Friday, November 13, 2020

Bob Lutticken tried to make the best of his playing time; Saw six seasons, made AA

Bob Lutticken hadn't made it into many games for short-season Spokane in 1987, so he knew he needed to make his appearances count, he told The Spokane Chronicle after one early July game.

The catcher spoke to The Chronicle after he made one appearance count, getting on base all five times to the plate and scoring twice in a win.

"I've just got to make the best of it when I get in there," Lutticken told The Chronicle afterward. "I'm working hard (in practice) and staying fresh so I can help the team when I get in there."

He ended up getting in there a total of 31 times that year for Spokane. He went on to get in there over four more seasons. He topped out at AA.

Lutticken's career started in 1986, taken by the Padres in the second round of the January draft out of the College of San Mateo.

Lutticken started with the Padres at Spokane. He hit .220 in 39 games his first year there and .256 in his 31 games on his return in 1987.

He moved to single-A Charleston for 1988, where he got into 91 games and hit .199. But he returned to more limited duty in 1989 at single-A Riverside, 65 games and a .200 average.

Lutticken made the jump to AA in 1990, at Wichita. In 49 games that season, he hit .250. He then returned briefly for 1991, at high-A High Desert

An injury to his shoulder kept him out for most of the year. The San Bernardino County Sun spoke with him upon his return in late August and his struggles with rehab.

"It's not like you can come to the ballpark and get psyched up for rehab," Lutticken told The Sun. "I hope I never have to go through it again."

Lutticken saw four total games at High Desert that year and went 0 for 8. Those games marked the last of his career.


1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,499
Made the Majors:1,219-34.8%
Never Made Majors:2,280-65.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:506
10+ Seasons in the Minors:299

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