Dave Justice, Six Series - 285

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

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Featured: 455/880 - 51.7%
Players/Coaches Featured: 466
Made the Majors: 316 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:150-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 129-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Frank Bolick hit five homers in majors, hit more in Japan

It was the bottom of the 11th and Frank Bolick came to bat for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in this May 1986 game.

Facing Western Carolina, Bolick launched one off Western Carolina hurler Gary Shamp for a game-winning home run.

"(Shamp) was down 2-0 in the count, so I was hoping for a fastball," Bolick told The South Florida Sun Sentinel after the game. "He gave me one inside and I knew it was out. I just didn't know if it was fair or foul."

It was a walk-off home run for Bolick and Georgia Tech. Bolick would go on to hit his share of home runs as a professional, 171 in the minors and five more in the majors.

Later in his career, though, a Bolick walk-off home run would see a change in descriptor, from "walk-off" to "sayonara."

Bolick's professional career began in 1987, taken out of Georgia Tech by the Brewers in ninth round. He made single-A Beloit in 1988 then high-A Stockton for 1990. His stay in the Brewers ended by June 1990, when he was traded to the Mariners for Mickey Brantley. He also won MVP of the California League that year.

Bolick stayed with the Mariners system through 1992, making AAA Calgary. The Mariners then sent him to the Expos for 1993. It was with the Expos that Bolick made the majors.

Bolick stayed up with the Expos almost the entire year in 1993, getting into 95 games. He hit just .211, with four home runs. One of those home runs was a three-run shot in May off Curt Schilling.

After spending 1993 in the majors, it was back to the minors for 1994. Bolick got back, but not until 1998, with the Angels. In the meantime, he went through the Rockies, Pirates and Indians systems, along with independent ball.

With the Angels, Bolick played 21 games, batting just .156. The stint was marked by getting sucker punched by Felix Martinez to start a brawl.

For 1999, Bolick moved to Japan, signing with the Chiba Lotte Marines. He hit 26 home runs his first year, 28 the next and 34 in 2001. His final year came in 2002 with 61 games and just six home runs.

In 2000, Bolick became one of just two foreigners to make the Japanese All-Star Game. By early August, he was hitting .307. In July 2001, Bolick won MVP of the month honors, hitting eight home runs in 18 games, according to The Japan Times.

In winning MVP honors that month, one of his home runs was a "sayonara" grand slam, giving Chiba Lotte a 10-9 victory in the 10th inning. He was credited as being the first foreign-born player in Japan to hit a walk-off grand slam. The YouTube video of the slam is below.

• South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 25, 1986: Ga. Tech Edges Western Carolina 8-7 In 11 Innings
• Reading Eagle, Aug. 6, 2000: Bolick is thriving in Japan League

More: The 1990 Stockton Ports

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Featured: 454/880 - 51.6%
Players/Coaches Featured: 465
Made the Majors: 315 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:150-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Tony Scruggs, Same Feeling - 654

Tony Scruggs was still swinging the bat in 1998, just like his old teammates Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez, Scruggs told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Where they were doing it though was a little different.

"Juan and Sammy are doing the same thing I am," Scruggs told The Herald-Tribune that September. "It's just that I'm hitting bombs in a fast-pitch softball league, but the feeling's the same coming off the bat."

Scruggs spoke to The Herald-Tribune as both Sosa and Gonzalez, two of Scruggs' fellow outfielders in the minors, were having career years in home runs and RBIs. Scruggs' career year, his only year in the majors, consisted of six at bats and no hits.

Scruggs' career began in 1987, taken in the seventh round by the Rangers out of UCLA. He played that first season in the rookie Gulf Coast League and at single-A Charlotte. He hit .337 between them, with nine home runs.

He played 1988 largely back at single-A Port Charlotte, hitting .292 with another six home runs. In May, Scruggs hit a single and a triple, batting in four. In August Scruggs got three hits in another game, the same game in which Sosa hit two triples.

Scruggs split 1989 between Port Charlotte and AA Tulsa, hitting just .195 in his half season at Tulsa. Back with Port Charlotte in August, Scruggs picked up four hits and a walk, with two RBIs, in one game. In a September game, Scruggs was credited with a run-saving sliding catch.

After spending 1990 between single-A Gastonia and AA Tulsa, Scruggs moved higher for 1991. That April, higher was big-league Texas.

Scruggs made his major league debut April 8, his final major league appearance coming less than two weeks later, on April 20. In that time, Scruggs got into five games, getting to the plate six times. He also scored a run.

Scruggs spent the remainder of the year at AAA Oklahoma City, playing just 53 games there. He played just 58 games between Tulsa and Oklahoma City for 1992, his final year with the Rangers system.

