Mark Ohlms worked out of multiple jams for his American Legion team in June 1985, but he also got wins, The St. Louis Post-Gazette wrote.
His manager with St. Charles, Dan Snider, tried to explain to The Post-Dispatch why.
"Mark's a competitor, always has been," Snider told The Post-Dispatch. "For some reason, he seems to pitch better with men on base. He moves the ball around well and usually does the job."
Ohlms went on from American Legion ball to make the pros. His pro career lasted seven seasons. He topped out at AAA.
Ohlms' pro career began in 1988, taken by the Yankees in the 64th round of the draft out of Grand View University in Iowa.
As he prepared to sign with the Yankees, Ohlms had to leave his summer ball team, but not before he earned a June save where we got into trouble, but got it together.
"I started throwing my slider more in the last inning," Ohlms told The Post-Dispatch afterward. "That's a good pitch for me."
With the Yankees, Ohlms started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He went 4-3 over 24 relief outings, with a 0.74 ERA. He moved to single-A Prince William for 1989. He saw 37 relief outings and ended with a 2.58 ERA.
He made high-A Fort Lauderdale in 1990, then high-A Prince William for 1991. He spoke to The Post-Dispatch in July 1991 about working through adversity at high-A.
"Going through these kinds of phases brings out the best in you," Ohlms told The Post-Dispatch. "You learn to work out of ruts, and that makes everyone notice you and think more of you."
Ohlms got noticed enough to move to the Blue Jays system for 1992. He also moved up to AA at Knoxville. He saved 18 over 52 outings, with a 1.55 ERA.
He then spent 1993 largely at AAA Syracuse. He had a 7.05 ERA over 47 games. He returned to Knoxville for 1994. In 53 outings, he had a 4.52 ERA. That year marked his last as a pro.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 24, 1985: Reliever Slips Out Of Jams, Beats Baldwin
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 17, 1988: Yankee-Bound Ohlms Rescues EECU
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 20, 1991: Ohlms, 24, Keeps Optimism In Class A
Made the Majors:1,247-34.6%
Never Made Majors:2,357-65.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:306
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