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Sunday, July 16, 2023

Lash Bailey hit over 2 seasons, then suffered double vision

Lash Bailey 1990 Peninsula Pilots card, Bailey with bat

Bellingham's Lash Bailey had the chance to win this July 1989 game - after earlier hitting a home run to get his team back in it, The Bellingham Herald wrote.

But a second shot wasn't meant to be. He grounded out, ending the game, The Herald wrote.

"I got my (home run-type) pitch and hit it hard, but I hit it on top of the ball," Bailey told The Herald.

Bailey went on to hit pitches in just one more season, health issues ultimately helping to end his career. He topped out at high-A.

Bailey's career began that year in 1989, taken by the Mariners in the 15th round of the draft out of Long Beach City College.

Bailey started with the Mariners at short-season Bellingham. He saw 72 games and hit .287. 

He then moved to high-A Peninsula for 1990. He started off slow, but broke out of it with a home run in a later April game, The Newport News Daily Press wrote.

"I hadn't been hitting the ball well and I was putting added pressure on myself," Bailey told The Daily Press. "My game plan this week was to relax and make things happen. I felt real relaxed today."

He saw 102 games and hit .211. But, he also started seeing double caused by a cyst on his neck. A doctor determined a bone in his skull was causing a condition that could lead him to be paralyzed, The Daily Press wrote

He underwent surgery and, buy July 1991, had hopes of returning to the field again as he said he then was ready. Bailey, however, isn't recorded as playing in a game again.

Lash Bailey 1990 Peninsula Pilots card, Bailey with bat

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,191
Made the Majors:1,378-32.9%
Never Made Majors:2,813-67.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:560
10+ Seasons in the Minors:344

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