote.

But Colon just thought about getting in a run, he told The Star-Gazette afterward.

"Just get a hit or tie the game with a long fly," Colon told The Star-Gazette. "I wanted to at least get a run in but he hung a curveball. I hit it well."

Colon hit that grand slam in his third season as a pro. He went on to play a decade in affiliated and independent ball. He topped out ta AA.

Colon's career began in 1989, signed by the Red Sox as a free agent out of his native Puerto Rico.

Colon started with the Red Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He hit .224 in 58 games. he then moved to high-A Winter Haven and returned to the GCL for 1990. He hit .219 on the year.

He arrived at Elmira. He hit .249 there in 63 games, including 12 home runs. He hit another home run that July, a three-run shot to break a tie.

"I was thinking knocking in runs," Colon told The Star-Gazette after that home run. "A tie game, two runners on, short game, I was hoping to get some runs in and win the game."

Colon returned to Winter Haven for 1992, then saw high-A Lynchburg in 1993 and AA New Britain in 1994. He hit .226 in 129 games there.

He briefly played at AA Jacksonville with the Tigers in 1995, then moved to independent ball and Massachusetts for 1996. He hit .339 in 69 games that year and .355 in 77 games in 1997.

Colon knocked in the winning run in a June 1997 game, a ball that rolled to the wall, The Bangor Daily News wrote.

"The first pitch was a sinker in and I fouled it off," Colon told The Daily News. "Then he threw a slider, and I got it pretty good."

Colon returned for 1998, but only saw three games. He went 6 for 9 to end his career.

• Elmira Star-Gazette, July 7, 1991: Pioneers sweep Blue Sox
• Elmira Star-Gazette, July 12, 1991: Colon savors winning homer
• Bangor Daily News, June 3, 1997: Mad Dogs edge Blue Ox 3-2 in 11

More: The 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,923
Made the Majors:1,307-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,616-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:327-X

Dave Holt played and managed in Red Sox system, and managed Blue Sox; Made AA

Dave Holt's return to Elmira in 1993 proved almost a homecoming of sorts. The manager of the short-season Utica Blue Sox had not only managed at Elmira previously, he'd played there, too.

"It looks a little different," Holt told The Elmira Star-Gazette that August. "I've gotten to talk to some of the people I knew and to see some of the old faces."

Holt arrived at Utica that year as part of more than a decade managing in the minors. Before that, he spent five seasons as a player himself. Both playing and managing, Holt topped out at AA.

Holt's career in baseball began in 1979, taken by the Red Sox in the 21st round of the draft out of Cal State Fresno.

Holt started as a player at Elmira. He saw 62 games and hit .259 with five home runs. He then made single-A Winter Haven in 1980 and stayed there three seasons. He hit .253 over 94 games his third season there.

He arrived ta AA New Britain for 1983. He saw 29 games and hit .211 to end his playing career.

By 1984, Holt had started his managerial career at Winter Haven. He moved to AA New Britain in 1987. Upon his arrival there, he explained to The Hartford Courant his philosophy.

"The main thing you want a professional baseball player to learn is consistency, and that's what I try to teach," Holt told The Courant. "Professional baseball is full of heroes one day, and goats the next. If you learn to be consistent emotionally, you have a better chance to succeed."

Holt stayed at New Britain two seasons, then managed two at Winter Haven and two more at Elmira. He finally moved to Utica in 1993 as manager and is last credited managing at Utica in 1994.

• Hartford Courant, April 11, 1987: New Britain Manager Holt piloting on an even keel
• Elmira Star-Gazette, Aug. 18, 1993: Former Pioneers manager Holt happy to be skipper in Utica

More: The 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,922
Made the Majors:1,307-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,615-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:326

Scott Scudder got sent down, but he expected to return; He did, saw five ML seasons

Originally published June 24, 2012

Scott Scudder made the Reds in 1989, getting 17 starts. To start 1990, though, he got sent back to AAA Nashville.

"I was disappointed when I got sent down," Scudder told The Associated Press after his return May 6, "but I expected to be back."

