Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles

Ed Creech joined the Giants after the Pirates let him go in 2007, The Moultrie Observer wrote . He's been a top scouting adviser in San Francisco since, continuing into 2015 . Along the way, the Giants won three World Series titles. "I was in the right place at the right time," Creech told The Observer . "I've been blessed." Creech joined the Giants after more than 30 years in the game. He spent six seasons as a player in the minors and he's spent much of his time since as a scout, minor league manager and coach. Creech's long career in baseball began in 1973, taken by the Expos in the second round of the draft out of Mercer University . Creech has also been referred to as Pat Creech. Creech started with the Expos at AA Quebec. He hit .202 in 83 games. He returned to Quebec for most of 1974 and 1975. He also got brief time at both years at AAA Memphis . His final games as a player came in 1978 with the Expos at AAA Denver. Creech then...

Features on each member of the 1990 Pocatello-based Gate City Pioneers, an independent team in the rookie Pioneer League. Players featured were included in that year's team set. Interviews (2) 1 - Kelly Frederiksen, Hard Work Kelly Frederiksen used experience in Nicaragua to prepare himself for the minors. 2 - Tyrone Horne, Always Treasured Tyrone Horne went ahead and played. He then hit for the home run cycle. 1990 Gate City Pioneers (28) 1  -  Keiji Abe  believed importance of learning US baseball 2  -  Gary Adams  played three pro seasons, made single-A 3  -  Itsuki Asai  played in minors, had long career in Japan 4  -  Buck Atwater  saw perfect high school record, 3 seasons 5  -  Eddie Bonine  was baseball guy, went into HS athletics 6  -  David Carter  saw 2 seasons as pro, coached in college 7  -  Keith Casey  played in a single season, seven pro games 8 ...

Paul Hutto 's high school coach described Hutto's junior season to The Lakeland Ledger simply. It was a spring 1987 season in which Hutto went 16-0, struck out 165, had 14 complete games and a 1.57 ERA . "I think he had a pretty impressive year," Hutto's coach at Auburndale High School Paul Porowski told The Ledger as the paper named Hutto one of the area's top athletes of the spring. "I think he deserves it." Hutto turned pro two years later, after a season in junior college. But he couldn't duplicate the success he had in high school in the pros. His professional career lasted just two seasons . Hutto's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Expos in the 41st round of the previous year's draft, out of Auburndale. Hutto signed the next May , after spending a season at Manatee Community College in Florida. At Auburndale in 1987, Hutto struck out 15 batters in an April game, while throwing a one-hitter . By May, he helped hi...

Akihiko Chiyomaru continued his time in the United States into fall 1990. After spending the season at rookie Gate City, Chiyomaru went into the Florida Instructional League that fall. In one game there, in mid-October, Chiyomaru worked to help get his team a win , getting two hits. His team, though, lost the game. Chiyomaru soon returned home to Japan. He also soon made Nippon Professional Baseball. And, while he didn't get extended time in NPB, he did see some time in four NPB seasons, his last coming in 1997. He also never got an NPB hit . Chiyomaru's career began in 1988, taken by Hiroshima in the sixth round of the draft, out of Tokiwa High School in Japan. Chiyomaru's name has also been listed as Shoshi Chiyomaru. The Japanese form of his name is 千代丸亮彦 . With Hiroshima, Chiyomaru was sent to the United States, and rookie Gate City , for 1990. At Gate City, Chiyomaru hit .245 over 50 games. He also hit four home runs and knocked in 26. Back in Japan, Ch...

Doug Noce 's Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs were tied late in the 1989 Division II College World Series championship game and Noce was about to help undo that tie . With Noce in scoring position in the eighth inning, teammate Bill Daly knocked him in with a single. It was a game the Mustangs would go on to win 9-5, San Luis Obispo winning its first championship . And Noce helped them get there, too. In one lead-up game, Noce knocked in three, while picking up four hits . From San Luis Obispo, Noce turned pro. But he couldn't keep up his college success. His professional career lasted just two seasons . Noce's professional career began in 1990, taken by the Expos in the 41st round of the draft, out of San Luis Obispo. At San Luis Obispo, Noce kept his 1990 average above .400 into early May , hitting .446 then. He then helped that average with an early May bases-clearing triple. With the Expos, Noce started at rookie Gate City. There, he hit .251 over 56 gam...

Buck Atwater helped his Southern Alamance High School team to a perfect record in 1988, 26-0. That perfect record also included a state championship, the North Carolina school's second in its history, the Hendersonville Times-News wrote . Atwater's work at Southern Alamance also caught the attention of scouts, with Atwater turning pro directly out of high school . As a pro, though, Atwater couldn't continue that success. He played just three seasons, never making it above rookie ball . Atwater's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Expos in the 15th round of the draft, out of Southern Alamance . Atwater is also sometimes referred to by his given name, Tyrone Atwater . With the Expos, Atwater started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. The infielder got into 44 games, hitting .304. In a late-August win, Atwater went 2 for 6 . Atwater moved to rookie Gate City in the Pioneer League for 1990. In 59 games there, his averaged dipped to .245. He hit o...

