Wally Trice found screwball variation, saw 7 seasons, AA

-
Wally Trice 1990 Columbus Mudcats baseball card
Wally Trice tried to find a new pitch and he found one - a variation on the screwball, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

He looked for that pitch, he told The Sentinel, after coming to a realization about his playing future after college if he didn't find one.

''I knew in college if I was going to stay in baseball I needed a new pitch,'' Trice told The Sentinel. ''I wasn't going to blow 82-mph fastballs by anybody.''

Trice used his new pitch to turn pro, but he could never take it to the majors. He made AA over three seasons, but he never made it higher.

Trice's career began in 1988, taken by the Astros in the 15th round of the draft out of Alliant International University in California.

Just before the 1988 draft, Trice talked to The Los Angeles Times about the lengths he went to in high school to learn another pitch, the split-finger fastball.

"I used to tape tennis balls between my fingers before I went to sleep," Trice told The Times. "Then baseballs, then softballs. It was pretty painful for a couple hours, then I'd get to sleep."

Trice started with the Astros at short-season Auburn. He turned in a 1.90 ERA over 14 outings. He then played 1989 at single-A Osceola, Trice gained some attention, according to The Sentinel, with antics like ensuring he pitched with an ALF T-shirt under his jersey.

Overall, Trice proved himself 16-4, with a 2.57 ERA. He threw a seven-inning complete game for a June win.

Trice moved up to AA Columbus for 1990, going 6-7 over 33 outings, 22 starts. He then split 1991 between single-A Burlington and AA Jackson and turned reliever. In 55 relief outings, he saved 19 games and had an ERA of 2.08.

He jumped to the Indians system and AA Canton-Akron for 1992, returning there in 1993. He also spent time in 1993 in Taiwan, playing for the Mercuries Tigers.

After not being recorded as playing in 1994 and 1995, Trice's final pro time came in 1996 with independent Amarillo. He got into eight games, starting five, at Amarillo, ending his career.

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,400
Made the Majors: 984-41.0%
Never Made Majors:1,416-59.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 410
10+ Seasons in the Minors:247

Browse By:

-Player Name
-Player Team
-Date Featured

Players A to Z

Popular posts from this blog

Road Trip: Trenton Thunder

-
Image
Blue Jays catching coordinator Sal Fasano, right, at the batting cage before a game at Trenton's Arm & Hammer Park in June 2014. (G21D Photo) When my wife and I were in Baltimore in 2005, the Red Sox were in town playing the Orioles. At one point during the game, the Red Sox player walked up to the plate and tapped the catcher on the shoulder in a gesture of recognition. I remember telling my wife about it later. The two players were Johnny Damon and Sal Fasano . Both players came up in the Royals system and played together there. I found it cool and interesting, especially because I'd seen Fasano play years before, when my dad and I frequented Cedar Rapids Kernels games in 1994. Fasano played that year for the Rockford Royals , winning the league's MVP . I mention all this because I had the opportunity to cross paths with Fasano again unexpectedly this past weekend. Fasano, with his distinctive mustache, served as the fill-in manager for the New Hampshir...
Read more

Chris Sparrow came back from slump with home run at Utica; Played two pro seasons

-
Image
Chris Sparrow had his first big game in a while in this July 1990 contest for Utica as he went 2 for 4, with a home run, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote . "I just haven't been in a groove," Sparrow explained to The Star-Gazette afterward. "I hurt my right knee earlier and after coming back, I've been 0-for-12. But maybe this will get me out of the slump." Sparrow ended up coming back to hit .281 on the year, but it wasn't enough. That year marked his second pro season, but also his last . He topped out at short-season. Sparrow's career began in 1989, signed by the Braves as a free agent out of the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Sparrow played summer 1989 with the American Legion team in his hometown of Kernersville. He hit a three-run home run in an August game.  With the Braves, Sparrow played at rookie Idaho Falls . That July, he hit a fastball out for a home run off Salt Lake starter Tom Studstill, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote . "Th...
Read more

