Bill Abare hit big double; Saw 3 pro seasons, made high-A

Bill Abare came up in the fourth inning of this May 1991 contest with two on. When he was done, there was just one on, himself on third.

Abare hit a bases-clearing triple, leading his high-A Dunedin Blue Jays to a 3-2 win over Osceola, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Abare hit that triple in his third season as a pro, one of three triples he hit that year. For Abare, though, that season was also his last as a pro, Abare never making AA.

Abare's pro career started in May 1989, signed by the Blue Jays out of Polk Community College. Abare had been drafted by the Blue Jays the previous June, deep in the 60th round of the draft.

At Polk, Abare made the state all-star team in fall 1988, called a power-hitter by The Lakeland Ledger. He also made the spring team. That March, Abare showed his skills off the field, according to The Ledger, winning a hamburger-eating contest.

With the Blue Jays, Abare played 1989 at short-season St. Catharines. In 54 games, the first baseman hit just .172.

Abare moved to single-A Myrtle Beach for 1990, improving his average to .251 and hitting 10 home runs. In a June game, Abare knocked in a run on a single, and also scored in a Myrtle Beach win. In a July game, Abare hit one of his home runs, a three-run shot.

Abare moved to Dunedin for 1991, but his average dropped back to .181, with five home runs. It was his final season as a pro.

• Orlando Sentinel, May 2, 1991: Dunedin 3, Osceola 1

More: The 1990 Myrtle Beach Blue Jays

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,349
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.4%
Never Made Majors: 629-46.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Daren Kizziah, Like That - 2772

Daren Kizziah went five innings in this April 1986 game for Shelton State, giving up just a single hit, according to The Tuscaloosa News.

It was a performance that caught the eye of his coach, Bobby Sprowl, The News wrote.

"Daren Kizziah threw the ball as good as he has all year," Sprowl told The News. "He really turned it loose. If he continues pitching like that, he'll really help us."

Kizziah ended up pitching like that enough to helping himself on to Western Kentucky, and the pros. In his pro career, Kizziah lasted five seasons. He made AA in three of those seasons, but he never made it higher.

Kizziah's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Blue Jays in the 37th round of the draft, out of Western Kentucky.

A native of Alabama, Kizziah attended Brookwood High School and then Shelton State. In summer 1985, Kissiah played for Tuscaloosa Post 34, picking up a win in the regional tournament that August.

From Shelton State, Kissiah moved on to Western Kentucky. In April 1989, Kizziah was perfect into the fifth inning of a game, before being pulled to be saved for a weekend game. In May, he was named second-team all-conference.

In June, he was drafted, and he quickly signed.

"I've had three weeks off since our season ended," Kizziah told The News. "I feel good, and my arm is strong. I'm excited and ready to go."

With the Blue Jays, Kizziah started at short-season St. Catharines. He went 3-3, with a 2.50 ERA over 17 outings, 11 starts. He moved to single-A Myrtle Beach for 1990, turning reliever. Over 35 outings, six starts, he picked up six wins and four saves.

For 1991, Kizziah got his first look at AA Knoxville, with 11 outings there. He returned to Knoxville for 1992. In 38 outings that year, his ERA topped 5.

That off-season, Kizziah told The Bowling Green Daily News he was looking forward to a chance to move up, with the help of two new teams joining the league for 1993.

"I've got big hopes with the expansion coming up," Kizziah told The Daily News. "That's going to open up a lot of spots in Triple-A. It's going to help everybody."

For Kizziah, though, injuries held him back. By June 1993, Kizziah had yet to take the field, a shoulder injury keeping him on the disabled list, according to The Daily News. Kizziah made it back to pitch in 27 games, but they were the final games of his career.

• Tuscaloosa News, April 8, 1986: Shelton earns split with Chattahoochee
• Tuscaloosa News, June 11, 1989: Kizziah gets drafted by Toronto Blue Jays
• Bowling Green Daily News, Nov. 1, 1992: Area players vying for shot at majors

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,348
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.4%
Never Made Majors: 628-46.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185 

Tim Scott, Didn't Mind - 344

Originally published July 20, 2011

Tim Scott was selected for the all-star game in 1992, but he hoped he wouldn't be there, he told The Los Angeles Times.

His expected excuse? He was in the majors. The AAA contest would go on without him.

"I don't mind that a bit," Scott told The Times. "It was a big honor to make it. I've never made an all-star team before in my eight seasons, but I'll be happy to miss this one."

Scott was in as good a position to enjoy his time in the majors as good as anyone. In those eight seasons, Scott had only made the majors for the first time the year before.

Scott's time in the majors, though, continued through 1997, his playing career through 2002. His career with baseball has also gone on, as the coach for his old high school.

Scott's professional career began in 1984, taken by the Dodgers in the second round of the draft out of Hanford High in California. He spent that first year at rookie league Great Falls, moving to single-A Bakersfield in 1985.

He got his first look at AA in 1987, a two-game stint at San Antonio. He made AAA for the first time in 1990 with 17 relief appearances, posting a 4.20 ERA.

