Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles

Features on each member of the 1990 Butte Copper Kings, rookie league affiliate of the Texas Rangers, as included in that year's team set. Butte Copper Kings (30) Greg Blevins  had big college day, played two pro seasons Terry Burrows  critiqued himself, then made four bigs seasons Rodney Busha  won 2nd pro game in 1990, didn't win more Jose Cardona  pitched well in 2 seasons, injury ended career Miguel Castellano  helped in playoff race, saw 5 pro seasons Steve Dreyer  didn't expect to be drafted; He then made the majors over two seasons , 8/30/20 Scott Erickson  threw strikes in college; Unlike other player with same name, he saw two pro seasons, made single-A , 8/11/20 Chris Gies  made AA over 4 pro seasons Rusty Greer  hustled his way to nine big league seasons, all with the Rangers , 8/28/20 Todd Guggiana  played four pro seasons, then turned scout David Hulse  became a major league hitter over five seasons; Later tried return ...

Butte Copper Kings manager Bump Wills assessed his incoming pitching staff in June 1990 to The Montana Standard , including hurler Bobby St. Pe . St. Pe, Wills told The Standard , had a chance to start, but his role likely would be as a reliever or as a spot starter. St. Pe's role ended up being just that, as reliever and one-time starter. That season, his second as a pro, also proved his last . St. Pe's career began in 1989, signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent out of Riverdale High School in Metarie, La. St. Pe was also credited by his given name, Irving St. Pe. St. Pe started with the Rangers in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into eight games and started one. He gave up 14 earned in 21 innings for a 6.00 ERA. He then moved to rookie Butte for 1990. He picked up a win in relief in a June game. He gave up two earned in two-thirds of an inning a couple days later. He gave up four earned in an inning of work in July. He picked up his third win on the yea...

Shannon Penn made the bigs for the first time in April 1995 with the Tigers and promptly went 3 for 4 in his debut.  To The Detroit Free Press afterward, Penn spoke about simply being there.  "It was a great feeling being there watching the big boys play," Penn told The Detroit Free Press . He then answered whether being there made him a big boy: "Not until I get some years under my belt I will be." Penn saw two more contests that season and six more big league games the next. Those two calls ended up being the extent of his major league career . Penn's career began in 1988, taken by the Rangers in the 58th round of the draft out of Lakeland Community College in Ohio. Penn started with the Rangers in 1989, in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He hit .218 in 47 games. He then moved to rookie Butte for 1990 and hit .325 there over 60 games. Penn made single-A Gastonia for 1991. He stole seven bases in 48 games. That April, he described base stealing to The Charlo...

Danny Patterson got his first call-up to the majors in July 1996 and he couldn't have been happier, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram . He'd made it in his seventh season as a pro - and after starting off as a 47th round draft pick. "It's awesome," Patterson told The Star-Telegram  then. "It's the best feeling in my life. I didn't even expect it." Patterson went on from there to a long career in the majors, one where he saw time in nine major league seasons with the Rangers and the Tigers, one where he didn't throw his final big league pitch until 2004. Patterson's career began in 1989, as that 47th round pick by the Rangers out of Cerritos College in California. Patterson was also credited by his middle name, Shane Patterson. Patterson first hit the field for the Rangers in 1990, at rookie Butte. He got into 13 games , starting three, and ended with a 6.35 ERA. He made single-A Gastonia in 1992, then AA Tulsa in 1994 and AAA O...

David Hulse took over as the Rangers' leadoff hitter in May 1993 and he went on a hot streak, according to The Austin American-Statesman . Hulse picked up a hit in 14 of his first 17 games, The American-Statesman wrote . "There were a lot of times we were concerned whether our leadoff hitter would be productive this year," Texas GM Tom Grieve told The American-Statesman . "He's answered the question in the last 15 games." Hulse went on to hit .290 that year in 118 games, his second season in the majors. He then played in three more big league campaigns , before he severely dislocated his shoulder, an injury that ultimately ended his major league career. Hulse's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 13th round out of Schreiner College in Texas. Hulse started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He got into 64 games, hit .358 and stole 24 bases. He spoke to his college town's paper that September about his early success. "It's not ...

Steve Dreyer got drafted in 1990, but it all came unexpectedly, he told The Des Moines Register in June 1990. He made conference first-team as he struck out 67 and had a 3.32 ERA, The Register wrote . "This whole season has been a surprise," Dreyer told The Register after he signed. "My season wasn't bad, but I didn't think it was anything spectacular. Nothing that would catch the eye of scouts." Dreyer, however, not only caught the eye of scouts, but soon the organization, as he made the majors in his fourth season. He ended with time in two big league campaigns , 15 outings. Dreyer's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the eighth round of the draft out of the University of Northern Iowa. Dreyer's name was also misspelled Steve Dryer. Dreyer started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He started eight games and ended with a 4.54 ERA. He then moved to single-A Gastonia for 1991, and high-A Port Charlotte in 1992. He went 11-7 at...

