Bob Brower worked hard, made four ML seasons, got hurt
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Rangers farmhand Bob Brower knew he kept up his end of the bargain. He had a good year at AAA Oklahoma City in 1986.
He just hoped the Rangers would, too, and get him up to the majors, according to The Daily Oklahoman.
"Bobby Valentine (Ranger manager) told me to come here and put together a good year, do the things I can do and the rest would take care of itself," Brower told the paper that August. "I worked hard and things worked out all right. The rest is in their hands. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Brower didn't have to wait much longer. The Rangers called him up that September. He then became a regular the next year. He would ultimately see four major league seasons, as injury ended his career.
Brower's career began in 1982, signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent out of Duke University.
Brower started with the Rangers in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He made single-A Burlington and AA Tulsa for 1983 and then AAA Oklahoma City for 35 games in 1984.
Brower then stayed in Oklahoma City all of 1985 and 1986, before getting his call to Texas in September 1986.
Brower got into 21 games for the Rangers in 1986. He picked up one hit in nine at bats. He then returned for a full season in 1987, 127 games. He hit .261 with 14 home runs.
In one June 1987 game, Brower hit two home runs - one an inside-the-park grand slam, the first in team history, UPI wrote.
"It looked like he was going to catch it," Brower told UPI of the outfielder on the grand slam, "but when I saw it go by him, it shot a little bit of adrenalin through me."
Brower saw 82 more games with the Rangers in 1988. He hit .224, with one home run. He then moved to the Yankees in a trade for 1989, but saw just 26 games in the Bronx.
His 1989 time was limited by a ligament injury in his right arm. He underwent Tommy John surgery as a result. By spring 1990, he was working to get healthy.
"I've played hurt for too many years," Brower told The New York Daily News. I've got to play healthy because I'm not getting any younger. If the rehab takes a month, then that's what it takes. I'm not going to go out until my arm is playable."
Brower made it back, but not to the majors. He saw 66 games at AAA Columbus that year and 75 more at AAA Oklahoma City with the Rangers in 1992 to end his career.
Brower later turned agent, becoming vice president of the Scott Boras Corporation.
- The Daily Oklahoman, Aug. 22, 1986: Brower Building Flashy Statistics
- UPI, June 21, 1987: Bob Brower hit two home runs
- New York Daily News, March 5, 1990: A rehabbing Brower knows his hour's due
Made the Majors:1,465-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,141-68.2%