Takashi Maema made Nippon Professional Baseball, but it took him a few years to get there. It took him into his eighth professional season to get there. Once he did get there, he saw time in two NPB seasons for Hiroshima. That time included one season, 1996, where he got into 32 games for the Carp, posting a 3.88 ERA . Maema's career began in 1989, taken by Hiroshima in the third round of the draft, out of Tosu, Saga Prefectural High School in Japan. The Japanese form of Maema's name is 前間卓 . With Hiroshima, Maema was sent to the United States for 1990, to play for rookie Gate City in the Pioneer League. Maema got into 19 games there, nine starts. He ended with a 7.16 ERA and 47 strikeouts. Maema started off better, though, according to The Deseret News . Before a mid-July start, he was tied for fourth in the league with 28 strikeouts. He also had a 3.27 ERA. The Salt Lake Trappers then helped inflate that ERA, scoring three first-inning runs. Maema then retur...

Trey Wilburn came into this April 1990 contest for Charleston and was treated rudely by opposing Sumter . In the seventh inning, with Wilburn's Charleston Wheelers behind 6-3, Wilburn set down the first batter. But he then proceeded to walk the next. Then came a two-run home run . By the time Sumter was done with Wilburn, Sumter scored twice more, on its way to the victory, according to The Sumter Item . Wilburn was in his third season as a pro that year with Charleston. It was also his last . Wilburn's professional career began in 1988, signed by the Reds as an undrafted free agent, out of his native Virginia. With the Reds, Wilburn started in the rookie Gulf Coast League, getting 15 relief appearances, with a 7.50 ERA . He moved to rookie Billings for 1989, getting 20 outings, seven s tarts, there. He also improved his ERA to 3.71. For 1990, Wilburn ended up playing for three teams, Billings, single-A Charleston and rookie Gate City. Between them, he got 31...

Taylor Mangum signed with the Brewers in 2012 out of Utah Valley University and he credited one of his coaches, David Carter with helping him get there, according to The Utah Valley University Review . "I feel like one of the biggest reasons I was drafted is that Dave was helping me with my off-speed pitches," Mangum told The Review in 2013, as he wrapped up his second season. "I was able to develop a slider with him and I think that's what caught the attention of a few scouts that had been looking at me during the time. He really helped me improve and understand the game." Carter coached Mangum at both Utah Valley and earlier at the College of Southern Idaho. Those coaching stints were part of a long coaching career for Carter, one that stretched almost back to the end of his own brief professional career . Carter's only playing career ended up lasting just two seasons, Carter never making single-A . Carter's career began in 1990, sign...

Gary Adams helped give his Sumter Flyers all they'd need in this July 1991 game . Coming up in the second inning with one on, Adams knocked a two-run home run, helping his Flyers on to a rain-shortened 4-0 victory, according to The Sumter Item . That home run was one of seven Adams hit that year for Sumter, his third season as a pro. It was also one of the last seven he'd hit, that season being the final season of his brief professional career . Adams' career began in 1989, taken by the Expos in the 42nd round of the draft, out of Science Hill High School in Tennessee. Adams played his first year in the rookie Gulf Coast League. Over 30 games there, he hit .200, with one home run. He moved to rookie Gate City for 1990, improving his average to .263, over 65 games .  At single-A Sumter in 1991, Adams got into 84 games, but hit just .165. In April, it was an Adams single that stood between the opposing pitcher and a no-hitter. He doubled in a run in a June game...

The Sumter Flyers had already blown a 3-0 lead in this July 1991 game against Augusta, now they needed William Martinez to come in and hold them . And Martinez did. Over the next three innings, he gave up just a single hit and no runs. For his efforts, he also picked up the win, according to The Sumter Item . Martinez was in his second professional season that summer for Sumter. He ended up seeing time in two more, but he never saw time above single-A . Martinez' career began in 1990, signed by the Expos as a free agent, out of his native Venezuela. Martinez' name has also been spelled Williams Martinez. He played his first season at rookie Gate City, getting 24 outings, three starts. He picked up two wins to seven losses, posting an ERA of 7.90 . For 1991, he moved to single-A Sumter, getting 39 outings, eight starts. He also reduced his ERA to 3.16 . Martinez went 2.1 innings of scoreless ball in an early May game. He got one of his starts in late July, going...

Jim Heilgeist had success on the field, but he credited a teammate with helping, his running back . "When Aaron Armstrong starts running, defenses usually come up," the tight end Heilgeist told The Spokane Spokesman-Review in December 1988 after a two touchdown performance, "and that leaves the passing lanes open for me." When everything came together, Heilgeist's Liberty High School Patriots were state champions . At Liberty High School in Washington State, Heilgeist had success in two sports, baseball and football. His success in his other sport ended up getting him drafted, but it couldn't get him a long career . Heilgeist's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Expos in the 19th round of the draft, out of Liberty High School in Renton, Wash. At Liberty, Heilgeist's success in both sports brought him honors. He won All-State in football and All-State in baseball, according to The Issaquah Press . With the baseball team, Heilgeist...