Scudder returned to the Reds with a start where he went into the eighth inning, giving up a single earned run.

Scudder went on to pitch in five major league seasons, playing for the Reds and the Indians, getting 96 outings, 64 starts. He also played on a World Series champion.

Scudder's career began in 1986, signed by the Reds as the 17th overall pick out of Prairieland High School in Texas.

He started at rookie Billings, moving to single-A Cedar Rapids in 1987. He made AA Chattanooga for the first time in 1988, then AAA Nashville in 1989. In 1989, Scudder also made Cincinnati.

Scudder debuted with the Reds in June. He picked up his first win June 22, in his fourth outing. He got into the eighth, giving up one earned run. Scudder, though, wasn't satisfied with the win, according to The AP.

"As a pitcher, you want a shutout," Scudder told The AP. "You don't just want a victory."

By the time Scudder was done, he'd made it into 23 games, starting 17. He was also 4-9, with a 4.49 ERA.

Coming back for 1990, Scudder made it back in May, going on to get 21 outings, 10 starts for the eventual world champions. He had a 5-5 record, with a 4.90 ERA. In July, Scudder was pressed into a start three days after a relief appearance. He went into the seventh, giving up two runs and picking up his second win.

"It was kind of like relief," Scudder told The AP of that emergency start. "I took it like I was relieving the game."

Scudder stayed with the team into the postseason, getting an appearance each in the NLCS and the World Series. In the World Series, Scudder pitched 1.1 innings in Game 2, striking out two without giving up a hit.

In 1991, Scudder got into 27 games for the Reds, starting 14. He went 6-9, with a 4.35 ERA. For 1992, Scudder arrived with the Indians in a four-player deal.

The trade to the Indians allowed Scudder to pitch as a visitor in a park he used to go to as a kid in Paris, Texas, Texas' Arlington Stadium. He pitched there and won there in May.

On the year, Scudder went 6-10, with a 5.28 ERA. He returned for two more outings in 1993, starting one game. They were the last two major league games of his career. He continued playing in the minors into 1995, but never made it back to the bigs.

• Madison Courier, Associated Press, June 23, 1989: Scudder does job for Reds
• Portsmouth Daily Times, Associated Press, May 7, 1990: Reds 'ready' as backups, young pitcher shuffle Cards
• Portsmouth Daily Times, Associated Press, July 18, 1990: Scudder gives Reds a jump-start

More: 1990 Nashville Sounds

Brian Lane faced ML pitcher on rehab; Saw six pro seasons, missed bigs himself

Originally published July 18, 2012

Brian Lane and the Chattanooga Lookouts got a look at a major league pitcher this exhibition game in April 1993.

This major league pitcher also had a perfect game behind him, Tom Browning. Browning, though, was far from perfect. He gave up 13 hits. Among those Lookouts who got in on the action was Lane.

"It wasn't really his day," Lane told The Associated Press afterward. "This guy's got a perfect game in the major leagues. We got to him early and it was fun. Some days you go to the plate and get good pitches."

While Lane and the Lookouts had a good day that day, for Lane, that look at major league pitching would be among the few he had. And, in a career that saw time in six seasons, Lane never got to see major league pitching in the majors.

Lane's career began in 1987, taken by the Reds in the third round of the draft, out of Midway High School in Waco, Texas.

He played that first year at rookie Billing. He hit .200 in 56 games. He moved to single-A Greensboro for 1988, improving his average to .282 over 115 contests. He went 2 for 4 in a May game for Greensboro, including executing a hit-and-run.

Lane first made AA Chattanooga in 1989, hitting .252 in 130 games. He also hit 11 home runs and knocked in 89. One of those RBIs came on a double in May.

Lane started 1990 at AAA Nashville, but in 49 games, he hit only .193. He played the rest of the year back at AA.

He's not recorded as playing in 1991, but he returned in 1992 for 57 total games between Chattanooga and Nashville.

His year in 1993 ended up being his last. Playing a full season back at AA, Lane hit .264, with 10 home runs, ending his career short of the majors.