Scott's major league debut came the next June, with the Padres. He'd signed with San Diego the previous off-season. He got two appearances, together totaling a single inning of work, giving up one earned run.

The next year, though, Scott got into more games. He got into 34, with a 5.26 ERA on the year. Some of Scott's worst outings were his early ones, with a 7.36 ERA in his first seven. Coming back in July after a trip to AAA, Scott worked to correct the problem, The Times wrote.

"I don't know if I'm trying to give (major league hitters) too much credit or what," Scott told The Times in July. "From now on, I'm going to go right after them and see what they can do."

In 1993, Scott got into 56 games, he was also traded mid-year to the Expos. Between the two, Scott's ERA improved to 3.01.

Scott stayed with the Expos into 1996, posting a 2.70 ERA in the team's strike-shortened run in 1994. That year in 1996 saw Scott's most playing time. Traded to the Giants, Scott got into 65 games, 20 with his new club.

But, despite that success, Scott suffered from shoulder problems, The Baltimore Sun wrote. Signing with his old team, the Padres, to start the year, he joined the Rockies in late May.

It was with the Rockies that Scott pitched his last game. Placed on waivers, he was claimed by the Mariners. But he suffered a sore elbow, never playing for Seattle, or in the majors, again.

Scott continued playing in the minors, in affiliated and independent ball, through 2002. By August 2002, Scott was serving as a player/coach with independent Solano.

Scott has since returned to his hometown, coaching the high school team that he once played for.

"You don't think about coaching during your playing days," Scott told The Hanford Sentinel in May 2011. "I get a thrill out of seeing the players progress and teaching them to play the right way. The fundamentals to the game don't change from the youth level to the major league level. And if we win, it's just a bonus."

The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Tim Scott in July 2012, read the two-part interview: Tim Scott, Started Throwing

• Los Angeles Times, July 6, 1992: Padres Call Up Scott From Stars
• Los Angeles Times, July 10, 1992: It's One All-Star Contest Tim Scott Is Happy to Miss
• Beaver County Times, Associated Press, July 14, 1997: Scott's injury may mean trouble for Colorado
• Hanford Sentinel, May 17, 2011: A family affair

Scott Miller, Was Special - 2784

The story behind this post: The story of Scott Miller(s)
Sarasota Riverview High School's Scott Miller was heading off to college in 1985 and his coach was sorry to see him go, according to The Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

That's because of Miller's tenacity, helping the team to a state championship and continuing to practice later, even after breaking his wrist, according to The Herald-Tribune.

"I'm going to miss him," Miller's coach Larry Altier told The Herald-Tribune, "not only as an excellent ballplayer, but also as a person, too. He does things not everyone else does. He's special."

Miller went from there on to college, and to the pros. In his pro career, Miller lasted four seasons, never seeing AA.

Miller's pro career began in 1989, signed by the Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent out of the University of South Florida. He went to South Florida after first attending Manatee Community College, before that Riverview High School. Miller is also known by his full name, Steven Scott Miller.

At Riverview, Miller singled twice in an April 1984 game. From Riverview, Miller went to Manatee, picking up three hits in a January 1987 game. Miller also played well on defense at Manatee, still holding the best fielding percentage for a second baseman.

From Manatee, Miller moved to South Florida, winning All-South honors for 1989.

Miller then turned pro. With the Blue Jays, Miller started at rookie Medicine Hat. In 22 games, Miller hit .235, with one home run.

For 1990, Miller moved to single-A Myrtle Beach and high-A Dunedin, hitting .245 between them. With Myrtle Beach in May, Miller knocked in a run on a single.

Miller's 1991 season was abbreviated, just 50 games again between Myrtle Beach and Dunedin. He went 1 for 2 in a July game with Myrtle Beach, knocking in two and scoring once.

Miller's final season came in 1992 with 36 games played largely at Dunedin. His career was over by May 31, his hometown Herald-Tribune noting the game in his hometown was his final as a pro. He went 1 for 4.

By that July, Miller was back at Medicine Hat, serving as a first base coach, The Herald Tribune wrote. His coaching career, though, was brief. He's not listed as coaching beyond that season.

The story behind this post: The story of Scott Miller(s)

• Sarasota Herald-Tribune, April 22, 1985: Keeping Up With Millers Hasn't Been Very Easy, Part 2

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,347
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.5%
Never Made Majors: 627-46.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Scott Miller, Matured Some - Elon

The story behind this post: The Story of Scott Miller(s)

Scott Miller spent much of his time in college as an infielder. As a pro, Miller would make the switch to pitcher, according to his hometown Tyrone Daily Herald.

Miller, though, had the stuff to get himself a long career, whatever position he played, Pennsylvania-based scout William "Keno" Beezer told The Daily Herald.

"Scott threw around 87 miles per hour in high school here and he's matured some since," Beezer told The Daily Herald. "He's a great power hitter with excellent hands. Really, he could have gone either way — as a pitcher or an infielder."

Miller started his career that season at rookie Medicine Hat. He also ended it that year, too. Miller's career lasted just that single season.

Miller joined the Blue Jays, having been selected by the club in the 34th round of the 1990 draft out of Elon University in North Carolina. Before that, Miller grew up in Morrisdale, Pa. His fuller name is listed as Scott A. Miller.

