Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles

Features on each member of the 1990 Elizabethton Twins, rookie affiliate of the Minnesota Twins as included in that year's team set.  Elizabethton Twins (27) Rich Becker  produced in 8 ML seasons with Twins, others Tom Benson  matured in high school, made two pro seasons Jose Bethancourt  made guys swing, saw two pro seasons Dave Bigham  loved throwing every day, saw 8 pro seasons Todd Blakeman  drew good comparisons over 3 pro seasons Brent Brede  liked basketball, chose baseball, made bigs Matt Brown  sometimes got lucky over 6 seasons, made AA Sandy Diaz  saw 4 seasons, high-A , 10/25/14 Dickie Dixon spotted ball, made high-A , 6/22/24 Tom Gavin hit rookie ball curve , 6/23/24 John Gumpf hit grand slam at Kenosha , 7/8/24 Jon Henry got on pro roll, made AAA , 7/11/24 Joe Hubbard traveled as pro trainer , 6/18/24 Jim Lemon knew hitting intangibles , 6/30/24 Damian Miller made bigs for decade , 6/16/24 Matt Morse knew lady luck's pro...

Having been released by the Twins the previous spring and recovered from injuries suffered in a car crash, Devin Peppers just wanted another shot, The Desert Sun wrote in August 1991. He found himself then at a tryout camp for the Kansas City Royals, just trying to get back in the game, he told The Sun . "At first, I was a little nervous, but once we started, I was relaxed and I didn't feel any pressure," Peppers told The Sun of the experience. "Just like everyone here, I just want to play baseball." For Peppers, the tryout didn't appear to work out. His season with the Twins in 1990 proved to be his only season as a pro . Peppers' career began and ended in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 28th round of the draft out of the College of the Desert in California. At the College of the Desert, Peppers hit a two-run 10th-inning home run to win a February 1990 contest. He then picked up two hits in an April win. With the Twins, he started at rookie Elizab...

Tim Persing had pitched well enough for his Kenosha Twins in this early stretch in 1991, but he lacked run support, The Kenosha News wrote . This night in May, though, he took advantage of the two runs his team gave him and threw a shutout, The News wrote . "I got a run there and that took a little pressure off," Persing told The News . "I just went out and kept throwing the way I was instead of thinking about not having any runs and throwing that way." Persing got that win early in his second season as a pro. He saw just one more. He topped out at high-A . Persing's career began in 1990, taken by the Twins in the seventh round of the draft out of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Persing's name was also misspelled Tim Pershing. Persing started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He picked up a win in his first professional by going seven innings and striking out eight, The Johnson City Press wrote . He told The Press he was "a little nervous...

Coon Rapids' Tom Benson showed promise coming out of his senior season, according to The Minneapolis Star-Tribune . He'd gone 11-1, with 98 strikeouts and finished off his team's regional title pitching the final two innings, The Star-Tribune wrote . "This season he has matured and become a positive, team type of player," Coon Rapids coach Ken Sundstrom told The Star-Tribune . Benson eventually matured enough to turn pro. His pro career lasted two seasons . He played both seasons in rookie ball. Benson's career began in 1989, signed by the Twins that year as an undrafted free agent . At Coon Rapids, Benson threw a three-hitter in a May 1988 win. He joined the Twins in 1989 at Elizabethton. That August, he picked up a relief win in a game. Overall, he saw eight outings, two starts. He went 2-1, with a 6.23 ERA. Benson returned to Elizabethton for 1990. He struck out the side in one June relief appearance. Overall, he went 6-2, with a 1.70 ERA in 30 relief...

Twins minor leaguer Paul Russo worked with some big names in the offseason, friends of his from the Tampa area, The Racine Journal Times wrote in July 1991. Those friends included the likes of Dwight Gooden, Fred McGriff and Luis Gonzalez, The Journal Times wrote . "They've been more of an influence. They've made it to the show," Russo told The Journal Times . "Knowing that those guys made it, you've played with these guys all your life, it makes you a better player." For Russo, he was in his second season as a pro. He went on to play a decade, but he never could join his friends in the majors. He topped out at AAA . Russo's career began in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 16th round of the draft out of the University of Tampa Russo started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton . He saw 62 games and hit .335. He then moved to single-A Kenosha, where he hit .271 over 125 games. He made AA Orlando for 1992. That July, he made the league All-Star tea...

