Eric Mangham took college opportunity to 9 seasons, AAA
Eric Mangham went to Florida State on a football scholarship, but injuries and the pull of his first love, baseball, soon led him to forgo the scholarship for an uncertain future on the school's baseball team, The Tallahassee Democrat wrote in May 1984.
Within months, though, Mangham had not only proved he'd belonged, he became a trusted starter as the club readied for regionals, The Democrat wrote.
"I knew I could run, I knew I could hit, I knew I had a strong arm," Mangham told The Democrat then. "All I needed was an opportunity."
Mangham eventually took that opportunity all the way to the pros. His pro career lasted nine seasons. He made AAA and Mexico.
Mangham's pro career began in 1986, taken by the Dodgers in the 17th round of the draft out of Florida State.
In 1986, Mangham and Florida State made it all the way to the College World Series final. The team reached the final on a Mangham sacrifice fly.
"My job was to hit the ball, make contact," Mangham told The Associated Press afterward. "I wanted to hit the ball on the ground. I knew I hit it well."
Mangham started with the Dodgers at single-A Vero Beach. He got into 64 games and hit .238.
Mangham moved to single-A Bakersfield for 1987 and hit .264. He returned to Vero Beach for 1988 and hit .289.
For 1989, he made AA San Antonio. He saw 108 games and hit .266. That June, he spoke to The Atlanta Journal about his progress.
"It was a struggle making it out of Class A ball," Mangham told The Journal. "But I never thought about giving up. I always had the desire to make it to the big leagues. Maybe it won't come this year, but I'm striving for it."
Mangham moved up to AAA Albuquerque for 1990, but saw just six games. He played the rest of the year in Mexico, at Mexico City.
He returned stateside in 1991 with the Tigers at AAA Toledo. He hit .241 in 124 games there, without making Detroit. Mangham then finished out his career back in Mexico, at Mexico City and Minatitlan, last recorded as playing in 1994.
- Tallahassee Democrat, May 20, 1984: Eric Mangham's come a long way from the last seat on the bench
- Daytona Beach News Journal, Associated Press, June 8, 1986: Seminoles Stay Alive With 6-5 Win Over Cowboys
- Atlanta Journal, June 29, 1989: Gamble to Give Up Football Has Paid Off Big for College Park's Mangham
Made the Majors:1,452-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,131-68.3%-X