His final affiliated year came in 1993, with the Mariners. He played the year at AA Jacksonville, hitting .241 in 61 games.

Scruggs finally finished out his career in 1995 in independent ball with the Western League's Long Beach Barracudas. It was with Long Beach that Scruggs' outfield work helped turn a home run into a double, but throwing back in a batting practice ball, after the real ball went over the fence.

• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 1995: You Can Teach an Old Ball New Tricks
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sept. 15, 1998: The Other Guy, Part 2

1990 CMC Tally 
Cards Featured: 453/880 - 51.5%
Players/Coaches Featured: 464 
Made the Majors: 314 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:150-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Danny Clay used fastball to make majors over 17 games

On his way to a 13-9 season at AA Orlando, Danny Clay credited the defense behind him and the hitters giving him a lead with helping him along the way.

In one game in June, Orlando's offense gave Clay an eight-run lead after two innings of work.

"We got that eight-run lead and I was just thinking about getting ahead of the hitters and making them hit the ball,'' Clay told The Sentinel after the game. ''Our defense did the job. I was going at them with my fastball. I owe that 5-2 record to a good defense. And I should be 10-0 the way they hit for me.''

Clay spoke in his third season as a professional, along the way to an eight-season career. It was a career in which Clay would make the majors in one season, for 17 big league appearances.

Clay's career began in 1982, signed by the Twins as a free agent out of Loyola Marymount University. In his first year, 1983, Clay played at rookie-league Elizabethton and single-A Wisconsin Rapids. Between them, Clay went 6-11, with a 3.64 ERA.

In 1984, Clay went 6-7 as a starter, with single-A Kenosha. He also had a better ERA, at 2.73. He also earned the promotion for 1985 to Orlando.

By year's end in 1985, Clay had that 13-9 record, with an ERA of 4.48. It was enough for a jump to AAA for 1986, at Toledo. At Toledo, Clay went 8-11, with an ERA of 4.93.

In late May 1986, Clay was again complementing others, those making the plays behind him and getting him the runs, going 8.2 innings for a 7-3 win.

"The other pitchers have been all over me," Clay told The Toledo Blade. "They ask me what I do for these guys."

It was AAA again for 1987, and a mid-season three-player trade to the Phillies, with Dan Schatzeder going the other way. With the Phillies, Clay played at AAA Maine. The next year, he also made the majors.

Going into 1988, Clay started the year back at AAA Maine, starting the home opener. Maine manager George Culver praised Clay to The Lewiston Journal, calling Clay "a real pro."

"He was here last year and knows how to handle all the extra hoop-la that goes with an opener," Culver told The Journal. "Some of the younger fellas might be distracted."

By late April, Clay was in Philadelphia. He balked in his major league debut, but did well over all in his 1.1 innings of work, The Allentown Morning Call wrote. Overall, Clay got into 17 games as a reliever, picking up one loss and an ERA of 6.00.

Clay returned to Maine to finish out the year, then returned to AAA at Scranton for 1989. For 190, he signed with the Expos, playing at AAA Indianapolis. He pitched in 19 games, with an ERA of 2.45 there, before he was released.

Indianapolis teammate Steve Fireovid recorded Clay's release from Indianapolis in his diary of that year, "The 26th Man," calling Clay "a manager's dream."

"He had a great attitude," Fireovid wrote in his May 27 entry, "worked his butt off, and kept his mouth shut. A week ago, at the coaching staff's request, Danny switched to a sidearm delivery. He'd struggled a little, but mostly his release was a result of a numbers crunch."

Clay caught on with the Cubs at AAA Iowa for six more outings, giving up one earned run in 5.2 innings, finishing out his career.

• Orlando Sentinel, June 10, 1985: It's Clay's Day As O-twins Grab A Lead And Crush Greenville, 8-2
• Toledo Blade, May 31, 1986: Clay Struggles, But Wins As Hens Defeat Columbus
• Lewiston Journal, April 7, 1988: Meeting the new skipper
• Steve Fireovid and Mark Winegardner, Macmillan Publishing, 1996: The 26th Man: One Minor League Pitcher's Pursuit of a Dream, Page 87

More: The 1990 Indianapolis Indians

1990 CMC Tally

Cards Featured: 452/880 - 51.4%
Players/Coaches Featured: 463

Made the Majors: 313 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:150-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Dave Osteen, Experience and Knowledge - 107

Dave Osteen came in for spring training early in 1988. A local high school pitcher in Melbourne, Fla. was the beneficiary, The Orlando Sentinel wrote.

Osteen worked out with the team before spring training began,  and taught Eau Gallie High School pitcher Rex Havens a changeup, The Sentinel wrote.