Lake Land College coach Gene Creek saw big talent in his first baseman Todd Blakeman , enough to make some big comparisons, according to The Herold and Review in April 1990. Blakeman, Creek told The Herold and Review , might be as good as two others he once coached, major leaguers Gary Gaetti and Glenn Brummer. "Todd has put up statistics just as good as Gaetti or Brummer," Creek told The Herold and Review . "If that's any indication of his potential, he has a great future ahead of him." Blakeman eventually did turn pro, but he never could come close to the heights of Gaetti or Brummer. Blakeman saw three pro seasons. He topped out at single-A . Blakeman's career began that year in 1990, signed by the Twins out of Lake Land College in Illinois.  Blakeman began with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He got into 49 games and hit .233. He also hit five home runs. Blakeman was pleased with how his first year went, he told The Mattoon Journal Gazette  in Marc...

Kenosha Twins switch-hitter Matt Morse got on a hot streak early in the 1991 season, The Kenosha News wrote . After going 2 for 3 in one early May game, he'd raised his average to .422, after the team had had several games postponed due to weather, The News wrote . "I'm just trying to get base hits and hit the ball where the pitcher pitches it ...," Morse told The News then, "but, really, lady luck has a lot to do with this game." For Morse, his luck would run out that season, and in his career. He ended with a .226 average. That season, his second, also proved his last. He topped out at single-A . Morse's career began in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 19th round of the draft out of the University of Michigan. Morse started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He hit one of several team home runs early in a July game, The Johnson City Press wrote . "It was one of those days when the ball's flying out of here," Morse told The Press . ...

Newly signed Twins minor leaguer Steve Taylor wasn't sure where his pro baseball career would go, but he wanted to take a shot, he told his hometown St. Cloud Times in June 1990. "I'll go down there and see how it goes," Taylor told The Times . "It's not a lot of money. But I'm in no worse condition by going than I am now. I guess I'm taking a two-month chance on my career." Taylor's two-month chance eventually turned into a little more, but not much. He ultimately saw two seasons . He topped out at single-A. Taylor's career began that year in 1990, signed by the Twins as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic University. Taylor started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton . He saw 10 relief appearances and picked up four wins and a save. He ended with a 2.30 ERA. That August, he was credited with three strong innings in a win. He moved to single-A Kenosha for 1990. To start the year, The Kenosha News cited Taylor's co...

The Elizabethton Twins needed to get something going in this June 1990 game and Tony Spaan did so, by reaching on an error, The Johnson City Press wrote . A single, sacrifice and second single later and Spaan had crossed the plate, one of two runners to score on the play in the eventual 3-1 Elizabethton victory, The Press wrote . Spaan reached in that inning early in his first season as a pro. His career, however, proved brief. That season marked his only season as a pro . Spaan's career began and ended that year, signed by the Twins  out of Orange Coast College. The Twins had taken Spaan in the 54th round of the previous year's draft out of Saddleback College. At Saddleback, Spaan picked up two hits, one a home run , in a February 1989 game, then another home run in a game that March. Spaan transferred to Orange Coast College for 1990. He hit a two-run home run and a triple in a March game. With the Twins, Spaan played 1990 at Elizabethton. He picked up an RBI in a July ...

The Elizabethton Twins fell behind in this opening game of the 1987 season, but they came back to take the win, The Johnson City Press wrote . The win marked the first of new manager Ray Smith's coaching career, The Press noted . "The game is nine innings and you've got to play the whole nine innings," Smith told The Press after his inaugural managerial victory. "Our team showed a lot of character for a young team. They never gave up." Smith got to see a few Elizabethton teams over the ensuing years, he also got to see his share of wins. By the time his stretch in Elizabethton was done, he'd either helmed or coached Elizabethton over 33 years, a third of a century , with 1,048 total victories. Smith's long career in baseball, and at Elizabethton, started in 1977, as a player, signed by the Twins out of the University of Oregon. Smith played his first season between single-A Visalia - and rookie Elizabethton . He saw 63 games at Elizabethton and hit...

Rich Becker arrived with the Brewers for 1999 as team's fourth outfielder and he hoped to do his job, get his teammates rest, he told The Kenosha News that March. "I just want to play hard when I get the opportunity," Becker told The News then. "When you're coming off the bench, you have to be ready at any time to go in there and produce." Becker ultimately worked to stay ready in the majors over eight seasons , seeing more than 100 games in a season in five of those campaigns. Becker's career began in 1990, taken by the Twins in the third round of the draft out of West Aurora High School in Illinois. Becker started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He made single-A Kenosha for 1991 and high-A Visalia for 1992. For 1993, he made AA Nashville . He hit .287 in 138 games at Nashville - and earned a September call up to Minnesota. He saw three games that first year and 28 with the Twins in 1994. That March in 1994, he'd played well enough to g...

