Mike Hartley got focused, made majors over six seasons
Mike Hartley's pro career in 1982, having hardly pitched since since freshman year in high school, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
He then failed to take advantage of his opportunity, lingering in the low minors as he partied - and played tennis - until late into the night, The Times wrote.
But when he finally applied himself, he started to move. And, in 1989, he made the majors.
"He's as focused as any player I've been around," Hartley's agent since 1987 Dennis Gilbert told The Times in March 1990. "When I first saw him, I could tell, wherever he had been before, he wasn't going back there."
From there, Hartley ended up going back to the majors a few more times. By the time he was done, he'd seen the bigs in six different seasons and gotten into 202 total games.
Hartley's career began in 1982. signed by the Cardinals as a free agent out of Grossmont College in California.
Hartley started with the Cardinals at rookie Johnson City. He moved to single-A St. Petersburg and Macon for 1983. He then stayed in single-A through 1986, when he moved to the Dodgers system.
With the Dodgers, he played 1987 at single-A Bakersfield, but also saw 25 games at AA San Antonio and two games at AAA Albuquerque.
He made Los Angeles in September 1989. He got five outings and gave up one earned run in six innings of work.
Hartley returned for another 32 outings, six starts in 1990. He went 6-3, with a 2.95 ERA. He also saw three outings with Albuquerque.
His third start with Los Angeles, in August, helped the Dodgers to a 2-1 win as he went six plus and struck out five.
"At the beginning of the season, I was hoping just to be a middle reliever and contribute any way I can," Hartley told reporters after that game. "But now I'm starting and pitching in big games. It's real fun for me to be pitching in a pennant race."
Hartley moved to the Phillies mid-1991. Between the two clubs, he saw 58 appearances and had a 4.21 ERA.
Hartley saw another 46 outings with the Phillies in 1992, with a 3.44 ERA. For 1993, he arrived with the Twins and got into 53 games, with a 4.00 ERA.
In a May game against the Tigers, Hartley got Rob Deer and Cecil Fielder to strike out looking, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote.
"They're big, aggressive hitters, and I think I got them out front, looking for the fastball," Hartley told The Star-Tribune.
Hartley spent 1994 in Japan, with Chiba Lotte, getting 14 outings, seven starts. He returned stateside for 1995, getting eight games between Boston and Baltimore to end his major league career.
- Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1990: Old Rookie Hartley Trying to Beat Clock With Dodgers
- Cincinnati Post, wire reports, Aug. 27, 1990: Hartley helps L.A. keep pace in West
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune, May 3, 1993: Relievers do the job
Made the Majors:1,457-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,131-68.2%