Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles

Blue Mountain Community College starter Mark Stiteler threw a two-hitter this day in April 1987, while striking out six, The Pendleton East Oregonian wrote . Two of those strikeouts cane looking, in successive innings with runners in scoring position, The East Oregonian wrote . "Stiteler threw an excellent ball game," Blue Mountain coach Larry Bartee told the paper . Stiteler went on from Blue Mountain ultimately to the University of Eastern Washington, Point Park College of Pittsburgh - and to the pros. His pro career lasted a single season, just three appearances .  Stiteler's career began and ended in 1990, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Point Park College. At Blue Mountain, Stiteler threw a two-hit shutout in an April 1988 game. He then went on to Eastern Washington and then to Point Park College. He picked up his fifth win of 1990 to no defeats for Point Park in an April game. In a May contest, he struck out five in two innings . With the ...

Rhode Island catcher Steve McCumiskey seemingly tried to be polite with when the opposing pitcher Ed Therrien came to bat after a designated hitter switch issue in this April 1989 game, according to The Bangor Daily News . "There was no way I was going to get a hit," Therrien told The Daily News then. "Their catcher (McCumiskey) asked me what I wanted their pitcher to throw me, but I told him it didn't matter, I wasn't going to hit it anyway." McCumiskey's more usual work as a catcher at Rhode Island ultimately got him a shot at the pros. His pro time ended up lasting a single season , spent at short-season Auburn. McCumiskey's career began and ended in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 42nd round of the draft out of the University of Rhode Island. At Rhode Island, McCumiskey was photographed catching a high throw and pulling it down to get a tag out in an April 1989 game. He picked up a double in an April 1990 game. With the Astros, he was assig...

Louisiana State University took the win this day in February 1990. Helping them get there was reliever Jason Wall , according to a wire report . With a final score of 7-5, the account cited "solid relief pitching" from Wall and two other relievers. Wall's relief efforts at LSU were eventually enough for him to turn pro. His pro career, however, lasted a single season . Wall's career began and ended in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 39th round of the draft out of LSU.  At LSU, Wall picked up a win in 1.2 innings of relief in a March 1989 game. He saw 15 relief appearances that year and had a 3.62 ERA. With the Astros, Wall played at short-season Auburn . He saw 12 games, all in relief. He went 0-1 , with a 5.23 ERA and two saves to mark the extent of his pro career. Wall continued playing, at least in the short term. He's listed as playing with a Louisiana semi-pro team . Opelousas Daily World, wire report, Feb. 18, 1990: LSU beats Ole Miss, 7-5 More:  The 19...

Dennis Reed started out his college career as a catcher. He then went to Canada before his senior campaign at San Luis Obispo and returned wanting to pitch, The San Luis Obispo Tribune wrote . For Reed, it turned out to be a good enough choice as the Astros selected him in that June's draft as a pitcher . "I think it wasn't a bad pick to take him because there's probably a lot more in him that an organization can develop," Reed's college pitching coach Kent Agler told The Tribune . Reed went on from there to see time in three pro seasons. He topped out at single-A . Reed's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 22nd round of the draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo . Earlier in his college career, Reed's coach saw him, then a sophomore, as an experienced catcher as the team looked to fill the starting catcher's role, The Tribune wrote  in January 1988. Reed was among a couple of candidates. "Catching is young on paper, b...

Into his second season in the majors, Brian Williams described the experience to his hometown Rock Hill Herald . He also described his efforts to remain himself , both on and off the mound. "I want to be liked and I take care of how I project myself," Williams told The Herald . "The way I see myself, I'm a nice person who likes to joke around and is always smiling. I'm a perfectionist, always striving for the best, but life has been good to me and I'm just happy for all the things I've experienced." By that point, his third season as a pro, Williams had already experienced the majors over two campaigns.  He went on to see the majors over nine, with six clubs . Williams' career began in 1990, taken by the Astros late in the first round of the draft out of the University of South Carolina . Williams started with the Astros at short-season Auburn . He started three games, giving up three earned in 6.2 innings. For 1991, he started at high-A Osceol...