In Pennsylvania, Miller played for the L.S. Fiore AAABA team in Altona, according to The Daily Herald. In August 1989, Miller was cited by The Altoona Mirror as hitting .306 for Fiore. His coach noted to The Mirror that Miller made another switch, from shortstop to third base, a switch he made for the good of the team.

"Quick hands, good arm, free swinger," his coach told The Mirror.

By that point, Miller had already played the spring with Elon University, a school he returned to for 1990.

In May 1989, Miller played with Elon at the NAIA World Series in Kansas. In one game, Miller knocked in a run on a single. He also committed a couple costly errors in the Elon loss, according to The Lewiston Morning-Tribune. He went 1 for 4 in another game.

Miller led his team in home runs that year, with 9 and 12 in 1990. In 1990, Miller led his Elon team in hits, with 62 and RBIs, with 51. He also made second-team All-South Atlantic Conference, according to the Elon record book.

Miller then turned pro. With the Blue Jays, Miller was sent to rookie Medicine Hat. As a pitcher, he got into 19 games, all in relief. Over 22.2 innings of work, Miller gave up just three earned runs, for a 1.19 ERA. Despite his success, it was Miller's only season as a pro.

The story behind this post: The story of Scott Miller(s)

• Lewiston Morning-Tribune, May 28, 1989: Dallas Baptist preys on five Elon errors in 10-3 triumph
• Altoona Mirror, Aug. 11, 1989: L.S. Fiore
• Tyrone Daily Herald, June 12, 1990: Scott Miller

The story of Scott Miller(s)

The cool thing about researching former baseball players is that it's pretty easy to know if an article is written about that player.

That's because there is Baseball-Reference and The Baseball Cube. They have the stats, and any article I find that is consistent with that record, is something I can use to construct a picture of that player's career.

I can also use that information to cut through the noise, especially with players who had common names, and players who have the same name.

Sometimes, though, information can be contradictory. I have to do more research to confirm that I'm using the correct information. Sometimes the B-R information can be inaccurate, sometimes the ProCard card is inaccurate.

Such is the case with 1990 Myrtle Beach Blue Jay Scott Miller.

In researching Scott Miller, I soon realized something wasn't right. I found the Miller listed as playing for Myrtle Beach. Baseball-Reference has him playing from 1990 to 1992, drafted out of Elon University in North Carolina in the 34th round of the 1990 draft.

That Scott Miller, S. Scott Miller, is listed 6'1", 180 pounds, born July 7, 1967.

Problem is, the back of Miller's ProCards card has this Scott Miller listed as playing at rookie Medicine Hat in 1989 and signing with the Blue Jays in 1989. ProCards also gives the same birth date, same height and same weight.

So, does Baseball-Reference list anyone by that name playing at Medicine Hat in 1989?

Yes, a Steven S. Miller played there. That is, a Steven S. Miller who is listed 6'1", 180 pounds, born July 7, 1967.

The back of the ProCards card lists the Myrtle Beach player's full name as Steven Scott Miller, fitting both.

So, they're the same person, right? All the information matches. They played in the Blue Jays system and somehow the two parts got separated in the files?

Not all the information. The schools for each Miller are listed different. Steven S. Miller is listed as attending the University of South Florida. S. Scott Miller is listed as being drafted from Elon University in North Carolina in 1990.

If the schools are to be believed, then there are two Millers, especially if S. Scott Miller was drafted in 1990. That means he couldn't have played at Medicine Hat in 1989.

Do the schools have records of Scott Millers playing there at those times? Yes, they do.

First, the University of South Florida lists a Scott Miller as playing for the school from 1988 to 1989, a term ending in time for that Scott Miller to be signed by the Blue Jays and play at Medicine Hat.

And Elon University also lists its own Scott Miller, with its Scott Miller being drafted in 1990 by the Blue Jays.

Add to those, a possible third Scott Miller, a pitcher for Medicine Hat in 1990 with no listed school, which I realized was there as I researched the 1989 Medicine Hat Scott Miller.

My thoughts now are that the Scott Miller from South Florida is the hitter Scott Miller from 1989 to 1992. That's based on multiple cards connecting the two, including his ProCards card and his 1991 Classic Best card.

Then, even though the Scott Miller of Elon University was a position player there, it appears he turned pitcher at Medicine Hat. That's what makes the most sense.

And, one more search, with the help of the Trading Card Database, confirms this hypothesis.

The Trading Card Database, where I realized the pitcher Scott Miller existed and pulled the Medicine Hat card scan from, also includes the card back of his 1990 Medicine Hat card. That includes a hometown for that Scott Miller as Morrisdale, Pa.

Searching for "Scott Miller" "Morrisdale" and "Elon" turned up the Scott Miller Rosetta Stone. And that's a Newspapers.com entry from the Tyrone Daily Herald. Hometown kid Scott Miller, the entry reads, went to Elon University. He was a position player there, drafted by the Blue Jays.

The Clincher: He was drafted by the Blue Jays, and projected to be a pitcher.

