Mike Moberg chose baseball in high school, made pros

Mike Moberg played both baseball and football at Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas High School and he liked them both, The Miami Herald wrote in April 1985.

But a big senior season in baseball led him to choose to focus on that game going forward, The Herald wrote.

"I don't like to be too cocky," Moberg told The Herald of his season, "but there isn't anything I would change."

Moberg went from there to focus on baseball at the University of Florida, then to turn pro in the game. His pro career lasted two seasons. He made single-A.

Moberg's pro career began in 1990, signed by the independent rookie Salt Lake City Trappers out of Florida.

At Florida, Moberg broke out of a slump in March 1988 with a double and then a home run, The Tampa Tribune wrote.

"It's a relief to get that hit," Moberg told The Tribune. "That bear jumped off my back with that (home run). It just feels great. I haven't done that for a while."

Moberg then lost his 1989 season to injury, a broken fibula, along with ankle and knee damage suffered in a February game, The South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote. 

"Mike Moberg is not only a great player, he's a great individual," Florida coach Joe Arnold told The Sun Sentinel after the injury. "That's why the other guys voted him captain, because they respect the kind of person he is. Losing him is a blow."

Moberg made it back to the field for 1990 and signed with Salt Lake City. He opened the season with a home run and a double in a Salt Lake City win, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.

"I'm just trying to earn some respect in this league - prove I can play," Moberg told The Salt Lake Tribune.

Moberg saw 68 games that year for Salt Lake City. He hit .331, with four home runs and 38 RBI.

For 1991, he moved to the Expos system and single-A Rockford. He saw 126 games there and hit .224. That season marked his last as a pro.

• Miami Herald, April 23, 1985: Aquinas' Moberg punts football hopes to go to bat
• Tampa Tribune, March 15, 1988: After beating LSU, Florida faces UNCC tonight
• South Florida Sun Sentinel, Feb. 23, 1989: UF's Moberg adjusts to cushiony existence
• Salt Lake Tribune, June 21, 1990: Trappers Rally to Win Season Opener

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,459
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,035-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Mike Misuraca, Higher Level, 10/23/14
 - Charlie Mitchell, Family Trade, 5/25/10
 - Joe Mitchell saw eight pro seasons, two at AAA, missed bigs, 4/10/10
 - John Mitchell, Twenty-Two Hours, 5/9/11

 - Keith Mitchell made 4 bigs seasons, later saw Korea, coached, 5/15/23

 - Tommy Mitchell saw six pro seasons, never wanted to leave game, 10/4/23
 - Mike Mitchener, Uncharted Waters, 4/4/17
 - John Mizerock helped Astros to 1985 win, 9/1/11
 - Hideki Mizusawa, Did Play, 12/17/13
 - Kevin Mmahat, Much Fun, 5/12/12

Tracy Jobes went from Mississippi State to Salt Lake

Memphis-area high schooler Tracy Jobes signed with Mississippi State in July 1985 to play college baseball and Mississippi State head coach Ron Polk couldn't have been happier, The Germantown News wrote.

Jobes had earned All-Metro Memphis honors his junior and senior years and earned class Player of the Year honors, The News wrote.

"He's a top athlete from a very fine Germantown program under Coach Sykes," Polke told The News. "and we are happy to have an outstanding young player like Tracy Jobes coming into our baseball program."

Jobes went on to play four years at Mississippi State and to turn pro, signed as a free agent by independent Salt Lake City. His pro career, however, proved brief, one season.

At Mississippi State, Jobes helped his team to a win in the 1989 NCAA South Regional, giving up just two hits over eight innings.

"I don't think that I've pitched a better game in all the years I've been here," Jobes told reporters afterward.

Mississippi State missed out on the 1989 College World Series, but made it there in 1990, with Jobes' help. They got a single win there, one claimed by Jobes in a 15-1 rout.

"He's always complaining we don't get him enough runs," teammate John Cohen joked of Jobes after the lopsided win, according to The Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "He's just a real tough competitor."

Jobes ended up going 8-5 for Mississippi State that year, with a 3.75 ERA. He then went undrafted. Mid-June, he signed with independent Salt Lake City.

With Salt Lake, Jobes saw 13 outings, three starts. He went 1-1, with a 6.95 ERA. Those games proved the extent of his pro career.

• Germantown News, July 4, 1985: Jobes Signs With Miss. State, Part 2
• Hattiesburg American, May 26, 1989: State blasts W. Carolina, 8-0
• Jackson Clarion-Ledger, June 4, 1990: Dogs have their day

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,458
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,034-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Roberto Jimenez, Early Start, 3/15/15
 - Vincent Jiminez, More Fleeting, 7/1/15
 - Mike Jirschele made ML in 37th year, 5/17/14

 - Mike Jockish pitched well in summer league; Played three pro seasons, 11/6/23
 - Doug Johns, Pitch Variety, 12/12/15
 - Anthony Johnson, College List, 7/2/15
 - Ben Johnson scored winning run in high school playoff game; Played single season as pro, 3/10/20
 - Billy Johnson, Polished Pitcher, 9/1/14
 - Brian Johnson, Daily Battle, 1/3/15
 - Brian Johnson initially bypassed pros for college; Saw five pro seasons later, made AAA, 8/7/22

Jim Martin filled Salt Lake leadoff hole, saw 2 seasons

Jim Martin joined the Salt Lake City Trappers mid-season in 1990 and his manager Nick Belmonte was glad to have him, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.