''He was watching me on the side one day, and he asked me what type of pitches I threw,'' Havens told The Sentinel. ''I told him a fastball and a curve, and he asked if I wanted to learn how to throw the change. I had learned how to throw different changeups but not with control. But I worked with him, and after a while it came pretty natural.''

Osteen, going into his third professional season, taught the high school pitcher having learned much from another pitcher, his father Claude Osteen.

The son followed his father into professional baseball, going to that spring training in 1988. He never could follow his father to the majors, though, but he did later follow his father into coaching.

Following them both would be Osteen's younger brother Gavin Osteen, who himself went on to a long playing career, but also couldn't crack the majors.

Dave Osteen's professional career began in 1986 with the Cardinals at rookie-league Johnson City. He started off well, going 9-2 with a 2.26 ERA.

He moved to St. Petersburg for 1987 and kept up his efforts, going 10-3, with an ERA of 3.20. In late July, Osteen picked up a complete game win.

Going into that spring training in 1988, Osteen was poised to move to AA Arkansas. There, Osteen went 9-8, with a 3.46 ERA. The next year, he had an almost identical ERA of 3.49, but his record was markedly better - 15-5.

By May 1990, Osteen was in AAA, at Louisville. He got into 13 games there, going 5-2 with an ERA of 3.42. He got his first win April 19, against Iowa. But he also returned to Arkansas for another 13 games that year, going 5-5 with a 3.01 mark.

For 1991, Osteen moved to mainly relief, playing at AAA Louisville. His ERA ballooned to 6.41. It was his final year playing.

Osteen went on to coach for several years. In 1996 and 1997, he was with the Dodgers at short-season Yakima. He also coached in the Australian Baseball League, with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League and at Gulf Coast Community College in Florida.

With the Bluefish in 1999, Osteen was credited with helping veteran pitcher Al Sontag with his delivery, resulting in a Sontag complete-game win.

"Dave noticed something in my mechanics where I was rushing to the plate and needed to sit back a little longer so there was more pause in my windup," Sontag told The Norwalk Hour, "That's really proven to be the key."

In 2000, he was named Purdue's pitching coach. By 2002, he was back in the pros, serving as coach with the Brewers at High Desert, his last recorded coaching stint. Coming to Purdue, head coach Doug Schreiber praised Osteen.

"Dave has tremendous experience and is very knowledgeable," Schreiber said upon the hire, "not only from a pitching standpoint, but in the entire game of baseball."

• Orlando Sentinel, March 22, 1988: Eau Gallie's Havens Moving Right Along With New Off-speed Pitches
• The Norwalk Hour, July 23, 1999: Sontag, Holifield spark Bluefish
• PurdueSports.com, Sept. 21, 2000: Osteen Named Pitching Coach

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Featured: 451/880 - 51.3%
Players/Coaches Featured: 462
Made the Majors: 312 - 68%
Never Made the Majors:150-32%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Jamie Nelson, Injuries and Expectations - 565

Selected away from the team that had brought him to the majors, Jamie Nelson was optimistic that he would get back to the bigs with his new team, the Brewers, The Milwaukee Journal wrote.

But he'd have to go back to the minors to get his shot at returning to the majors.

"It's always a shock when you get sent down," Nelson told The Journal as spring closed in 1984. "But I think it's good for me to get to stay in this organization. I think that will turn out to be good for me."

But his one lengthy stint with the Mariners that year before, in 1983, would be the extent of Nelson's big league career.

While going on to a playing career that wouldn't fully end until spring 1995, injuries and expectations would conspire to prevent Nelson from making that return trip to the bigs.

But his career in baseball continues into 2011, serving as a longtime coach and coordinator in the Rays system.

Nelson's career began in 1978, taken by the Mets in the 8th round of the January draft. He played three years in the Mets system, before signing with the Mariners for 1981. He played that year and the next at AA Lynn, then 1983 at AAA Salt Lake City.

It was in July 1983 that Nelson got his call-up to Seattle. In 40 games and 96 at bats, Nelson hit .219 and one home run.

Speaking to The Los Angeles Times in 1986, Nelson recalled his time in the majors. He remembered the food that, after one game, included a spread of turkey and dressing.

"I couldn't believe it. After a game down in A or Double-A, you get yourself a microwave burrito at 7-11 and you're happy as a lark," Nelson told The Times. "I said, 'God, no wonder everybody talks about getting here.' "

Nelson spoke to The Times while trying to get back, playing in American Legion ball. The catcher had blown out his arm early the previous season.

He returned to affiliated ball in 1987, in the Royals system. With the Royals system, Nelson got in line for another call-up when Jamie Quirk got injured. But Nelson missed that opportunity after getting injured himself in a home plate collision, according to The Associated Press.