To recap: Scott Miller of the University of South Florda played in the Blue Jays system from 1989 to 1992 as a position player; The Scott Miller of Elon University played in the Blue Jays system for a single season, at Medicine Hat in 1990, as a pitcher.

Even though the 1990 ProCards card is 100 percent correct in talking about the correct Scott Miller, I think I'll feature the Medicine Hat Scott Miller, as well. Just because I put so much work into figuring out that he existed.

Read about the career of Scott A. Miller, of Elon University
Read about the career of S. Scott Miller, of the University of South Florida

Rick Nowak, Never Seen - 2774

Rick Nowak and his teammates got some good advice in 1987, from both his coaches and visiting coaches.

Among the visitors was Texas Rangers pitching coach Tom House and former major leaguer Warren Brusstar, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"They've shown me things I've never seen before," Nowak told The Times that May. "Before, I was just throwing the ball."

Nowak eventually took what he learned from his coaches and turned pro. But, whatever he learned, he couldn't turn it into a long pro career. Nowak's professional career consisted of parts of just two seasons.

Nowak's professional career began in 1988, taken by the Blue Jays in the 26th round out of the University of California-San Diego.

At UC-San Diego, Nowak had success even before seeing those coaches. In April 1986, as a freshman, Nowak struck out seven as he threw a no-hitter. The next March, he did it again. Nowak threw his second no-hitter in a 2-0 win.

Then, in April 1988, Nowak achieved another pitching feat. He struck out 18 in one game, all while giving up just four hits, according to The Times.

With the Blue Jays, Nowak played his first year between rookie Medicine Hat and short-season St. Catharines. He got into 16 games, 15 starts. Overall, he went 3-8, with a 3.03 ERA.

That July, Nowak shut out Salt Lake for five innings before getting pulled. In August, Nowak went six innings, giving up just four hits and no runs, but got pulled after reaching his pitch limit.

Nowak isn't recorded as playing in 1989, but he returned to the field for 1990, at single-A Myrtle Beach. With Myrtle Beach, Nowak got five starts, posting a 2.33 ERA. Those starts also ended his career.

Nowak has since gone on to a new career in entertainment. Nowak is listed as the chief operating officer for a California-based production, creative marketing and talent management company called New Wave Entertainment.

• Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1987: A Mound of Professional Advice

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,346
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.5%
Never Made Majors: 626-46.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Gregg Martin, Worth More - 2773

Northwestern's Gregg Martin was expected to attract some scouts to watch him pitch in a May 1989 series against rival Iowa, The Chicago Tribune wrote.

By that point, Martin was 7-1, with an ERA of just 1.45. His fastball also came in at 88 MPH.

In the end, it was the scout from the Blue Jays that mattered for Martin. That's because it was Toronto who selected Martin in the 21st round of that June's draft.

For Martin, though, a good college career didn't translate into a long pro career. Slowed by injuries, Martin's career ended just four seasons later, never making it to AA.

Gregg Martin's pro career began that June in 1989, the Blue Jays assigning him to short-season St. Catharines. There, Martin got into 19 games, three starts. He went 4-3, with a 4.10 ERA.

For 1990, Martin turned stopper. Playing between single-A Myrtle Beach and high-A Dunedin, Martin saved 22 games while putting up a 2.70 ERA.

Martin came into a jam in a July 1990 contest for Myrtle Beach, but got out of it with two strikeouts and a fly out, according to The Sumter Item. In late-August, Martin picked up his fifth Dunedin save, going 2.1 innings without giving up a run.

Martin returned to Dunedin for 1991, but his season only consisted of 13 outings. In those outings, though, he put up a 1.12 ERA and saved five games. He picked up his third save in early May.

Martin returned to the field for 1992, sent back to Myrtle Beach on a rehab assignment, according to The Toronto Star. Martin got into 39 games, saving 27 of them, but it was his final season as a pro.

Back in 1989, Martin was taken by the Blue Jays out of a baseball family. Martin's brother Jon Martin was taken the year before by the Pirates in the 10th round. Jon Martin had a similarly brief career, just three seasons.

In April 1991, when Jon Martin realized his career was over, he looked at his brother Gregg. Jon Martin had yet to get his degree. Gregg had already gotten his.

"He didn't get the big bucks (in a signing bonus), but his education is worth a lot more," Jon Martin told The Los Angeles Times. "He had to study his butt off, but it's got to give you great peace of mind getting a college degree."

• Chicago Tribune, May 11, 1989: Attracting scouts
• Sumter Item, July 10, 1990: Blue Jays win
• Los Angeles Times, April 24, 1991: After Being Jolted Back to Reality, He Plans to Return to School

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,345
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.5%
Never Made Majors: 625-46.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Mike Hinkle, College Honor - 399

Originally published Oct. 26, 2012

Mike Hinkle was honored in spring 1987 at Kansas State, picked as a member of the Big Eight all-academic team, called in one account "the baseball brain team."

Less than two months later, Hinkle would receive another honor, selected by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the draft.

Though he was honored both in college and in the draft, Hinkle would never get the honor of making the major leagues. His pro career lasted six seasons, getting hm to AAA for three of them, but no higher.