Martin went 3 for 5 in this mid-August win, with one RBI. He also scored twice, The Tribune wrote.

"He's the leadoff guy we've been looking for all year," Belmonte told The Tribune. :He's got speed and he hits the ball well to all fields."

Martin's time with Salt Lake City marked his first time as a pro. He returned briefly the next season. Those two seasons proved the extent of his pro career.

Martin's career began that season in 1990, signed by the independent rookie league Trappers out of Sacramento. Martin was also credited by his middle name, Dillard Martin. (He's also sometimes cited as from Seminole State College in Florida, but that appears to be a different James Martin.)

Martin started with Salt Lake City mid-season. He picked up two hits and an RBI in another August game. He then hit a triple that proved the game-winner in a third August game.

Martin returned to Salt Lake City for 1991. This time, he started the season there. He began a late-June rally with a walk.

Overall, Martin saw 12 games for Salt Lake City that year in 1991. He went 3 for 17 to end his career.

• Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 17, 1990: Trapper Bats Stay Hot On Cool Night

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,457
Made the Majors:1,424-32.0
Never Made Majors:3,033-68.0%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Oreste Marrero, Father's Day, 6/29/17

 - Vilato Marrero, Defining Job, 7/2/17

 - John Marett signed with Orioles out of draft; Saw three pro seasons, made single-A, 6/30/21
 - Quinn Marsh helped stop Salt Lake streak, saw 5 seasons, 11/19/13
 - Tom Marsh, Goose Bumps, 12/19/12
 - Randy Marshall, Key Hit, 5/22/14
 - Randy Marshall, Every Time, 3/19/16

 - Ed Martel made AAA with the Yankees, but injuries slowed career; Later studied injuries; Passed in 2018, 11/13/22
 - Al Martin, Leadership Skills, 4/25/15

 - Darryl Martin turned pro out of high school, called himself really happy; Saw six pro seasons, made high-A, 8/16/21

1990 Salt Lake Trappers profiles, rookie independent

Features on each member of the 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers, rookie co-op team, as included in that year's roster. 

1990 Salt Lake City Trappers (8)

1. Dave Alexander impressed as walk-on, saw two pro seasons, 3/28/22
2. Joe Beaulac signed 1st contract by headlight, saw 2 seasons, 4/2/22
3. Ed Garczyk hit game-winner at Salt Lake, saw two seasons
4. Tracy Jobes went from Mississippi State to Salt Lake, 12/5/24
5. Dennis Kidd saw his speed as strength, saw 3 pro seasons  
6. Jim Martin filled Salt Lake leadoff hole, saw 2 seasons, 12/1/24
7. Mike Moberg chose baseball in high school, made pros, 12/7/24
8. Brian Reimsnyder hit well in college, saw brief career, 10/7/23

The 1990 Rookie Pioneer League
-Billings Mustangs (29)

-Butte Copper Kings (30)
-Gate City Pioneers (27)

-Great Falls Dodgers (30)

-Helena Brewers (29)

-Idaho Falls Braves (30)

-Medicine Hat Blue Jays (27)

-Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Bluefield Orioles player profiles, Baltimore

Features on each member of the 1990 Bluefield Orioles, rookie affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, as included in that year's team set. 

Bluefield Orioles (22)

1. Matt Anderson couldn't wait to turn pro, saw six seasons, 10/8/11
2. Mattie Asencio joined Wausau Dominicans, saw 2 seasons, 7/1/21
3. Derek Bell got help from baseball school, saw 2 seasons, 11/19/24
4. Brett Benge had rough start, saw 3 pro seasons, single-A, 10/27/24
5. Robert Burguillos went from Venezuela to pros, 18 games, 11/9/24
6. Bo Davis played over three pro seasons, passed in 2005, 2/13/16
7. Doug Flowers impressed in college, played 3 pro seasons, 11/24/24
8. Gordon Graham turned pro from high school, saw 2 seasons, 11/30/24
9. Roy Hodge worked to play well over 9 seasons, made AA, 11/3/24
10. Ihosvany Marquez played, went to prison for Medicaid fraud, 11/20/24
11. Juan Mercedes had strong Bluefield outing, saw 3 seasons, 11/26/24
12. Jose Millares strived for majors over 7 seasons, made AA, 11/21/24
13. Shawn O'Connell threw hard in high school, saw 4 seasons, 10/21/24
14. John O'Donoghue wasn't drafted, but he made the majors, 11/12/24
15. German Paredes got hot Bluefield start, saw two seasons, 10/20/24
16. Dan Ramirez played at Memorial Stadium, saw 5 seasons, AA, 10/28/24
17. Stewart Ruiz signed out of Venezuela, played 3 seasons, 10/29/24
18. Keith Schmidt hit 1st Kane County home run, saw 6 seasons, 1/25/16
19. Scott Sprick took his pro chance to high-A with Orioles, 11/17/24
20. Mike Thomas saw minors with Orioles, college FB with UNC, 11/16/24
21. Brad Tippitt started, relieved over three pro seasons, 10/26/24
22. Mike Wiley started and relieved over two pro seasons, 10/19/24