After spending time with the Yankees and Angels systems, Nelson landed with the Twins at AAA Portland in 1990. By that time, the catcher had spent 12 years in minors, minus a year out on injury. The veteran Nelson served as a backup catcher to teammate and prospect Derek Parks.

Sports Illustrated noted comparisons between Nelson and the character Crash Davis, of Bull Durham. Crash Davis was the player big league clubs wanted him to be. But it wasn't the player Nelson wanted to be. It was his last season in affiliated ball.

"The last thing I wanted to do was play Crash Davis and go from Triple A to AA," he told SI. "That's not exactly a progression."

Nelson returned in 1994 playing independent ball as a player/coach for the Mobile Baysharks of the Texas-Louisiana League, for his final playing year.

Nelson even left baseball briefly, for a janitor's job. Then the Royals came calling again, this time for replacement ball in spring 1995. Nelson hoped his play might restart his career.

"I think the more I'm around here, the more I get to display my skills and talents to show them I can still play," Nelson told The AP that February. "It's a million to one odds that they will want to retain me."

Nelson did return to the field after the spring, just as a coach and manager in the Rays organization. These days, he's one of eight roving coordinators for the Rays.

In 2007, Nelson served as manager of rookie-league Princeton, with the veteran player trying to get his team through a rough spot.

"We made some very inexperienced mistakes today," Nelson told The Bluefield Daily Telegraph that June. "I firmly believe, as long as these guys continue to grow and continue to play, they won't make those mistakes in the future."

• Milwaukee Journal, March 28, 1984: Brewers Notes
• Los Angeles Times, July 13, 1986: Last Chance: The Comeback of Jamie Nelson
• Sports Illustrated, July 23, 1990: Trying To Get In The Swim
• Junction City Daily Union, Associated Press, Feb. 28, 1995: Royals' Nelson hopes to hang around awhile, Part 2
• Bluefield Daily Telegraph, June 22, 2007: Mets not met

1990 CMC TallyCards Featured: 450/880 - 51.1%
Players/Coaches Featured: 461
Made the Majors: 312 - 68%
Never Made the Majors:149-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Injured Pinky to Rite-Aid Cards

My wife does roller derby and has for about a year now. As anyone who is familiar with roller derby knows, with derby comes injuries.

She hasn't gotten into a bout yet, that's because of the injury thing. Knees have been the big injury, twisting and impacting and all.

But the reason I mention this is because it was another derby injury Saturday that sent me to the local Rite-Aid for some medical tape. Along the way, I picked up some cards.

My wife got back from practice Saturday with an injured pinky. Apparently there was a pile up and her pinky got the worst of it.

What she needed was some medical tape, to tape the pinky to her ring finger. A teammate/medic suggested it. I've also suggested bubble wrap, wrapping her entirely in it to prevent any further injury. She did not have me go pick that up.

Anyway, my wife suggested I go to the nearby CVS for the tape. But, (and this is important), it wasn't an emergency. So, instead of going to the nearby CVS, I decided to go to the Rite-Aid. It was a little bit further, but the Rite-Aid, you see, had cards.

I found the medical tape, and on the way out picked up one of those repacks of cards, the $5 Jumbo Pack. But it was fun to open.

It kind of reminded me of back in the day when you could go anywhere and pick up cards, including the gas station. Now you rarely see them anywhere other than hobby shops, Wal-Marts and Targets and sometimes Rite-Aids.

Out of the 100 cards, I picked up a good 10 CMC set members, including the ones pictured here. There were three 1988 Donruss CMC set members there. I thought I scanned them, but by the time I realized the scanner didn't catch them, they were already put away. So I guess you'll have to go without seeing my '88 Donruss haul.

Of the seven the scanner didn't eat, I've featured five. The links to those five are below.

188 - Chito Martinez, Wrapped Up, 9/20/10
379 - Scott Aldred, Left-Handed Longevity, 4/11/10
558 - Mike Dyer, Opportunity to Pitch, 6/26/10
787 - Pat Kelly, World Stage, 9/17/10
855 - Royce Clayton, No Better Feeling, 9/26/10

Mark Grater, Pitching Assessment - 121

Sent back down to the minors in May 1993, Mark Grater didn't feel like he had the chance to really show what he had. In six outings for the Tigers, totaling five innings, Grater'd given up three earned runs on six hits.

"There's nothing I can do," Grater told his hometown Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the demotion. "If they're going to judge me on five innings, then they're going to judge me on five innings."

As it turned out, anyone judging Grater's career would only have those five innings from 1993, and three earlier innings from 1991, in which to base an assessment.

Sent back down that May, Grater's major league career was over. His affiliated career would end soon, as well, after eight seasons as a pro. But he has stayed in baseball, going on to serve as a coach and coordinator.

