After time spent in organizations and with independent clubs, Lance Hudson caught on with the Tigers in 1988 and made it to the highest level he'd gotten, at AA Glens Falls.
But, as the season concluded, the Tigers abruptly gave Hudson his release. He didn't have the right approach and the club didn't want any hot dogs, Hudson explained to The Glens Falls Post-Star.
"I still want to play," Hudson told The Post-Star then. "Ability has never been the question. It's always been mental. Those things have plagued me all my career."
Hudson's career began seven years earlier. It wouldn't finally end for two more. He never got higher than AA.
Hudson started in 1981, taken by the Athletics in the fourth round of the January secondary draft out of San Bernardino Valley College.
Hudson started at co-op San Jose. He hit .225 over 64 games. He then moved to the Dodgers system. He played at single-A Lodi in 1982 and 1983, then arrived at unaffiliated short-season Walla Walla to complete 1983.
He returned to San Jose for 27 games in 1984, then independent Miami in 1985. He hit .229 in 119 games at Miami in 1985, then .293 in 108 games back there in 1986.
In 1985, The Chicago Tribune featured the club and Hudson appeared, citing injuries in his failure to advance.
In July 1986, The Miami News featured Hudson and his coaches praised him. Hudson was better than single-A.
"Bad raps," Hudson told The News about why he wasn't higher. "I've had plenty of 'em. I won't lie, some of them I deserved. But some others, I didn't."
Hudson also saw 14 games in 1986 with the Orioles at single-A Hagerstown.
He isn't credited as playing in 1987, but returned with the Tigers in 1988. He split the year between single-A Lakeland and AA Glens Falls. He hit .278 on the year.
Late that June, Hudson helped start a rally off major leaguer Rich Yett on injury rehab, doubling just inside the line, The Post-Star wrote.
"He got a fastball in on me," Hudson told The Post-Star. "I'm a little guy, and I figured he'd try to challenge me."
Hudson returned for one more season, in 1990, back at Miami. He saw 27 games and hit .190 to end his career.
- Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1985: Miami prolongs their dream
- Miami News, July 18, 1986: Lance Hudson: The day and night Marlin
- Glens Falls Post-Star, June 30, 1988: Richie, Hudson help keep GF in race
- Glens Falls Post-Star, Sept. 1, 1988: Attitude, not ability caused Hudson's release
Made the Majors:1,299-33.4%
Never Made Majors:2,596-66.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:528
10+ Seasons in the Minors:325
No comments:
Post a Comment