• Kentucky New Era, Associated Press, April 20, 1993: Browning beat by Chattanooga

More: 1990 Nashville Sounds

Lou Munoz almost gave up on pros for police work, then got signed; Saw three seasons, made high-A

Passed over in the 1987 draft, Lou Munoz eventually signed as a pro, but not before starting on the path toward leaving the game behind for good, he told his hometown White Plains Journal News in December 1987.

A University of South Florida product, Munoz had started the process of becoming a police officer in Tampa, when the Red Sox called and invited him to spring training, The Journal News wrote.

"I had a feeling someone would take me to spring training," Munoz told The Journal News agreeing with the Red Sox. "That's all I wanted. I'm a little surprised that I got the call because I was just about ready to hang it up. I had almost given up hope."

Munoz eventually took that chance to three pro seasons. He topped out at high-A.

Munoz' career began late that year in 1987, signed by the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent out of South Florida. Munoz was also credited as Luis Munoz.

He started with the Red Sox at single-A Winter Haven and short-season Elmira. He hit .204 between them in 56 games. 

Munoz returned to Elmira for all of 1989. He hit .207 in 65 games. His season got a late start after he broke his ankle in the last exhibition game of the spring. That July, The Journal News noted he'd come back from his injury and settled in at shortstop.

"Defensively, I'm playing as well as I can," Munoz told The Journal News. "Offensively, I'm starting to come around. I feel a lot more comfortable this year. I know what to expect."

Munoz made high-A Winter Haven to start 1990. By that June, he'd seen 32 games and hit .129. He then retired. Munoz called retirement the hardest decision he'd had to make, he told The Journal News.

"I'm 24 and playing once a week just wasn't fun anymore," Munoz explained to The Journal News. "I figured I'd put in a few years and that it wasn't going to pan out. I gave it my best shot."

• White Plains Journal News, Dec. 9, 1987: Munoz to sign with Red Sox
• White Plains Journal News, July 19, 1989: A jack of all trades, Munoz settles in at shortstop
• White Plains Journal News, June 22, 1990: After 3 years, Munoz calls it a career

More: The 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,921
Made the Majors:1,307-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,614-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:326

Andy Rush tried to improve each game; Saw six seasons, could improve enough for high-A

Andy Rush explained the differences between high school and professional baseball to The Elmira Star-Gazette in July 1988.

Hitters, the pitcher told The Star-Gazette, showed more discipline. But the pitcher also spoke about his own prospects.

"My scout, Phil Rossi, said I could move up (to the majors) in three or four years," Rush told The Star-Gazette. "I'll try to improve in each game."

Rush ended up playing professionally for five seasons - and was credited in a sixth. But he could only improve so much. He topped out at high-A.

Rush's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Red Sox in the second round of the draft out of Somerset High School in Pennsylvania.

Rush started with the Red Sox at short-season Elmira. He went 3-8, with a 4.15 ERA over 14 outings, 13 starts. 

Going into his second season, Rush spoke to his hometown Somerset Daily American about how he'd been doing to that point. 

"Most of the coaches are real pleased with my progress," Rush told The Daily American.

Rush played 1989 between single-A Winter Haven and Elmira. He went 4-6, with a 3.26 ERA. he played 1990 at high-A Winter Haven, then 1991 and 1992 at high-A Lynchburg.

He saw 15 outings, six starts at Lynchburg in 1992, his season slowed by scar tissue in his elbow. He had been tagged for AA New Britain, but his season - and main career- ended with Lynchburg.

Rush is later credited as returning in 2003 with independent Pensacola and Selma and seeing 10 outings, his last recorded time as a pro.

Rush has since returned to Somerset. In 2019, he served as CEO of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Somerset. He started there in 2000 as director of physical therapy and rehabilitation services.

• Elmira Star-Gazette, July 10, 1988: Life in the pros throws some a curve
• Somerset Daily American, Jan. 26, 1988: Rush continues to climb stairway to Boston
• Somerset Daily American, May 10, 2019: Rush to speak at DA sports awards

More: The 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:3,920
Made the Majors:1,307-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,613-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:326