Grater's career began in 1986, taken by the Cardinals in the 23rd round of the draft out of Florida International University. He played that season at rookie Johnson City, the next at single-A Savannah.

Though he still posted an ERA of 3.04 in 50 appearances, the young relief pitcher had hoped for more closing opportunities at Savannah, he told The Beaver County Times.

"It was a frustrating year for me, Grater told The Times. "I wasn't really the stopper like I was the year before. I could never get my fastball to drop It kept hanging."

Grater stayed in single-A through 1989, then made the jump to AAA Louisville in May 1990. He split that year between Louisville and AA Arkansas, posting a 2.99 ERA between them.

Then, in June 1991, Grater got his call up to St. Louis. After his call-up, Grater joined another Pittsburgh-area native John Burkett in the majors.

"I want to establish myself up here when I get the opportunity, like (Burkett) did last year," Grater told the Tri-State Sports and News Service. "I'm not taking anything for granted."

Grater established himself in three outings, all of three innings. While he didn't give up a run, Grater was sent back down. He signed the next year with the Tigers, playing the season at AAA Toledo.

With the Tigers in spring 1993, Grater had a good spring, good enough to earn a call-up in early May. But problems coming in and getting batters out consistently led to his demotion before the month was out.

"I liked him in spring training because he went right after hitters and showed no fear," Tigers manager Sparky Anderson told The Times after sending Grater back down. "He hasn't been the same pitcher since he came back to us. We're putting him in some pretty tough spots and he's not making the big pitch to get out of jams."

His playing career ended with more than 100 saves in the minors. He briefly tried a return in spring 1995, but a weightlifting accident resulted in Grater failing the required physical, according to The Allegheny Times.

Grater has since gone on to be a coach and a coordinator, most recently as the Nationals' pitching rehab coordinator.

But in 1998, with his coaching career underway, Grater told The Beaver County Times, judged the job as everything he had hoped.

"I really love it," Grater told The Times after a year as a coach at short-season New Jersey. "There hasn't been a day that's gone by that I haven't shown up to the ballpark with a smile on my face. I thought coaching would be something I'd enjoy but it's even better than I thought."

• Beaver County Times, Jan. 17, 1988: Burkett, Holman both bound for big-league camps
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tri-State Sports & News Service, June 13, 1991: Grater, Piatt summoned to big leagues
• Beaver County Times, May 23, 1993: Up-and-down season
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 27, 1993: Grater back in minors after stint with Tigers
• Beaver County Times, Feb. 15, 1998: Coach Grater

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Featured: 450/880 - 51.1%
Players/Coaches Featured: 461
Made the Majors: 312 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:149-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Doug Simons, As Excited - 749

Doug Simons was never an emotional player. So, in April 1991, after getting his first major league win, the rookie looked as if he didn't realize he'd reached that milestone, according to the Thomson News Service.

"I knew," Simons confirmed to the news service after the win. "If you know me, this is about as excited as I get. I'm throwing a party in my mind."

For Simons, however, the such parties were already half over. That win in April, and one more that June, amounted to the only two wins of Simons' major league career.

Simons pitched in 42 major league games for the Mets that year, mostly as a reliever. He got into seven more the next, with the Expos, and his big league career was done.

Simons' professional career started in 1988, selected by the Twins in the ninth round out of Pepperdine. He started that year at single-A Visalia, going 6-5, with a 3.94 ERA.

He split 1989 between Visalia and AA Orlando, going 13-5 between them, with a 2.63 ERA.

At Orlando, Simons discussed a possible disadvantage for him on the mound, his size. Simons was 5 feet, 11 inches and 160 pounds, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

''I'm not concerned with that the size issue," Simons told The Sentinel. "If I pitch my game and keep us close, who's going to care how big I am."

Simons returned to Orlando for 1990, going 15-12, with a 2.54 ERA. He won his 13th in early August, a 7-5 win over Huntsville. ''It was just one of those games where I didn't pitch as well as I would have liked, but my teammates got me some runs to work with early,'' Simons told The Sentinel of that 13th victory.

Taken by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft, Simons spent all of 1991 with the big club. The starter, however, moved to relief. He got into 42 games, only starting one.

In April 1992, the Mets traded Simons to the Expos. He got into seven games for Montreal that year, amounting to 5.1 innings. He gave up 14 earned runs. Eight of those runs came in three April outings, ones that amounted to a third of an inning. The rest came in September.

In August, Simons told The Los Angeles Times, he hoped to get back to the majors, and get back to starting. But maybe not with the Expos.

"I know I'm capable of winning up there, but I think I need to be a starter," Simons told The Times. "I haven't pitched in the big leagues when I really felt like myself. When you pitch a lot, you get everything going."

After 1992, Simons never got back to the majors. He played through 1996, with the Expos, Royals and Astros organizations, ending his playing career.