Hinkle was drafted by the Cardinals after a career at Kansas State where he threw two shutouts in 1987, still tied for the school record. He also won first team all-conference honors that year.

With the Cardinals, Hinkle started at short-season Erie, going 5-4 in 10 starts. He also posted a 2.34 ERA.

He moved to single-A St. Petersburg and Savannah in 1988, starting 28 games between them and keeping his ERA under 3, at 2.73. He also struck out 128.

Hinkle made AA Arkansas in 1989 for 21 starts, but also for an ERA of 4.10. He got his first look at AAA in 1990, at Louisville. In 18 starts, 29 total outings, he went 8-7, with a 3.29 mark.

His 1991 season was a brief one, lasting just seven starts. Six of those were at Louisville, one back at single-A St. Petersburg.

By 1992, Hinkle was a reliever, getting 38 outings, three starts. It was his final year in affiliated ball. After that, Hinkle continued playing in Italy, but never made it to the majors.

• Lawrence Journal-World, April 29, 1987: Kansas' Wolf, Pascal, Byrn on all-academic

Mike Fischlin, Whole Deal - 2792

Mike Fischlin had hardly gotten two hits in a major league game before, much less this, according to The Toledo Blade.

But, in the third inning of this June 1982 game with Cleveland, the Indians second baseman first picked up one hit, then another, for two hits in the same inning, according to The Blade.

"I can't remember ever getting two hits in one inning," Fischlin told The Toledo Blade afterward, "not even in my front yard."

With performances like that, Fischlin eventually saw time in 10 major league seasons, getting over 100 games in a season that year in 1982.

His playing career over, Fischlin went on to a brief career as a manager in the minors, and a longer one as a sports agent. As an agent, Fischlin has worked to get his clients top dollar on the open market while working under super agent Scott Boras.

Fischlin's playing career began in 1975, taken by the Yankees in the seventh round of the draft, out of Cal State-Sacramento.

Fischlin played two seasons in the Yankees system before being traded to the Astros. With Houston, Fischlin made AA Columbus. He then made the major league squad in September.

In Houston, Fischlin played 13 games in 1977 and 44 in 1978. His 1978 trip consisted of 86 at bats and just 10 hits for a .116 average.

Fischlin returned to Houston for a single game in 1980, then 22 games with Cleveland in 1981. In 1982, Fischlin was a virtual regular, getting into 112 games, hitting .268 and knocking in 21.

Fischlin stayed with the Indians through 1985, getting into at least 73 games each of his final three seasons with the club. His average those years, though, never got above .226.

Fischlin returned to the Yankees for 1986, hitting .206 over 71 games. He then finished out his major league career with one final game in 1987, with the Braves.

Soon, Fischlin turned to managing. For 1989 and 1990, Fischlin served as manager for the single-A Myrtle Beach Blue Jays. In a June 1989 game, Fischlin saw his team come back from a 4-0 deficit, only to lose in the final inning.

"Our guys did well in battling back after being down," Fischlin told The Charleston News and Courier afterward. "They can at least be proud for that."

Soon, though, Fischlin reconnected with an old friend, Boras. The two had played together in high school and Fischlin was even one of Boras' first clients when Fischlin was with the Indians, according to BleacherReport.com.

In June 2009, Fischlin responded to a dustup involving one of his clients, pitcher Mike Gosling. Gosling had asked for his release, but Gosling's old manager thought Boras was behind it, according to The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Boras wasn't, and neither was Fischlin. It was his client.

"It's annoying. Scott's name gets thrown in the bucket when these things happen," Fischlin told The Democrat and Chronicle. "Scott is not the one working with Michael Gosling. I did this whole deal myself."

• Toledo Blade, June 19, 1982: Cleveland Bats Talk To Still BoSox, 10-3
• Charleston News and Courier, June 20, 1989: 'Bows sweep double-header
• Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 5, 2009: Boras Rep Gives His Side

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,344
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.6%
Never Made Majors: 624-46.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Hector Mercedes, Some Power - 2783

Hector Mercedes hit at the bottom of the Myrtle Beach lineup in this July 1990 game, but he still provided some power.

In the bottom of the fourth against Sumter, Mercedes' team already up 3-0, Mercedes knocked a two-run blast. That blast ended up giving Myrtle Beach enough for the win, the single-A Blue Jays taking the game 6-4, according to The Sumter Item.

Mercedes hit that home run in his second season as a pro, one of four he hit on the year. For Mercedes, though, he also hit that home run in his final season as a pro.

Mercedes' professional career began in 1988, signed by the Blue Jays as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.

He first hit the field in the U.S. in 1989, at short-season St. Catharines. There, the shortstop hit just .156 over 37 games.

For 1990, Mercedes moved to single-A Myrtle Beach. He got into 98 games, hitting .196. In a June game, Mercedes got on base, scoring on a triple. In another June game, he knocked in a run with a single then scored later in the frame.

Mercedes scored a total of 37 runs for Myrtle Beach in 1990. He didn't come back for a third season.