The 1990 Rookie Appalachian League
-Bluefield Orioles (22)

-Bristol Tigers (33)

-Burlington Indians (28)

-Elizabethton Twins (27)
-Huntington Cubs (31)

-Johnson City Cardinals (32)

-Kingsport Mets (28)
-Martinsville Phillies (34)

-Princeton Patriots (30)
-Pulaski Braves (31)

Gordon Graham turned pro from high school, saw 2 seasons

The Kingsport Times-News ran down the new Bluefield Orioles roster in June 1990, including freshly minted pro, fresh from his Pennsylvania high school, Gordon Graham.

"Most of the players will be from the draft," Orioles director of player personnel Don Buford told The Times-News. "There will be a mixture of players age-wise, but for most of the players this will be their first stop in the organization."

For Graham, Bluefield did prove his first stop in the organization. It also proved his last. He returned there for two seasons. He didn't make it higher.

Graham's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Orioles in the 11th round of the draft out of Hershey High School in Hershey, Pa. Graham was also credited as Gordie Graham.

Graham started with the Orioles at Bluefield. He hit a triple to leadoff an inning in a June game. In late July, Graham knocked in five runs in a game. 

Overall, Graham saw 24 games for Bluefield. He hit .281, with eight total RBI.

Graham returned to Bluefield for 1991. He saw 38 games that year and hit .144. That season turned out to be his last as a pro.

• Kingsport Times-News, June 18, 1990: Bluefield sporting one of league's youngest clubs

More: The 1990 Bluefield Orioles

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,457
Made the Majors:1,424-32.0
Never Made Majors:3,033-68.0%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Michael Grace, Extended Lead, 12/12/13

 - Brian Graham developed players as minors manager, coordinator; Later won an award, 8/7/22
 - John Graham, Baseball Town, 4/29/17

 - Steve Graham went from Ithaca to the pros, like his dad; Saw three seasons, made high-A, 7/24/22

 - Tim Graham worked on his swing and improved; Saw eight pro seasons, briefly made AA, 7/14/21
 - Joe Grahe, His Ability, 9/16/17
 - Mike Grahovac, Unbelievable Feeling, 7/30/17

 - Larry Grant proved useful as hitter and in the field; Saw three pro seasons, made high-A, 7/24/21
 - Mark Grater, Pitching Assignment, 4/24/11
 - John Graves, Save Earned, 5/31/14

Juan Mercedes had strong Bluefield outing, saw 3 seasons

Bluefield Orioles starter Juan Mercedes pitched a strong game in this early July 1991 contest. In fact, he didn't give up a hit into the eighth inning, according to The Bristol Herald Courier.

Mercedes, however, couldn't go for the full no-hitter, The Herald Courier wrote. He hit his pitch count and had to be pulled in a game where he ultimately got the win.

Mercedes pitched that outing in his second season as a pro. He went on to see time in one more. He topped out at single-A.

Mercedes' career began in 1990, signed by the Orioles as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.

Mercedes played his first year between rookie Bluefield and single-A Wausau. He saw 15 games, five starts at Bluefield. He went 3-2, with a 6.08 ERA. He also saw six outings at Wausau, four starts and went 0-2, with a 4.64 ERA.

Mercedes returned to Bluefield for 1991. He saw 16 outings, eight starts. He threw three innings in relief in an August game without giving up a hit. He went 2-6 overall, with a 3.98 ERA.

Mercedes then played 1992 at single-A Kane County. He saw 40 outings, three starts. He went 3-6, with a 6.09 ERA to end his career.

• Bristol Herald Courier, July 3, 1991: Mercedes leads Orioles' Appy win

More: The 1990 Bluefield Orioles

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,456
Made the Majors:1,424-32.0
Never Made Majors:3,032-68.0%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Kirk Mendenhall woke up a AAA crowd with a single, stolen base; Saw six seasons, never made bigs, 4/26/20
 - Jesus Mendez, Venezuelan Nuggets, 3/4/10
 - Miguel Mendez, At Third, 11/22/14
 - Brad Mengel, First Team, 11/2/13
 - Paul Menhart, Ultimate Goal, 8/1/13
 - Troy Mentzer, Fought Himself, 2/12/13

 - Brian Mercado hit well his first season; Learned his second wouldn't happen from team official on golf cart, 8/15/20
 - Orlando Mercado, Grand Slam, 4/23/12
 - Rafael Mercado, Felt Comfortable, 3/16/14
 - Orlando Merced played through injury, 9/8/10