Marty Posey had a slow month to start 1991 at single-A Gastonia, then he started hitting, The Charlotte Observer wrote . He hit .315 that month and raised his overall average 50 points, went 4 for 4 in a game and won batter of the week honors, The Observer wrote . "The last few weeks (manager Bump Wills) has just been telling me to relax," Posey told The Observer of his improvement at the plate. "I'm just doing what I can with the pitch. If it's on the outside of the plate, I'll just go with it." Posey eventually went with it for the rest of that season, but not the next. That season, his second as a pro, also proved his last. He topped out at single-A . Posey's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 22nd round of the draft out of Tulane University.  Posey was also credited by his given first name, Gary Posey. Posey's started with the Rangers at rookie Butte. Going into that season, Wills, also Posey's manager then, ran down the ...

Keith Murray just needed to see the ball to hit it in this April 1991 game for single-A Gastonia, according to The Charlotte Observer . After having issues with his contacts, Murray got new ones with the wrong prescription. He then struck out. Then he tried glasses mid-game and promptly picked up three hits, ending a triple shy of a cycle, The Observer wrote . "Everything just seemed a little clearer," Murray told The Observer afterward. Murray picked up those hits near the start of his second season as a pro. That season, however, also turned out to be his last. He topped out at single-A . Murray's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 23rd round of the draft out of the University of South Alabama. Murray was incorrectly identified on his 1990 card as "Kevin Murray." Murray started with the Rangers at rookie Butte, but his career got off to a difficult start. He suffered an injured wrist after being hit by a ball prior to the season and saw only...

The Rangers' Kenny Rogers needed the big catch to lead off the ninth in this July 1994 contest and his centerfielder Rusty Greer provided it, The Associated Press wrote . Greer left his feet, caught it and recorded the out. He also preserved Rogers' perfect game, which Rogers would go on to complete, The AP wrote . "Rusty Greer, gosh, what can you say after a guy makes a catch like that?" Rogers told The AP . Greer made that catch in his first season in the majors. He went on to take his defense, as well as his hitting, to time in nine big league campaigns . Greer's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 10th round of the draft out of the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Greer started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He hit .345 in 62 games there. He made AA Tulsa briefly in 1991, then for all of 1992 and most of 1993. He then debuted in Texas in May 1994. He saw 80 games that first year, hit .314, with 10 home runs. He also came in third in t...

Greg Blevins had a big day for the University of Southwestern Louisiana in April 1990 as he hit three home runs, one of them a grand slam, The Opelousas Daily World wrote .  Blevins then detailed the performance afterward to The Daily World . "The first homer I got, the guy hung a slider. On the second one, he kept throwing me curve balls," Blevins told The Daily World , "so I stayed with his pitch. The third one I hit, I knew he was coming with a fast ball. I thought that one was the best one I hit." Blevins soon took his hitting from college to the pros. The catcher wouldn't be able to repeat his home run success in college. He played two seasons. He made single-A . Blevins' career began that year in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 15th round of the draft out of Southwestern Louisiana . Blevins spent his high school time at Choctaw High in Choctaw, Okla. In summer 1986, he played for the Metro Summer Baseball League in Choctaw and earned praise from hi...

Butte Copper Kings manager Bump Wills updated Paul Matachun 's progress to Matchun's  college town paper The Hartford Courant in August 1990. Wills saw a player he could put in multiple spots and see success, he told The Courant . "He's played a lot of third and second base for us," Wills told The Courant . "And he filled in at shortstop when our starter got hurt. I think, in the future, he can be a good utility man. I like his work habits and his attitude." That year marked Matchun's first season as a pro. He went on to play in two more campaigns. And continue to play at multiple positions, he topped out at single-A . Matchun's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 52nd round of the draft out of Eastern Connecticut State University. At Eastern Connecticut, Matchun helped his club to the 1990 Division III title. He went 6 for 16 during the World Series, a .375 clip.  Matchun started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He g...

Butte Copper Kings manager Bump Wills assessed his new players to The Montana Standard in June 1990, including incoming catcher Victor Reyes . Reyes, Wills told The Standard , wasn't expected to get much playing time. Reyes was most likely to see back-up duty, Wills told The Standard . Reyes arrived at Butte that year to start his second pro campaign. He'd seen time the previous year in the rookie Gulf Coast League and he saw time the next year at high-A Port Charlotte. But his playing time did prove limited. He played in four total pro campaigns. He didn't make AA . Reyes' career began in 1989, taken by the Rangers in the 49th round of the draft out of InterAmerican University in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Reyes started in the GCL. He got into 15 games and picked up two hits in 25 at bats. He then moved to Butte for 1990. He got into 23 games at Butte. The catcher attempted a pickoff in a June game, but got tagged with a run-scoring error . He then helped score an August ...

