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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Cecil Pettiford helped Salt Lake to 1992 division title; Saw seven pro seasons, made AA


The Salt Lake Trappers took the 1992 division title and starter Cecil Pettiford took the complete-game win, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote

He described the victory to The Tribune afterward.

"It felt great ... best I've ever felt on the mound," Pettiford told The Tribune.

Pettiford experienced that win in his fifth season as a pro. He went on to see time in two more campaigns. He topped out at AA.

Pettiford's career began in 1988, taken by the Indians in the 36th round of the draft out of Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Pettiford started with the Indians at rookie Burlington. He saw four outings that year and 11 more at Burlington in 1989. He went 4-2 in 1989, with a 3.59 ERA.

He moved to high-A Reno for 1990. He pitched well enough in the season's first half to make the league All-Star team. He also threw three innings in the game, gave up one run and picked up the victory.

Pettiford, however, also ran into problems pitching at home, according to The Reno Gazette-Journal. At one point in early July, he'd thrown three-straight poor performances in Reno.

"I make good pitches and I still give up the cheapest hits," Pettiford told The Gazette-Journal. "Guys bloop it over the infield, or they get the ball in the wind or it gets in the gap. To tell you the truth, I'll be glad to go on the road."

Pettiford went 12-9 at Reno, with a 4.75 ERA over 24 starts. He moved to high-A Kinston for 1991, then independent Salt Lake City for 1992. He threw eight shutout innings that August. He went 5-2 overall at Salt Lake City, with a 2.96 ERA.

He moved to the Tigers for 1993 and high-A Lakeland. He went 2-1, with a 2.32 ERA over 32 mostly relief outings. He then played 1994 at AA Trenton. He saw 29 relief outings there, with a 5.05 ERA. That season marked his last as a pro.

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,529
Made the Majors:1,227-34.8%
Never Made Majors:2,302-65.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:509
10+ Seasons in the Minors:304

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