Huston-Tillotson head coach Alvin Moore assessed his team in March 1990 to The Austin American-Statesman . He settled on one player, Juan Martinez , as having the best chance of going pro. Martinez had a fastball clocked at 91 mph the previous year - and he even had a 4.0 grade point average, More told The American-Statesman . Moore turned out to be correct in his assessment , at least for Martinez. He did soon turn pro. His career, though, just two seasons. He played both at short-season. Martinez' career began that year in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 20th round of the draft out of Huston-Tillotson in Austin. His hometown is listed as St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Martinez was also credited as Luis Martinez, Louie Martinez and by his listed full name Juan Luis Martinez. Martinez, however, moved to Austin and enrolled at Huston-Tillotson due to limited opportunities in the Virgin Islands. Others from the islands also did the same, becoming teammates. Martinez had considered jo...

Lance Smith played at both catcher and designated hitter for single-A Asheville in 1991, The Asheville Citizen-Times wrote . He liked them both, but he liked hitting the best, he told The Citizen-Times wrote that August. "My favorite part of the game is hitting," Smith told The Citizen-Times then. "When I'm not catching, I love playing DH. Being there gives me a chance to hit." Smith ultimately had chances to hit in the minors over three seasons . He even got some chances to pitch. He topped out at single-A. Smith's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 32nd round of the draft out of McNeese State University in Louisiana. Smith started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League and at short-season Auburn. He saw 39 games and hit .280. He then played 1991 largely at Asheville . He got into 107 games overall and hit .279, with four home runs.  For 1992, he played at single-A Burlington. While he continued to catch, he also got eight looks...

Asheville Tourists starter Duane Brown went seven innings in this May 1991 game, giving up two hits and no runs for the win, The Asheville Citizen-Times wrote . The outing drew high praise from Asheville manager Frank Cacciatore afterward. "That was a very, very clutch pitching performance by Duane Brown," Cacciatore told The Citizen-Times , noting the staff had suffered a letdown in recent games. "So it was very important that Brown came in and did the job tonight." Brown eventually worked to do the job over a career that spanned more than a decade . He topped out at high-A, though he briefly saw Taiwan. Brown's career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 37th round of the draft out of South Umpqua High School in Oregon. Brown started with the Astros between short-season Auburn and the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 15 outings, 13 starts between them. He went 3-8, with a 2.61 ERA. Brown played 1990 between the Gulf Coast League, Auburn and single-A ...

Marc DelPiano started his new career in 1995 - scouting - and he spoke with the paper where he'd worked as a coach the previous summer about his career goals. "To be the best area scout in baseball is my goal," DelPiano told The Poughkeepsie Journal . "I want to continue that process and apply the same work ethic in scouting as I did in coaching." DelPiano went into scouting - and coaching - after his own brief career as a player. He saw two seasons and made single-A. He then went on to briefly coach, then scout. His scouting career ultimately saw him become Marlins vice president for player development. DelPiano's career began in 1989, signed by the Indians as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Tennessee . DelPiano was also credited as Marc Del Piano. He played his first year largely at rookie Burlington . He saw 42 games there and hit .227. He also saw one game at single-A Kinston. For 1990, he started at short-season Watertown , but isn...

Brian Porter played at short-season Auburn in 1989 and returned there in a different role in 1990, as assistant general manager. In both roles, Porter needed a place to stay. So, he did like all the other players and boarded with locals. In his case, he boarded with the McNabbs, The Syracuse Post Standard wrote . "It's just like one big happy family, the Auburn baseball family," Porter told The Post Standard . "Whether you're a ballplayer or staff." Those two roles appear to be the extent of Porter's professional career. He played that 1989 season and served as assistant Auburn GM in 1990. Porter's time in the pros began,  signed by the Astros  as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Michigan . The Livonia, Mich., native appears to have pitched for the local Connie Mack team, helping  on a two-hitter  in June 1983. He then went on to pitch at Eastern Michigan through 1988, being voted team most valuable pitcher in 1986, according to...

