Everett Cunningham started 1989 at single-A Gastonia rough, to the point that the pitcher got pulled from the rotation, The Chicago Tribune wrote.
Then the organization gave him some time to get his confidence back, The Tribune wrote.
"He never looked back," Rangers minor league director Marty Scott told The Tribune. "Right then, you had to say, 'Wow, this guy could pitch in the big leagues."
Cunningham finished that campaign, his second in the pros, with a 9-5 record and a 2.52 ERA. He went on to play just two more seasons. He never made the bigs.
Cunningham's career began in 1988, taken by the Rangers in the fourth round of the draft out of Northwestern University.
Cunningham started with the Rangers at rookie Butte. He went 6-4 over 14 starts, with a 6.01 ERA. He then moved to Gastonia and turned in the 2.52 ERA over 27 outings, 20 starts.
He split 1990 between AA Tulsa and high-A Port Charlotte. Cunningham went 13-5 between them, with a 3.27 ERA. He pitched a perfect inning of an April Tulsa no-hitter.
Cunningham then started 1991 back at Tulsa. He got into 21 games and had a 6.97 ERA. He then moved to the Padres and AA Wichita. In 16 relief outings there, he amassed a 8.17 ERA to end his career.
Cunningham has since gone into the health care industry. He is listed in 2019 as senior vice president for commercial sales and marketing with Quest Diagnostics.
- Chicago Tribune, March 12, 1990: Everett Cunningham, RHP Northwestern University
- Baseball Cards Come to Life! Nov. 7, 2012: Everett Cunningham on baseball cards
More: 1990 Tulsa Drillers
Players/Coaches Featured:3,087
Made the Majors:1,130-36.6%
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5+ Seasons in the Majors: 469
10+ Seasons in the Minors:281
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