• Sumter Item, July 13, 1990: Braves lose

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,343
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.6%
Never Made Majors: 623-46.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Darrell Miller, Doing His Job - 705

Originally published April 30, 2010

The latest batch of graduates had just signed letters of intent in November 2008 to play college baseball and Darrell Miller was satisfied.

The youths were graduates of Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy in Compton, headed by the former Angel Miller.

"What we've said all along is that they won't all make the big leagues," Miller told MLB.com in November 2008 article, "but we can get them to focus on school. If we can get 60 percent of the kids to pass along to a university or junior college, we're doing our job."

Miller is now known as former Angel and current urban youth academy's director. He's been known by other names in the past, including two referencing more famous siblings.

Miller was drafted by the Angels in the ninth round of the 1979 draft, spending five full seasons in the minors before finally getting called up to California.

Miller primarily played catcher and outfield during his time in the majors. He had briefly left catching behind in college, forced out by vision problems. With contacts, however, catching was added back to his fielding options, according to The Miami News.

Miller lasted in the majors through 1988, the year he played the most, 70 games, hitting .221.

Signing with the Yankees in 1989, Miller spent that year at AAA Columbus. He spent 1990 with Baltimore's AAA team the Red Wings, then went to the Mariners' team in Calgary, ending his playing career.

By the time of his August 1984 call-up, Miller was already known. He was known as the brother of Cheryl Miller, the star of that year's U.S. women's basketball gold medal winning team. Within a few years, both Darrell Miller and sister Cheryl Miller would get their own new names, that of siblings of Indiana Pacer star Reggie Miller.

"I'm extremely proud of that girl," Darrell Miller told The Miami News after his call-up and just after the Olympics. Of his brother Reggie, then a UCLA sophomore: "He's going to be a great player; I really believe that."

His siblings' success was with basketball, Darrell's was with baseball. Now, heading an academy that according to ESPN.com has 15 instructors with major league experience, working with players age 8 to 18, Darrell Miller is trying to get more youth to follow his example, into baseball.

Speaking to ESPN.com in 2008, Miller said the academies could help with lagging African-American interest in the sport.

"I don't go by numbers or percentages," he told the site. "Society has changed. With the constant competition from football and basketball and the influx of the Latin player, I don't think we'll ever get back to [28 percent]. [Even] if it stays where it is I'll say fine. We've done all we can do to bring baseball to all the fans, including inner city youths and African-Americans."

• The Miami News, Aug. 24, 1984: Cheryl Miller's brother steps into the spotlight; Part 2
• The Riverside Press-Enterprise, May 13, 2007: Darrell Miller Still and Angel to Some
• ESPN.com, Feb. 27, 2008: Solomon strives to improve African-American connection with MLB
• MLB.com, Nov. 20, 2008: Five from Academy sign letters of intent

John Wanish, Lead Protected - 2778

John Wanish came on in the eighth and was nearly perfect. He had to be, because he was protecting a one-run Salem Dodgers lead in this August 1988 contest.

Wanish ended up finishing out the game, going two full innings. He gave up a single walk, but no hits. More importantly, he didn't give up a run, saving the game for the short-season club, according to The Eugene Register-Guard.

It was Wanish's first professional save, in his second professional season. He went on to pick up 14 other saves over the next three seasons. Wanish, though, would never make AA.

Wanish's professional career began in 1987, taken by the Dodgers in the 16th round, out of Florida State.

At Florida State in 1987, Wanish was 2-1, with a 2.42 ERA by late-May, a season in which Wanish and the Seminoles would go to the College World Series.

With the Dodgers, Wanish started at rookie Great Falls. He went 2-7 over 15 outings, seven starts. He moved to short-season Salem and single-A Bakersfield for 1988. Between them, he went 5-3, with a 4.07 ERA.

For 1989, Wanish signed with a new team, the Blue Jays. He got into 20 games on the year, all in relief. In those outings, Wanish kept his ERA below 2, at 1.80,

Wanish played 1990 at single-A Myrtle Beach, getting 35 outings and five saves. He then moved to high-A Dunedin for 1991, getting 36 outings and a 3.01 ERA. It was his final season as a pro.

His career over, Wanish eventually moved into pharmaceuticals and insurance. In October 2009, he passed away at the age of 42.

• Eugene Register-Guard, Aug. 31, 1988: Salem pins 2-1 setback on Eugene

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,342
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.7%
Never Made Majors: 622-46.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Leroy Stanton, Made Sure - 2794

Leroy Stanton went back on the Reggie Jackson fly ball in this April 1973 game, then he leaped at the wall, according to The Oakland Tribune.

On what would have been another Jackson home run, the Angels' Stanton pulled it back, The Tribune wrote.

"When it hit my glove," Stanton told The Tribune, "my hand was all the way over the fence. I had to look in my glove to make sure I had it."

Stanton pulled back that home run in his second full season in the majors, his fourth with time in the bigs. He went on to see time in nine seasons.

His playing career over, Stanton went on to another career, one as a coach in the minors.

Stanton's career in baseball began in 1965, signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent, out of his native South Carolina.

With the Mets, Stanton played 1965 in the minors, then isn't recorded as playing again until 1968. Stanton made AA Memphis in 1969, then AAA Tidewater in 1970. Stanton also debuted in Queens that September.