John Graham started work for the Auburn Astros in 1988 and he quickly learned the town was a baseball town, according to The Los Angeles Times . Graham moved up to become the team's general manager in 1990, and he explained to The Times the connection between the game and the community. "They all dedicate themselves to baseball here," Graham told The Times . "It's something you see in Little League, but not in minor-league baseball. Locals take in the players here. That's a dying trend. They feed them, they mother them." Graham arrived in Auburn after starting work in baseball more than a decade earlier in his native Virginia. Graham's first recorded time in pro baseball came in 1977. He  worked for the Peninsula Pilots  through 1987, eventually as vice president and general manager of the club. He watched Peninsula win the 1977 and 1980 Carolina League championships. He later called those wins as the biggest thrill of his tenure with the...

Marc Techman looked ahead to a career in baseball in 1990 - just as soon as he completed college. In the meantime, he worked in baseball, for his hometown Auburn Astros . Techman worked for Auburn that summer as an executive assistant. Techman's career in baseball, however, appears to have been brief, ending the next year as he appears to have moved on to other pursuits. Techman started with Auburn in 1988, according to his Best card , holding the positions of clubhouse manager and head groundskeeper . As he worked, he also attended school . Techman went to the University of Buffalo , majoring in statistics. "After graduation, hopes to have a career in Baseball Administration," Techman's Best card reads . His Best card also lists his hobbies as bowling, golf, racquetball and running. Techman moved on in 1991 to serve as the team's assistant general manager , but he served in that role for the single season  before Techman moved on. More:  The 199...

Mark Copeland won and award for his work in 2015. For his work as director of professional outreach at Las Cruces, N.M.'s MountainView Regional Medical Center , Copeland received a Non-Clinical Director of the Year honor, according to Tiller-Hewett Health Strategies. Copeland won that award long after the start of his career in the medical field. He started that career in baseball, as a minor league trainer. Copeland graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in sports medicine. He soon began using that degree with the Houston Astros. Copeland spent three seasons in the Astros organization . He served as trainer at short-season Auburn in 1990. He also spent time in Kissemmee, Fla. Copeland then moved on from baseball, working as a facility manager and athletic trainer, then going into marketing, serving as a general manager and account executive, according to his LinkedIn profile . He's served as physician relations manager at MountView since 2013...

Falcon Park II in Auburn, NY, in 2008. The 1990 Auburn Astros played at Falcon Park I. (Greatest 21 Days) Features on each member of the 1990 Auburn Astros, short-season affiliate of the Houston Astros. Auburn Astros (39) 1  -  Don Alexander  coached in minors with Astros, Padres, others 2  -  Dave Allen  won statewide HS honor, played 7 pro seasons 3  -  Jeff Ball  got first - and only - ML hit in 9th pro season 4  -  Efrain Barreiro  went from Puerto Rico to pros, saw 2 seasons 5 -  Duane Brown 's career spanned decade, saw high-A, Taiwan 6 -  Marc Copeland  went from minors trainer to medical career 7 -  Mark DelPiano  showed work ethic as player, coach, scout 8 -  Jose Flores  saw 5 seasons, AA, later made bigs as coach 9 -  Tony Gilmore  had confidence at plate, saw 6 seasons, AAA 10 -  John Graham  worked as general manager in baseball town 11  -...

Ithaca College came from behind in the 1988 Division III College World Series championship game and Vince Roman played a big role in that. Roman drove in three runs in the title-winning game, helping Ithaca to a 7-5 win, according to The Associated Press . Roman went on from Ithaca College to play in the pros. He played five seasons there. He never made AAA . Roman's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 40th round of the draft out of Ithaca College . At Ithaca, Roman made the all-tournament team as he helped Ithaca to the 1988 title. Roman, hitting leadoff, hit .402 and knocked in 32 runs overall that year. He picked up three hits in an April 1989 win. With the Astros, Roman started with short-season Auburn . He hit .269 and stole 27 bases. He then played 1991 between single-A Asheville and high-A Osceola, hitting .281. He made AA Jackson briefly in 1992, getting into 11 games there, hitting .222. He played the rest of that year at Osceola. His fi...

