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Dan Shwam had long independent league managerial career

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Dan Shwam 's Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks got a big win in this August 1993 contest, a 9-2 victory over Sioux Falls, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader wrote . Shwam assessed the victory afterward to The Argus Leader . "It is nice to in," Shwam told The Argus Leader . "It is positive when we score that many runs. The three home runs is not our style but we'll take them when we can get them." By that point, Shwam had worked at winning as a manager and coach in the minors and independent ball. He'd also worked as a scout and high school coach. He went on to manage multiple teams in independent ball up through at least the mid-2000s. Shwam's career began in Utah in 1987 , as a coach for the independent Salt Lake City Trappers . Shwam's name was also spelled Dan Schwam. While coaching with Salt Lake City, Shwam spent his off seasons coaching baseball and basketball at Salt Lake's Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School. He continued there until at least 1996...

Jim Schifman dreamed of pros, made it for eight games

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Vanderbilt's Jim Schifman had a disappointing junior season, but he hoped to turn it around his senior year and turn pro, he told his hometown Kansas City Star in July 1989. 'It's a dream of mine," Schifman told The Star of turning pro. "With a good senior year, I'll get some kind of chance." Schifman did get his chance, though it was a brief one . He signed with the independent Salt Lake City Trappers. He played in all of eight games. Schifman's pro career began and ended in 1990, signed by Salt Lake City out of Vanderbilt. Schifman went to Vanderbilt after catching the eye of coaches in the summer Ban Johnson League, The Star wrote . "Speed is definitely Jim's greatest asset," Schifman's Ban Johnson manager Cary Lundy told The Star in July 1987. "If he puts the ball into play, it's gong to be close at first base." By May 1990, Schifman was Vanderbilt's leading hitter and all-conference. He then got signed by...

Steve Keighley worked to hit over 4 seasons, made high-A

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Memphis State hitter Steve Keighley had a big day at the plate in early May 1989, The Anderson Independent-Mail wrote as he hit two home runs. Afterward, he attempted to explain to The Independent-Mail how he did it. "I was just going up there trying to hit line drives," Keighley told The Independent-Mail . "It just so happened I got the bat on the ball and the wind got hold of them and carried them out." Keighley went on from Memphis State to the pros. His pro career saw four seasons . He topped out at high-A. Keighley's pro career began in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers out of Memphis State . At Salt Lake City, Keighley got into 34 games . He hit .261, with one home run. His home run came in a June contest, where he helped shepherd his team to a win from behind the plate, and critiqued the opposing team's hitters, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote . "They swung at the ball in the dirt all night," Keighley told The Tribune ....

Jim Doyle helped Salt Lake to cheap win, saw one season

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Never mind it was a rain-shortened contest, the Salt Lake City Trappers ended a five game loosing streak in July 1990. Right fielder Jim Doyle , along with his teammates, couldn't have been happier, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote . "A cheap win?" Doyle told The Tribune afterward. "Just to get a win feels great." Doyle helped get wins that year in his first season as a pro. That season also turned out to be his only season as a pro .  Doyle's career began and ended that year, signed by independent Salt Lake City . His school and where he hailed from could not be found. Doyle started with the Trappers that June . He knocked in a run on a hit in one July game. In another game that month, he got a run across on a sacrifice fly and later scored on a sacrifice fly .  He then hit a two-run home run in an early August game. By later that month, though, Doyle was considering returning to school . Overall, Doyle saw 40 games and hit .203 with that one home run. Those...

Rob Bargas played himself into college, two pro seasons

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Sacramento high schooler Rob Bargas showed promise in 1986, enough that Bargas hoped to draw attention of college scouts, The Sacramento Bee wrote that May. "I feel like something good will happen if I just keep playing the way I can," Bargas told The Bee . "I'm very confident this year. I go up to the plate knowing I will hit the ball hard somewhere no matter who's pitching." Bargas soon did make it to college, locally in Sacramento. But he then earned a spot across the country at Florida State. From there, he then turned pro. His pro career lasted two seasons . He made high-A. Bargas' career began in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers out of Florida State. At Florida State in 1989, Bargas knocked in four runs and went 5 for 5 in a regional win, The Orlando Sentinel wrote . "It happened for me today, that's all," Bargas told The Sentinel after that big game. Overall, Bargas hit .328 at Florida State in 1989, then ....

Joe Burnett played 1 season, career ended on broken jaw

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University of Southwestern Louisiana outfielder Joe Burnett got drafted in 1990. It was just he wasn't so sure about the team that'd drafted him - the independent Miami Miracle, The Lafayette Daily Advertiser wrote . "I was shocked," Burnett told The Daily Advertiser of his selection. "When they called was the first time I'd heard of them. I really didn't expect it to happen. I don't really know what to think. I'm going to try and make the best of it. That's all I can do." For Burnett, the best of it turned out to be a single pro season , spent between Miami and independent Salt Lake City, before a single pitch ended his season and ultimately his career Burnett's career began and ended that year in 1990, taken by independent Miami in the 17th round of the draft out of Southwestern Louisiana. At Southwestern Louisiana, Burnett was known for stealing bases. By late May 1990, he'd already broken the school's single-season sto...

Jeff Hagy played single pro season with Salt Lake City

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Young high school pitcher Dustin Hagy looked forward to the opportunity to play in the pros. His dad Jeff Hagy did, too, The Daytona Beach News Journal wrote in May 2013. "And, my dad played one year of pro ball with the Salt Lake City Trappers," Dustin Hagy told The News Journal , "so he is excited for me to have that experience." The older Hagy's pro experience lasted that one season in Utah . The younger Hagy, however, never made it. Jeff Hagy's pro experience began and ended in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers apparently out of UNLV . Hagy had been a starter in college, but turned reliever in an early game with Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote . He came on to record a crucial strike out. "I liked (relieving) because I didn't have time to think too much," Hagy told The Tribune . Hagy then got into another June game and gave up two runs, one earned, in two innings of work , then two no-hit innings in a J...