Stanton got into four games for the Mets in 1970, then five in 1971. He got his first full season in the bigs in 1972, after being traded to the Angels. Stanton was sent to the Angels in the trade that also sent Nolan Ryan west. Going the other way was Jim Fregosi.

"We realize that Fregosi has been a six-time All-Star and a fine player with the Angels for 11 years," Angels GM Harry Dalton told UPI. "But we picked up one of baseball's best arms in Ryan and Stanton figures to give us some of (the) righthanded power we need."

Stanton played the next five seasons with the Angels, hitting 12 home runs his first season there. He hit just eight in 1973, but three in one game. That August, he hit a 10th-inning, game-winning home run. His best year at the plate with the team came in 1974, hitting .267, with 11 home runs.

For 1977, Stanton moved to the Mariners, taken in the expansion draft. His first year with the Mariners was perhaps his best as a player. He hit .275, with 27 home runs. One of his home runs was a two-run shot in late-July.

Stanton played one more season in the majors, in 1978 with the Mariners. From there, me moved to Japan for a season, with Hanshin. Stanton then finished out his career with a season in Mexico.

From there, Stanton became a coach, signing on with the Blue Jays. By 1987, he was hitting coach at single-A Myrtle Beach, staying on as coach there through 1992. He is last recorded as coaching in 1994, at single-A Hagerstown. He never made the majors as a coach.

• Bangor Daily News, UPI, Dec. 10, 1971: Angels Swap Fregosi For Quartet Of Mets
• Oakland Tribune, April 23, 1973: Two Outs In 10th, A's Rally

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,341
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.7%
Never Made Majors: 621-46.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Kevin Ritz, Strong Kid - 147

Originally published May 8, 2010

Called up from AAA Toledo the previous month, the Tigers had high hopes for Kevin Ritz. Ritz had posted a 3-1 record with a 3.79 ERA in a few weeks' work.

"He's a big strong kid that we have to watch," Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson told the Associated Press in August 1989. "If he keeps his head on his shoulders, and he seems to, he's going to be quite a pitcher."

Ritz would eventually become quite a pitcher, for a couple brief seasons, but not for some time and not for the Tigers.

Taken in the fourth round of the 1985 draft, Ritz made AA Glens Falls in 1987 and AAA Toledo in 1989. He got the call-up to Detroit that July. Ritz' hot 3-1 start would give way to more rookie-like numbers. His first season ended at 4-6, getting his fourth and final win Sept. 5. He also posted a total 4.38 ERA.

That Sept. 5 win would be his final for 1989 and his final major league win until 1992. In stints with the big club in 1990 and 1991, Ritz started nine games, going 0-7 with an ERA over 11.00. Adding in his final games from 1989 and Ritz' streak was 0-11 with a 11.23 ERA.

Ritz ended 1992 with a 2-5 record and a 5.60 ERA. But it wasn't enough for the Tigers to protect him in that November's expansion draft. The Rockies selected him 46th.

With the Rockies, Ritz had five wins in 1994, but 11 with 11 losses in 1995. Building on that year, Ritz broke out with a 17-11 record for 1996. The Rockies rewarded Ritz with a two-year contract worth $3 million a year.

But shoulder problems caught up with him. He underwent surgery in July 1997. He returned for two games in May 1998, but underwent surgery again in June 1998 and his playing career was done.

In 2008, MLB.com caught up with Ritz at home in Ohio. He was then serving as a full-time dad.

"I pretty much just follow the kids around all the summer sports," Ritz told the site.

• Ludington Daily News, Associated Press, Aug. 9, 1989: Rookie Ritz has live arm
• Wilmington Star News, wire, June 7, 1992: Tigers get the Ritz
• MLB.com, Aug. 27, 2008: Where are they now? Kevin Ritz

Mike Ogliaruso, Another Choice - 2775

In choosing colleges, Mike Ogliaruso chose the familiar, his home state school Stetson University.

"I wanted somewhere to go where I would be comfortable," Ogliaruso told The Orlando Sentinel in June 1988. "I felt Stetson would be the place."

By then, though, Ogliaruso had another choice to make. Should he actually go to Stetson? Or should he pursue his career in the pros as a sixth-round draft pick of the Blue Jays?

Ogliaruso ultimately chose the pros. Ogliaruso's ended up being a career that lasted five seasons, never getting above AA.

Ogliaruso's career began that June, taken by the Blue Jays out of Clearwater's Countryside High School.

At Countryside, Ogliaruso drew attention with performances like one in April 1986, where Ogliaruso and another pitcher combined on a three-hit shutout. His senior year, Ogliaruso struck out 120 over 78 innings, according to The Sentinel.

"He may or may not do it sign with Toronto," Ogliaruso's high school coach John Stuart told The Sentinel after Ogliaruso's selection. "It's kind of scary. You have to put yourself in his shoes. He would be getting money and playing pro ball."

Ogliaruso did sign and, with the Blue Jays, he played his first year between rookie Medicine Hat and single-A Dunedin. At Medicine Hat, Ogliaruso went 0-6, with a 9.17 ERA. At Dunedin, though, he went 2-1 over four outings, with a stellar 1.08 ERA.