Terry Burrows pitched his AAA Oklahoma City 89ers to a victory this night in April 1993, giving up two hits and one run over six innings, The Daily Oklahoman wrote . But Burrows told The Oklahoman afterward that he still wasn't completely pleased with his performance. "Overall, I'm happy about only giving up one run and two hits," Burrows told The Oklahoman , "but as far as throwing strikes I'm not pleased at all. I had four walks in six innings, and that's way too much." Burrows had to have been pleased with his performance the next year, or at least the Rangers were, as he got his first call-up. Burrows then went on to a career that saw time over four major league seasons and 50 appearances. Burrows' career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the seventh round of the draft out of McNeese State University in Louisiana.  Burrows started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He went 3-6 there, with a 4.02 ERA over 14 outings, 11 starts. He st...

Jon Shave made the third start of his major league career in May 1993 and he played well, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Shave picked up two hits over three visits to the plate and knocked in two, The Star-Telegram wrote . "I was just happy to get the opportunity to play and make the most of it," Shave told The Star-Telegram later. Shave later was just happy to get out of a game alive as an injury suffered during a spring 1994 contest and not discovered until later could have killed him, according to The Oklahoman . But Shave returned from that injury to see the majors in two more campaigns - and see the bigs entirely in one of them, six years after his debut and five after his injury. Shave's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the fifth round of the draft out of Mississippi State. He played his high school ball at Fernandina High in Florida. Shave started with the Rangers at rookie Butte . He got into 64 games and hit .352. He then moved to si...

The Rangers top draft choice the year before, Dan Smith gave his club reason for concern in 1991 as he went 4-17, with a ERA north of 5, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote . But Smith turned it around in 1992, as he went 11-7, with a 2.52 ERA at AA Tulsa. He pitched well enough so for the Rangers to give him a September call up to Texas.  "The difference this year was the way I threw my slider," Smith told The Star-Telegram upon his call up. "The slider I had last year was flat but this year I worked with [pitching coaches] Jackson Todd and Oscar Acosta and changed the grip a little, which gave me a downward break with it." Smith's slider helped him through four outings that year and another 13 two years later. Those 17 big league outings proved the extent of his major league time. Smith's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the first round, 16th overall, out of Creighton University. Smith started with the Rangers at rookie Butte, then he quic...

Brian Mercado finished up his first professional season with promise. He'd hit .324 over 52 games in rookie ball and looked for more in season two. But, he recalled years later to his hometown Norwich Bulletin , his second season didn't happen. And the news came suddenly the next spring. "I was in the cage one day and a golf cart drove up. (A Rangers official) told me that he appreciated my hard work, but that I was being released," Mercado told The Bulletin in 2015. "I went to the clubhouse, showered up, they handed me a plane ticket and I headed home — surprised and bitter," Mercado's pro career started with promise out of New London High School and Eastern Connecticut State. But his career lasted that one season, played entirely at rookie Butte . Mercado's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 14th round of the draft out of Eastern Connecticut. Mercado played professionally as an infielder, but in high school, he also pitched. In May...

Butte Copper Kings manager Bump Wills assessed to The Montana Standard some of his latest incoming players in early June 1990, including infielder Brian Mouton . Wills called Mouton "a hard swinger who has the ability to play the outfield as well as first base," The Standard wrote . Mouton swung his way that year to time in 55 games, in his second pro season. That season, however, proved his last as a pro . He spent his pro time completely in rookie ball. Mouton's career began in 1989, taken by the Rangers in the 48th round of the draft out of Hayward High School and Laney Junior College in California. Mouton started with the Rangers in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into 53 games and hit .213, with one home run. He then moved to rookie Butte and he had success early. He went 5 for 5 in one June contest, knocking in four and scoring twice. He then went 2 for 5 in one July game. Overall, Mouton hit .294 over 55 games at Butte that year, hitting two home runs, ...

Matt Whiteside pitched well for the Rangers after debuting in 1992. He then tried to return and repeat that effort for 1993, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote . Whiteside had difficulty early that year, but his pitching coach Claude Osteen had confidence in him, The Star-Telegram wrote . "Matt Whiteside's going to do a good job for us, I think," Osteen told The Star-Telegram . "He's got a good arm. We're out working every day, polishing the apple and trying to hone the skills." Whiteside ended up pitching well enough for the Rangers to see time over six seasons , including 60 outings that year in 1993. He then saw time in five more big league seasons , including his final two outings in 2005. Those final outings came four years after he'd last seen time in the bigs - and after his major league career almost ended on an inadvertent self-inflicted injury. Whiteside's career began in 1990, taken by the Rangers in the 25th round of the draft out o...