Bob Hurlbutt started his pro career in 1989, but he quickly found he had to wait, according to The Orlando Sentinel . A pinched nerve in his neck forced the catcher to the sidelines until the nerve could heal, The Sentinel wrote . "It's not the way I planned to spend my summer," Hurlbutt told The Sentinel . "I'm looking forward to just working out again. I want to get out there and prove myself as a player." Hurlbutt ended up getting into just six games that summer. He also never really got to prove himself. He played in two more campaigns and made single-A, but he never made it higher . Hurlbutt's career began that year in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 31st round of the previous year's draft out of Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. He's also credited by his more formal name Robert Hurlbutt. At Monroe, Hurlbutt showed some power. He hit three home runs in a single contest in 1989, still tied for the school record. ...

Catcher Tony Gilmore hit well for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1989, helping them to an April win, according to Gilmore's hometown Tulsa World . Gilmore told The World his success built on itself . "No one has ever expected me to be much of a hitter," Gilmore told The World . "But I've got a lot of confidence at the plate right now." Gilmore used that confidence to help Arkansas that year to the College World Series. He later used it to make the pros. His run, however, ended short of the majors. He briefly made AAA, but not the bigs . Gilmore's pro career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the eighth round of the draft out of Arkansas . At Arkansas, Gilmore hit .310 his junior year , then .272 his senior campaign. He made the all-conference team in 1990. He doubled in the go-ahead run in a 1989 College World Series win. He hit the double after having trouble earlier, according to The Omaha World Herald . "In batting practice,...

The semi-pro Hammond Blue Jays won the game, but they also lost four players to the pros, one of them Lincoln Gumbs , according to The Hammond Star . Gumbs left he team for the independent Greenville Bluesmen, The Star wrote . "We're certainly going to miss those guys, but we wish them the best of luck," Hammond general manager Mark Dangerfield told The Star . Gumbs looked to return to independent ball after playing 32 games the previous year between Abilene and Tyler. He isn't recorded as playing for Greenville in 1998, but he is recorded as returning briefly for independent Ozark in 2002. Gumbs' career in the pros began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 27th round of the draft out of Eastern Illinois University and Clarke Junior College. Gumbs is a native of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. His career with the Astros ended up being brief. He played in 15 games for short-season Auburn. He picked up six hits in 33 at bats, marking the extent of his af...

Jose Flores ' late single in this May 1993 game didn't mean much in the outcome of the game. It knocked in Osceola's third run in a 10-3 loss . The single, though, did do something else. It extended Flores' hitting streak to 18 games, according to The Orlando Sentinel , tying Flores for the franchise best mark. Flores went on that streak in his fourth season as a pro. He came back for a fifth season in 1994, making AA, but he never made it higher . Flores' career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 38th round of the draft out of his native Puerto Rico . He played his first year at short-season Auburn. He hit .183 over 42 games there. He moved to single-A Asheville for 1991 and 1992. He also showed progress. He hit .220 his first year there and .267 his second. Flores then made high-A Osceola for 1993. He hit .243 over 124 games there. He also knocked in 39 and stole 12 bases. He went 0 for 3 in a May win, but scored two runs . He then went 2 for...

Dave Allen finished up his high school career at Rochester's Greece Athena with a statewide honor . Allen pitched well enough in 1987 to be named the Gatorade New York State Player of the Year for his athletic and academic performance and for his character . Allen went on from high school to turn pro. His pro career lasted five seasons. He couldn't translate his high school success to the pro ranks. He never made AA . Allen's career began that year in 1987, signed by the Phillies as a amateur free agent out of Greece Athena High School in Western New York. Allen played his first year at short-season Utica. He got into five games, giving up one earned in 9.2 innings of work. He then moved to short-season Batavia for 1988, but got into only one disastrous game. He gave up eight earned, getting only two outs . Allen then moved to the Astros system , playing 1989 in the rookie Gulf Coast League. Over 13 relief outings, he had a 5.13 ERA. He returned to the New Yo...