Elizabethton Twins hurler Dave Bigham returned for his second stint with the team in 1990 and had quick success, The Johnson City Press wrote . He appeared in eight of the team's first 12 games, including a 3.1-inning shutout effort in early July," The Press wrote . "I love it," Bigham told The Press . "It has helped me a lot. I feel like I can go out and throw every day." Bigham ultimately went out  and threw over eight pro seasons . He ended up topping out high-A. Bigham's career began in 1989, taken by the Twins in the 39th round of the draft out of Mankato West High School in Minnesota. Bigham started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He saw nine games, two starts that first year. That August, The Johnson City Press noted his other skills, in hockey. He was still set to play college hockey at Minnesota and even likely would have been drafted by the NHL, had  he not signed with the Twins. "I really haven't decided," Bigham told...

Elizabethton Twins starter Jon Henry went on a hot streak in July 1990, The Johnson City Press wrote . Henry went 20-straight innings without giving up a run, The Press wrote . "I'm starting to feel like I did in college," Henry told The Press then. "I'm getting on a roll and I don't want it to end." Henry went on from there to see time in seven pro seasons. He topped out at AAA . Henry's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 15th round of the draft out of the University of Central Florida. Henry started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton . He saw 14 outings, 13 starts. He went 7-2, with an overall 3.61 ERA. In another July 1990 game, Henry took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and picked up the three-hit win, The Press wrote . "I lost (the no-hitter), but I still finished strong," Henry told The Press . "Mainly tonight I was trying to throw inside a lot, and I relied on my fastball." Henry moved to high...

Elizabethton Twins catcher Matt Brown came up in two key spots in this August 1990 game and he came through both times, The Elizabethton Star wrote . He first cut the deficit to one with a two-run single, then extended his team's lead later with another two-run single, The Star wrote . "Sometimes you get lucky," Brown told The Star . "I came up in two good situations to hit. With the bases loaded, they've got to come at you. There was nowhere to put me. I hit the ball hard, and I'm glad of that. But, I just had good situations to hit in." Brown hit in those situations in his first season as a pro. He went on to see time in six campaigns . He topped out at AA. Brown's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 40th round of the draft out of San Jose State University . Brown started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton . He saw 28 games and hit .233. He went 3 for 4 in on early contest, The Star wrote . "The first two times I did...

A year out of high school, Sacramento City College catcher Chris Wallgren felt he could look forward, to the pros, The Sacramento Bee wrote in April 1989. A solid freshman season helped him do that, The Bee wrote . "I'd like to play one more year here, but I really don't want to play at a four-year school," Wallgren told The Bee . "I'd like to get drafted. I really think it's a realistic goal. I wasn't last year because I was just a kid out of high school." Wallgren did play there another year and he did get drafted. His pro career, though, proved brief. He played a single season . Wallgren's career began in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 49th round of the draft out of Sacramento City College. Wallgren was also credited as Charles Wallgren. Wallgren played with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He saw 23 games , 21 at catcher. He hit .263. But an old shoulder injury flared up, bothering him, The Bee wrote later. Wallgren returned for spr...

Kenosha Twin John Gumpf came up with the bases loaded in this May 1991 game and he promptly hit a grand slam, The Kenosha News wrote . Gumpf's big hit came off a letter-high fastball, The News wrote .  "I'm always looking (for the fastball)," Gumpf told The News afterward. "In the first three games they challenged our hitters. I was thinking fastballs." Gumpf hit that grand slam in his third season as a pro. He went on to see just one more. He topped out at high-A . Gumpf's career began in 1989, taken by the Twins in the second round of the draft out of Riverside Polytechnic High in California. Gumpf started with the Twins in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He saw 48 games and hit 204. He moved to rookie Elizabethton for 1990. He hit .236 there, in 51 games. He arrived at Kenosha for 1991. In 114 games, he hit .208. That August, a foul ball off his bat struck a fan, knocking out six of the fan's teeth and causing other injuries, The Wisconsin Stat...

Kurt Pfeffer 's Elizabethton Twins held on to win this night in August 1990, narrowing their magic number to clinch the playoffs to three, The Johnson City Press wrote . Pfeffer, who did his part with three hits and two RBI, looked forward to the team finally clinching, despite then-recent troubles, The Press wrote . "It's a good feeling to know you're so close to winning it, but the way we've been playing lately, we better be close," Pfeffer told The Press . "It's like in Kingsport the other night, we fell apart with the lead, and tonight we had to get the big hit to win." Pfeffer spoke to The Press that year in his first year as a pro . He played in just one more. He topped out at single-A. Pfeffer's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Twins in the 34th round of the draft out of the College of Marin. He went to the College of Marin out of the San Francisco-area's Drake High School. He won one game there 10-4, despite having a ...