Simons went on to be a coach in the Mets organization, and a scout with the Rangers. In 2005, Simons became head baseball coach at Covenant College in Georgia, helping revive a dormant program. He remains Covenant head coach for 2011.

"I am excited and honored to be the head baseball coach at Covenant College," Simons told The Chattanooga Chattanoogan after his selection. "It will be a challenge to start a program from scratch, but it will also be very rewarding, and not to mention fun."

• Orlando Sentinel, July 9, 1989: O-Twins' Simons Finds Winning More Important Than His Size
• Orlando Sentinel, Aug. 6, 1990: Simons Wins His 13th As Sunrays Hold On
• Hudson Valley Morning News, Thomson News Service, April 15, 1991: Simmons happy with first win
• Los Angeles Times, Aug. 2, 1992: Simons Finds Little Relief With Expos' Organization
• Chattanooga Chattanoogan, May 6, 2005: Covenant Selects Former Met And Expo As New Baseball Coach

1990 CMC Tally 
Cards Featured: 449/880 - 51.0%
Players/Coaches Featured: 460 
Made the Majors: 311 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:149-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113

Ed Puig played 11 pro seasons, made AAA over 4, missed bigs

Ed Puig started off strong, this night in late July 1986. In the first 4.2 innings for single-A Reno, Puig let just three runners reach base, The Modesto Bee wrote.

Then, in the sixth, Puig allowed three more base runners, a fourth wasn't on base long, as he circled the bases for a grand slam, The Bee wrote.

On the season, Puig pitched well. He owned a 14-9 record, struck out 130 and posted an ERA just over 4.

But, despite those early efforts, Puig never did well enough to get to the majors, getting as high as AAA, but no higher.

Puig's career began in 1985, signed by the Padres. Puig pitched that season and the next, at single-A Reno. He went 9-7 his first season, with a 4.86 ERA, then went 14-9 that second season.

His first May was not even out and The Bee described the opposing Puig as having "a big breaking curve and an effective changeup." The description came in a game where Puig went seven innings and gave up six hits.

In 1986, Puig owned a 4-1 record and a 1.90 ERA by late May, helped along by a May three-hitter. That was followed by a June five-hitter. In July, Puig made the California League All-Star team, a game where Puig picked up the loss, after giving up a home run in the second inning.

By 1987, Puig was with the Brewers, playing at single-A Stockton, and getting a one-game look at AA El Paso. At Stockton, Puig went 11-8, with a 3.29 ERA.

He hit El Paso for all of 1988. In 1989. Puig was invited to spring training, after a rash of injuries. But he was sent back to AA. He did get a short look at AAA Denver for 12 games.

Puig split 1990 between the two levels again, returning to Denver for just 11 outings in 1991, ending his affiliation with the Brewers.

He played in the minors through 1995, in the Royals and Expos systems, finishing out his 11-season professional career without making the majors.

• Modesto Bee, May 30, 1985: Hardgrave's 2 homers grounds Modesto A's, Part 2
  
• Modesto Bee, July 26, 1986: Martig's slam sets stage for Howard's game-winner, Part 2

More: The 1990 Denver Zephyrs

1990 CMC Tally

Cards Featured: 448/880 - 50.9%
Players/Coaches Featured: 459

Made the Majors: 310 - 68%
Never Made the Majors:149-32%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 113-X

Roberto Hernandez, Will to Compete - 820

Roberto Hernandez made his major league debut in September 1991 knowing that debut was close to never happening, according to The Associated Press.

Earlier that season, Hernandez underwent surgery for blood clots in his pitching arm. Talk was, The AP wrote, he'd never pitch again.

"I have a strong will to compete," Hernandez told The AP after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his first major league appearance. "I've been through a lot, so I take nothing for granted."

Hernandez not only made the majors for that first game, the pitcher would go on to stay in the majors for 1,009 more.

Hernandez the starter would also quickly give way to Hernandez the reliever, and Hernandez the closer. By the time Hernandez' career ended 16 seasons later, he'd notched himself a total of 326 saves and a career ERA of 3.45.

Hernandez' professional career began in 1986, selected by the Angels in the first round of the draft. He pitched in the Angels system into 1989, when the Angels traded him to the White Sox.

After his call-up to Chicago, White Sox minor-league pitching coordinator Dewey Robinson told The Chicago Tribune of the work they did with Hernandez.

"We changed a lot of things with him," Robinson told The Tribune. "He came in a big hard thrower with a big sloppy curveball. We took the curveball away from him and taught him the slider, and that really helped."

Taken under the wing of White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen, Hernandez got his first 12 saves in 1992. By 1993, Hernandez was the White Sox closer, saving 38 games. He then topped 30 saves three out of the next four seasons.

