Mike Boker did what he had to over three pro seasons
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Coming off a blowout loss, Mike Boker's Bend Bucks needed a stop and Boker delivered, The Eugene Register-Guard wrote in July 1991.
Boker went six innings for the win, including giving up a single hit in the first five, The Register-Guard wrote.
"We can hit with anybody," Boker told The Register-Guard afterward. "We just needed the pitching to come through. I did what I had to do."
Boker ended up doing what was needed over three pro seasons. He topped out at single-A.
Boker's career began in 1990, signed by the Giants as a free agent out of Long Branch High School in New Jersey.
Boker started with the Giants at short-season Everett and Bend. He saw 19 relief outings between them and went 1-2, with a 5.50 ERA.
He returned to Bend for 1991 and turned starter. He started 14 and 7-6, with a 4.38 ERA.
For 1992, Davis moved to single-A Clinton. That June, he pitched into the eighth inning while giving up two hits, both home runs for the win. The opposing manager appeared to credit Boker for shutting down a "better hitting ballclub," according to The Quad-City Times.
"Not to take anything away from their pitcher (Boker)," Quad City manager Mitch Seoane told The Times afterward, "but there is no way he gives up only two hits. We're a better hitting ballclub than that."
Boker saw 33 outings, 15 starts that year at Clinton. He went 6-8, with a 3.37 ERA, ending his Giants minor league career.
Boker later appears to have signed with independent Tyler as a player/coach for 1994, but he isn't credited with getting into a game.
- Eugene Register-Guard, July 12, 1991: Bend cools off hot-hitting Ems
- Quad-City Times, June 25, 1992: Clinton tops Q-C as second season starts
Made the Majors:1,487-31.5%
Never Made Majors:3,228-68.5%-X