Hector Rivera the outfielder didn't leave much behind after his baseball career. He didn't even get his own baseball card, at least not one all his own in the ProCards set. Assigned by the Expos to rookie Gate City in his second season, Rivera kind of got his card. The photo is presumably him. The position and stats on the back are not. The position and stats on the back are of another player in the Expos system, also named Hector Rivera. That Hector Rivera played at AA Jacksonville in 1990. (Read about Hector Rivera the pitcher ) For Hector Rivera the outfielder, though, that season at Gate City would be his only real shot at a baseball card. It was his final season as a pro . Rivera's professional career began in 1989, taken by the Expos in the 50th round of the draft, out of Barranquitas High School in Puerto Rico, according to Baseball Reference. With the Expos, Rivera played in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into 30 games, hitting just .172. He ...

Note: This feature is of Hector Rivera the pitcher. The position and stats on the back refer to him. Actually playing at Gate City in 1990, though, was Hector Rivera, the outfielder . Originally published Dec. 8, 2010 By mid-July 1989, Hector Rivera was West Palm Beach's top pitcher. He had allowed just two earned runs over his previous 46 innings, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote . He also won Florida State League Player of the Week honors that month, throwing a complete game. Soon, Rivera found himself moved up to AA Jacksonville, but he couldn't keep up the pace. Slowed by injuries, Rivera's career would end a season later, without Rivera making the majors . A native of Mexico, Rivera joined the Expos system in 1987, signed as a free agent. He played that season at the Gulf Coast League Expos, going 5-8 with a 2.70 ERA . He wasn't credited with playing in 1988, but returned for 1989, The Sun Sentinel in April 1989 citing previous arm problems....

Keith Casey had a brief professional career, but he has stayed in the game. He's stayed in as a youth coach, and he's worked as an independent scout , looking for talent to send off to college. Casey's brief pro career began and ended in 1990, signed by independent Gate City as a free agent out of college. Casey attended San Diego City College. He went to San Diego out of Alhambra High School in Martinez, Ca. With Gate City, Casey got into seven games , all in relief. In 10.1 total innings, Casey gave up 18 earned runs. He struck out four and walked nine. It was the extent of his pro career. Casey has since settled in the Sacramento area, learning scouting from Sports Management WorldWide . Casey also works as a youth instructor , and coach, heading up the Fair Oaks Crawdads travel baseball team. More:  The 1990 Gate City Pioneers 1990 Minor League Tally Players/Coaches Featured: 1,439 Made the Majors: 735 - 51.1% Never Made Majors: 704-48.9% -X ...

The two-day Nevada high school baseball tournaments were likely moving to three-day affairs in 2007 and Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Eddie Bonine was all for it, according to The Pahrump Valley Times . "I'm a baseball guy," Bonine said, according to The Times , "and I'm in position to exercise my knowledge and be heard. ... It's a safety concern, so I want to move forward with it." Bonine was a baseball guy going back nearly three decades , one who saw time as a pro in the minors, and as a coach. He was also a baseball guy who passed on his knowledge to his son, with his son taking that knowledge to the majors. Bonine's baseball career began in 1979, taken by the Astros in the 15th round of the draft, out of Grand Canyon University . With the Astros, Bonine started in the rookie Gulf Coast League, moving to single-A Daytona Beach for 1980. He moved to AA Columbus for 1981, going 11-7 over 20 starts, wit...

Tony Marabella had options coming out of high school. For the native of Montreal, though, the options were really just one option: Signing with the Montreal Expos, he told The Sumter Item in 1991. "I considered the money and the offers from the other organizations," Marabella told The Item , "but signing with Montreal just seemed like the natural thing to do." He signed with his hometown team, but, in a career that spanned eight pro seasons - and one appearance on the TV show "Unsolved Mysteries" after a health scare - Marabella never played for his hometown team in Montreal. He also never made the majors . Marabella turned pro in 1989, signing with the Expos as an undrafted free agent, at the age of 16. He signed at that young age, having completed his high school education, according to The Item . With the Expos, Marabella played his first season in the rookie Gulf Coast League. That August, he hit a walk-off, extra-inning home run . He move...

Down 2-0 in the eighth in this September 2004 contest, the Hiroshima Carp sent Itsuki Asai up to pinch hit . With one on base, Asai came through. He knocked an RBI double, then came around on a single to score the tying run, according to Japan Baseball Daily . Asai came through in a spot where he had come through so many times in the past, as a pinch hitter. In a career that spanned 13 Nippon Professional Baseball seasons, Asai came through as a pinch hitter 154 times. It was enough to earn him second place all-time in NPB at the time of his 2006 retirement. In all, Asai amassed 523 total hits in Japan, with a .285 average, playing his entire career with Hiroshima . Asai's career began in 1989, taken by Hiroshima in the sixth round of the draft, out of high school in his native Japan . The Japanese form of Asai's name is 浅井樹 . With the Carp, Asai soon found himself sent to the minor leagues in the United States, with rookie Gate City. At Gate City, Asai got i...