In 1996, Hernandez saved 38 games again, winning All-Star honors. He also nearly ended Cal Ripken's streak. Hernandez lost his balance during the American League team photo shoot, hitting Ripken in the face, breaking his nose.

"I thought I was going to have to get a bodyguard to go to Baltimore," Hernandez told The Chicago Tribune after it became apparent Ripken, and his streak, would be OK.

Traded to the Giants in mid-1997, Hernandez made his second post-season. In his first, in 1993, Hernandez pitched four innings and didn't give up a run. In his second, Hernandez wasn't as lucky. He gave up three runs in three outings against the Marlins, taking a loss.

"Obviously, it's not easy," Hernandez told The Los Angeles Times after his first two outings that fall. "I haven't done my job and everyone knows that."

Signing with the Devil Rays for 1998, Hernandez became that club's first closer. He saved 26 games his first year there and 43 the next. In one late August 1999 game, Hernandez shut down his old team the White Sox, after his teammates had been rough earlier in the game.

"It's nice to have Roberto," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "That tells you what he means to this team. We did just about everything we could to give it back."

Hernandez continued as a regular closer through 2002, moving on to the Royals in 2001. For his final five seasons, Hernandez played for six teams and picked up six saves between them.

As what would be his final season came to a close in 2007, Hernandez, who'd been with the Dodgers, still thought about coming back for 2008, according to The Riverside Press-Enterprise. He wanted to do more to pass along his knowledge to younger pitchers.

"Bobby Thigpen trained me to take over his role (as White Sox closer)," Hernandez told The Press-Enterprise. "If he can do that for me, why can't I do that for these guys?"

• Altus Times, Associated Press, Sept. 3, 1991: Bo returns to majors in White Sox victory
• Chicago Tribune, Sept. 3, 1991: Changeover Sure Changed Hernandez
• Palm Beach News, Chicago Tribune, July 10, 1996: Broken nose doesn't slow Ripken
• Los Angeles Times, Oct. 3, 1997: Hernandez Is Fit to Be Untied
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Aug. 27, 1999: Hernandez 'saves' Devil Rays again, Part 2
• Riverside Press-Enterprise, Sept. 26, 2007: More reaction over Dodgers' rookie mistakes

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Featured: 447/880 - 50.8%
Players/Coaches Featured: 458
Made the Majors: 310 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:148-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 128-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 112

Scott Lewis, Lucky Man - 487

In the water, Scott Lewis found himself unable to swim. In fact, he couldn't move, The Los Angeles Times wrote. At the age of 17, Lewis had swung out over a river with friends, using a rope hanging from a tree. Hitting the water, he broke two vertebrae in his neck.

It was an injury most don't survive, The Times wrote. But Lewis not only survived, he came all the way back, to pitch in the major leagues.

"I'm lucky I can walk around," Lewis told The Times in April 1991. "Everyone says I'm lucky."

Lewis debuted in the majors in September 1990, eight years after jumping into that river and two years after the Angels selected him in the 11th round of the 1988 draft out of UNLV.

That first season, Lewis blew through three levels, starting at short-season Bend in his home state of Oregon. He then moved on to single-A Quad Cities and then single-A Palm Springs. Between the three, Lewis was 6-6, with a 3.96 ERA.

At Bend, in early August, Lewis lost to his hometown Medford Athletics, giving up six runs in the first inning, but still going the distance.

Lewis moved to AA Midland for 1989, going 11-12 as a starter, with a 4.93 ERA. The next year, it was AAA Edmonton, going 13-11, with a 3.90 ERA. He also hit California that September.

On Sept. 25, 1990, in his major league debut, Lewis pitched 7.1 innings, giving up two runs in the 8-2 win, according to The Times.

"I was trying not to get too excited," Lewis told The Times. "I had good command of all four pitches. I just wanted to throw strikes, not paint the corners."

In two starts that September, Lewis went 1-1, with a 2.20 ERA. Coming out of spring training 1991, Lewis won the Angels fifth-starter job. In April, he was going up against the defending American League champion Oakland Athletics. And he promptly beat them.

"I knew I was going to pitch against Oakland, and for the first couple days it was, 'Wow, I'm going to pitch against Jose (Canseco), Mark McGwire and all of those guys,' " Lewis told The Times. "I had a couple of days of that and then I said, 'Hey, I'm in the big leagues, too.' "

By May, though, Lewis gave up five runs in 3.2 innings in a loss, losing his grip on his starting spot. Lewis went 3-5 for the Angels in 1991, getting 11 starts and 16 total appearances. His ERA ballooned to 6.27.

Lewis came back for 21 appearances with California in 1991, pitching largely in relief. He picked up four wins and posted an improved ERA of 3.99. Lewis got 15 more outings in 1993 and returned with the Angels for 1994.