Willie Canate made one ML season, also saw World Series

-
Image
New Blue Jay Willie Canate wasn't expecting to play in this July 1993 game, but, in the end, he helped his team win, The Associated Press wrote . Canate came off the bench due to injury to tie the game with a single early and then hit his first major league home run to win the game late, The AP wrote . "I was happy because the start wasn't anticipated," Canate told The AP , through an interpreter. "I'm just thrilled to death to be able to help the team win. Hopefully this will lead to more opportunities to play." Canate did get some more opportunities to play, including one brief appearance later that year in the World Series. But his major league career proved confined to that single season. Canate's career began in 1989, signed by the Indians as a free agent out of his native Venezuela . Canate started with the Indians in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He moved to short-season Watertown for 1990 and then single-A Columbus and high-A Kinston in 1...
Read more

A to Z: 1990 Minor League Players, Baseball Profiles

-
Image
What happened to your favorite minor league team in 1990? Find out here. Since late 2009, the players of 1990 have been featured at Greatest21Days.com, one at a time. Here, they've been ordered here alphabetically.  Every player has a story. With the help of contemporaneous newspaper articles, find that story here. Most recent players added Aug. 16, 2025 List of 1990 minor league players featured, in alphabetical order: Total: 4,457 A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z A  -  Bill Abare  got big hit at Dunedin, saw three pro seasons, 10/31/13  -  Glenn Abbott  saw bigs over decade, later turned coach, 7/27/14  -  Kurt Abbott 's first ML hit went for homer, saw 9 seasons, 3/22/15  -  Kyle Abbott  saw time in four major league seasons, Japan, 10/4/17  -  Paul Abbott  returned from injuries, made 11 ML seasons, 5/23/11 ...
Read more

Julio Valera made 5 bigs seasons with 'dastardly dip' slider

-
Image
Once a Mets starting prospect, Julio Valera now found himself with the Angels. He also found himself thrust into a game, unsure exactly how to handle relief duties. "After the first pitch," Valera told The Los Angeles Times in April 1992, "I said to myself, 'This is just another game. Go right at them.' After that, I got my fastball over and all my pitches over." Valera had just been traded to the Angels earlier that month by a Mets team that had grown wary of his arm . Signed by the Mets in 1986 as a free agent out of Puerto Rico, Valera developed, by one account , a slider with a "dastardly dip." Three seasons in the low minors gave way in 1989 to promotion to AA Jackson and a taste of AAA Tidewater. He returned to Tidewater for 1990, making his Mets debut as a September call-up. In six innings, Valera gave up five hits and three runs, a quality start that had the Mets impressed, according to the New York Times . ''...
Read more

1990 Wichita Wranglers player profiles, AA San Diego

-
Image
Features on each member of the 1990 Wichita Wranglers, AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, as included in that year's team set. Wichita Wranglers (28) Andy Benes  made the Olympics, then bigs over 14 seasons Ricky Bones  used luck, opportunity over 11 majors seasons Doug Brocail  saw 15 major league campaigns, later coached Rafael Chaves  made AA as player, bigs as coach, cried Brian Cisarik  hit well in college, played 5 pro seasons Wichita Wranglers mascot  Cookie  had versatile performers Greg David  learned pro realities over 8 seasons, made AA Todd Hansen  knew he had to pitch well in 1987 start; Saw pros over seven seasons, made AA , 10/20/20 Jeremy Hernandez  moved from starting to relief and then made the bigs over five seasons , 3/30/20 Charlie Hillemann  made AAA, later decided to quit baseball, go home and be a dad , 11/2/20 Rich Holsman  liked to play the game, did so over five seasons; Made AA , 10/30/20 Mike Hum...
Read more

1990 Sumter Braves player profiles, Atlanta

-
Image
Features on each member of the 1990 Sumter Braves, single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Players featured are as included in that year's team set. Sumter Braves (32) 1  -  Tab Brown  saw 3 minor league seasons, each with Braves 2  -  Vinny Castilla  made 16 ML seasons, Denver fan favorite 3 - Mike Gabriele, Some Rest Mike Gabriele went from college to the pros. He played just two seasons. 4 - Steve Glass, Pro Ball Steve Glass turned pro and it was one of the happiest and proudest moments of his life. 5 - Kevin Haeberle, Caught Up Kevin Haeberle couldn't pitch himself out of every jam. He played just two seasons. 6 - Lee Heath, Defensive Prospect Lee Heath went from being a defensive prospect in football to one in baseball. 7 - Roger Hailey, Best Chance Roger Hailey pitched well at single-A Sumter. He never made AA. 8 - Tyler Houston, Learning To Hit Tyler Houston learned to hit. He then made the majors. 9 - Earl Jewett, Big Key Ear...
Read more