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Jim Voutour spent brief time in pros, career in policing

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Playing for SUNY Brockport in western New York, Jim Voutour had his sights set on the pros. And, if the pros didn't work out, business finance, he told The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle in April 1987. "That's the dream for anybody," Voutour told The Democrat and Chronicle then of pro baseball. "But I'm not depending on dropping out and going professional." Voutour ended up realizing, if briefly, his goal of playing pro baseball . But his post-playing career ended up not being in business finance. It ended up being in law enforcement. Voutour ultimately became a sheriff's deputy in Niagara County, New York, where he grew up. By 2008, he'd risen through the ranks to run for the top job himself, Niagara County Sheriff. And he won. Voutour's brief pro career began and ended in 1990, signed by the Tigers as an undrafted free agent out of Brockport. At Brockport, Voutour hit 20 home runs and nine triples, longtime school records. He also had...

David Nix learned as pro, then injury, passed in 2018

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Having just signed his pro contract with the Astros in June 1990, David Nix spoke to his hometown Evansville Courier and Press about his next steps. "My job is to learn and do the best job I can," Nix told The Courier and Press then. "So far, Houston's been great for me. We didn't argue over money one bit." Nix went on from there to see two pro seasons. He spent both in the rookie Gulf Coast League before an injury ultimately ended his career. Nix' career began that year in 1990, taken by the Astros in the seventh round of the draft out of Harrison High School in Evansville, Indiana. Nix started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. The pitcher saw 13 outings , four starts. He went 2-1, with one save. Going into 1991, Nix spoke to The Courier and Press about success he had that spring, and one instance where he even got to pitch in front of the Astros major league pitching coach Bob Cluck. "That was a great feeling, throwing for the...

Guillermo Sabino saw just 10 pro games in rookie ball

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Guillermo Sabino started off OK with his rookie Gulf Coast League Astros in 1990. In his first three at bats with the club, the infielder picked up one hit. He also stole a base, according to The Houston Post . By the time he was 10 games in, though, his average had slid to .179. Those 10 games proved to be the extent of his pro career . Sabino's career began and ended that year in 1990, signed by the Astros as a free agent. His college or home country is not included at either Baseball Reference or The Baseball Cube. By early August, Sabino had seen 13 at bats and three total hits , dropping his average to .231. He'd also stolen four more bases. By season's end, Sabino had recorded 28 at bats overall to 35 plate appearances. He notched five hits, one a triple, and stole those four bases. His average ended at .179, ending his career . More:  The 1990 Gulf Coast League Astros 1990 Minor League Tally   Players/Coaches Featured: 4,533 Made the Majors: 1,433-31.6% Never Made...

Rob Mallicoat worked hard to make majors, then get back

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Selected by the Astros that past January in 1984, Rob Mallicoat signed in May to  start his pro career . "This has been my goal all through baseball," Mallicoat told his hometown Hermiston Herald then. "It's going to be hard work, but I think it's going to be a good experience." For Mallicoat, it would be hard work, both on the field and off it. He made the majors . Then, after a series of injuries, he made it back. Mallicoat's career began that year, taken by the Astros in the first round of the January draft out of Taft College in California. Mallicoat started at short-season Auburn and single-A Asheville . He went 3-4, with a 4.02 ERA over 12 starts. He moved to single-A Osceola for 1985, then AA Columbus and AAA Tucson in 1986. He then played 1987 largely at Columbus, but got a call to Houston that September. With the Astros, Mallicoat got into four games, starting one. He gave up five earned in 6.2 innings of work. He spoke to The Pendleton Eas...

Scott Bullard got credit for 4 pro games, passed in 2020

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Scott Bullard moved on from his baseball career early on. He then went into a new one, building fences . He started Bullard Fence with his brother in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida and worked over two decades to build the business, until his passing . Bullard passed away in June 2020 at the age of 50. His brief baseball career came three decades earlier, in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 41st round of the draft out of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Bullard played with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He's recorded as getting into four games, starting three. He went 2-1, with a 1.64 ERA.  According to his obituary , arm problems then prevented him from going further. He underwent Tommy John surgery and ultimately went home to Jacksonville. "When Scott wasn't working he enjoyed spending his time with family & friends, playing golf, and cooking out," his obituary read . Cedar Bay Funeral Home: John Scott Bullard More:  The 1990 Gulf Co...

Juan De La Cruz played only season in Gulf Coast League

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Astros minor leaguer Juan De La Cruz ' career turned out brief - a single season, spent in 1990. But his time was marked, in The Houston Post . In regular updates on Houston minor leaguers, De La Cruz was regularly there , at the top of the Gulf Coast League Astros pitchers list. However he pitched, though, De La Cruz never got to return for a second season. He spent his limited career in the GCL . De La Cruz' career began and ended that year, signed by the Astros as a free agent. De La Cruz' home country isn't listed on the baseball sites. His name was also written Juan DeLaCruz. De La Cruz' first mention in The Post came July 1. He then had recorded three outings and 5.2 innings. He'd given up one earned run.  By Aug. 5, he'd seen 12 outings and 19.2 innings and he was still recorded as giving up a single earned run. Overall, De La Cruz appears to have had some rougher final outings. He's recorded as ending with 18 appearances, 29.1 innings of work...

David Wallace topped one scout's NYC list, saw 3 seasons

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Coming out of Brandeis High School in New York City in 1988, David Wallace came with high praise, according to Newsday . Wallace was described as having a major league arm and major league speed. He'd hit .365 the previous year, Newsday wrote . "He might be the best position player in the city," a scout told Newsday of Wallace. Wallace went on from Brandeis to college and to the pros. His pro career ended up lasting three seasons . He topped out at single-A. Wallace's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 24th round of the draft out of Howard College in Texas. He then signed for 1990. He went to Howard out of Brandeis. At Brandeis, Wallace went 2 for 4 with a home run in a May 1988 game. He was also drafted that June by the Rangers, but chose Howard College instead. Wallace was credited with gunning down a runner at the plate in a May 1989 game with Howard. Wallace then signed with the Astros for 1990. He started in the rookie Gulf Coast League ...