In April 1994, Lewis was involved in a row over a pitch Lewis said got away and hit Chris Hoiles. Some Orioles thought otherwise, The Baltimore Sun wrote.

"My intention wasn't to hit Chris in the head," Lewis told The Sun. "I was trying to come inside, but the ball got away from me. I think he was looking for something away. He didn't really give himself a chance to get out of the way. I'm not trying to end anyone's career. That's not what I'm about."

Lewis' major league career, however, was about to come to an end. He pitched in his final game July 22. He continued pitching in the minors for two more seasons, his last played with the Padres at AAA Las Vegas, home to Lewis' alma mater UNLV.

• Los Angeles Times, Sept. 26, 1990: Witt's Bid for 20 Wins at an End, 8-2
  
• Los Angeles Times, April 8, 1991: They've Been Thrown a Curve
• Los Angeles Times, April 19, 1991: Wide-Eyed Lewis, Angels Beat A's
• Baltimore Sun, April 29, 1994: Sound of beaning echoes for Orioles

1990 CMC TallyCards Featured: 446/880 - 50.7%
Players/Coaches Featured: 457Made the Majors: 309 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:148-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 127-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 112

Ed Vande Berg, Got to Act - 435

In 17 of the Mariners' first 32 games of 1982, Ed Vande Berg was called to the mound. It would be a big workload and and a big confidence boost to any pitcher.

For Vande Berg, he was just happy to be there. These were the first 17 appearances of his major league career.

"It's amazing," Vande Berg told The Spokane Spokesman-Review, "Did I think I'd be here now? Heck no, they took a chance just signing me."

Vande Berg was in just his third professional season, signed by the Mariners in the 13th round of the 1980 draft, out of Arizona State University.

He would make that quick ascent to the majors, ultimately getting into a total of 78 games for the Mariners in 1982, the most appearances by any pitcher in the American League.

Vande Berg would also go on to a career that would span seven major league seasons, continue in the minors through 1992 and make a brief return for spring 1995 as a replacement player.

Vande Berg played his first professional season in 1980 at short-season Bellingham. The starter went 9-0, with an ERA of 2.85. With that record, Vande Berg earned a promotion for 1981, all the way to AAA Spokane.

At Spokane, Vande Berg shifted from starting to relief. He got into 49 games, getting nine saves. With Spokane that June, Vande Berg told The Spokesman-Review his theory on coming into a game in his new role in short relief.

"You've got to act like you've been in there the whole game," Vande Berg told The Spokesman-Review. "I start psyching up when the game starts."

Once he got to the majors, Vande Berg did a lot of that acting. After topping the league in appearances his rookie year, Vande Berg came in second two of the next three seasons, with 68 and 76 appearances respectively.

That rookie season in 1982, Vande Berg posted an ERA of 2.37 in a total of 76 innings. He also earned five saves. It was enough for him to show up in the Rookie of the Year balloting, coming in fourth.

He did about as well in 1983, with a 3.36 ERA and another five saves. But he also faced some confidence problems, he told The Associated Press in early August. That confidence was helped in a crucial strikeout of Reggie Jackson.

"He was going to have to hit my pitch," Vande Berg told The AP, "and that was a breaking ball."

Jackson didn't hit it, and struck out.

Vande Berg stayed with the Mariners through 1985, then he was traded that December to the Dodgers for Steve Yeager.

With the Dodgers, Vande Berg got into another 60 games, with an ERA of 3.41. After going through Cleveland in 1987, Vande Berg landed with the Rangers for 1988, his final season in the majors.

In September 1988, Vande Berg picked up a win in a 17-inning marathon. The next day, he got the save, The AP wrote. The previous month, Vande Berg picked up a save, in his 400th major league appearance.

"I'm not a save man and I've never been a save man," Vande Berg told reporters after the August game. "I came close a few times last year but it's been a long while. Tonight was my 400th career appearance so that meant something special too."

Vande Berg moved to the Cubs system for 1989, then returned to the Mariners system for his last three seasons in the minors, without getting called back.

• Spokane Spokesman-Review, June 5, 1981: VandeBerg can spell relief
  
• Spokane Spokesman-Review, May 11, 1982: Who needs college when there are the Mariners?
• Spokane Chronicle, Associated Press, Aug. 5, 1983: Jackson jolts M's hurler, and vice versa
• Junction City Daily Union, wire report, Aug. 23, 1988: Dismal Rangers snag a win from Kansas City

1990 CMC TallyCards Featured: 445/880 - 50.6%
Players/Coaches Featured: 456Made the Majors: 308 - 68%-X
Never Made the Majors:148-32%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 126-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 112