For 1989, Ogliaruso played between Dunedin and single-A Myrtle Beach. He went 12-14 between them, with a 4.10 ERA. He picked up one of his loses in June, giving up just two runs in a 2-0 defeat.

Ogliaruso played 1990 exclusively at Myrtle Beach, going 14-9, with a 2.52 ERA. In 1991, he got his first look at AA Knoxville, getting seven outings, six starts. In an early August, Ogliaruso went the distance in a game against Orlando, giving up six hits and picking up the win.

Ogliaruso played just one more season in the pros. He tried his hand at relieving between Dunedin and Knoxville, getting 20 games, six starts. But, with an ERA that climbed above 10, Ogliaruso's career soon ended.

• Orlando Sentinel, June 7, 1988: Hatters' Future Hinges On Blue Jays' Generosity
• Orlando Sentinel, June 8, 1988: Hatters Look To Countryside Connection To Fill Roster

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,340
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.7%
Never Made Majors: 620-46.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Anton Mobley, Quick Start - 2789

Originally published Aug. 8, 2013

Anton Mobley helped his Myrtle Beach Blue Jays get off to a quick start in this June 1990 contest.

He did so by hitting a second-inning solo home run. With Mobley scoring another run on the day, his single-A Blue Jays went on to defeat Charleston by a score of 10 to 6.

Mobley hit that home run for Myrtle Beach in his second professional season. It was also his last.

Mobley's pro career began as the Blue Jays selected him late in the 1988 draft, in the 73rd round, out of Fernandina Beach High School in Florida.

He didn't hit the field for the Blue Jays, though, until the next year, at short-season St. Catharines. At St. Catharines, the outfielder hit .224, with eight home runs. He also knocked in 31 and stole five bases.

For 1990, Mobley started at single-A Myrtle Beach, getting into 52 games there. His average, though, dropped to .181. He hit six home runs along the way and knocked in 13.

By mid-year, though, Mobley was back at St. Catharines. he finished out the year there, getting into 66 games. But he couldn't heat up his bat.

He hit another seven home runs at St. Catharines, knocking in 25. But his averaged stayed below .200, ending at just .184. It was his final year in pro ball.

• Charleston News and Courier, June 11, 1990: Myrtle Beach clubs Bows

1990 CMC-Pro Cards Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,339
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.8%
Never Made Majors: 619-46.2%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185

Ray Stephens, Up In The Air - 405

Originally published Sept. 13, 2010

Ray Stephens had 11 major league games under his belt, five in 1990 and six in 1991, all with the Cardinals. Now, in spring training 1992, the Phillies were looking for backup catcher and they were looking to Stephens.

But it was a brief look. Stephens went 3 for 23 for the Phillies that spring, according to The Reading Eagle, and Phillies GM Lee Thomas was polite in his comments.

"That job is still up in the air, and that's all I care to say about it at this point," Thomas told The Reading Eagle in late March. "I'm sure there'll be some free agents walking around out there soon, and we'll take a look."

Stephens didn't make the Phillies that spring. But he did get one more look at the majors.

By June, Stephens was traded to the Rangers and by July he was in Texas for eight more major league games. The time with Texas brought his major league game total to 19, where it would remain.

Stephens' career began in 1985, when he was selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of Troy State. He saw time that year at both short-season Erie and single-A Savannah. He hit .222 on the season.

He returned to Savannah in 1986, then jumped directly to AAA Louisville, getting a 12-game look with the Redbirds, hitting .194. Stephens spent 1987 largely at AA Arkansas, alternating from there between AA and AAA through 1990.

In an April 1988 game with Louisville, Stephens helped the Redbirds get out to a 4-0 lead with a fourth-inning single. A double in June game helped Louisville to a 4-2 win. That spring, Stephens hit a home run in a Cardinals spring training win, before being sent to Louisville.

Stephens hit another home run in spring training 1990, hitting it leading off the ninth inning to tie the game. But he was sent back to Louisville. It was in September 1990 that Stephens got his first look at the majors, with St. Louis, called up Sept. 3.

Stephens saw his first action Sept. 20, getting his first major league hit in the sixth inning. It was a home run. It was the first of two hits Stephens got that year in 15 plate appearances, the other was a double.

Stephens returned for 1991, to Louisville. He got back to St. Louis with another September call-up. He struck out on three pitches in a Sept. 13 game.

By spring 1992, Stephens was in Phillies camp, competing for the backup catching spot. But by June, with a season spent at AAA Scranton, Stephens was shipped to Texas for a player to be named. He was called up in late July, getting into two games before another late September call-up.

In one late September game, Stephens and the Rangers ran into Randy Johnson. Johnson struck out 18, three of the strikeouts were of Stephens. But these were Stephens' final games in the majors. He hung on one more year in the minors, at AAA Oklahoma City, ending his career.

• Southeast Missourian, UPI, Sept. 21, 1990: Lankford lifts Cards in a pinch
• Reading Eagle, March 23, 1992: Behind plate, it's a catch-22