Greatest 21 Days Baseball Profiles

Features on each member of the 1990 Gulf Coast League Astros, rookie league affiliate of the Houston Astros, as included in that year's roster.  1990 Gulf Coast League Astros (44) Sam August   saw 8 pro seasons, then returned to surfing, 4/7/25 Marsalis Basey  played minors baseball, college basketball, 5/11/25 Brian Bennett   started as catcher, pitched, saw 4 seasons, 4/26/25 Jeff Bennington   fulfilled dream as pro; passed in 2023, 5/29/25 Scott Black   got degree, drafted, played single season, 4/24/25 Steve Boatman   went from high school to two pro seasons, 3/27/25 Duane Brown 's career spanned decade, saw high-A, Taiwan, 2/25/25 Scott Bullard   got credit for 4 pro games, passed in 2020, 6/1/25 Miguel Cabrera , of the Dominican, played 3 pro seasons, 5/21/25 Raul Chavez   saw bigs over 11 seasons with Astros, others, 5/19/25 Gary Christopherson   showed maturity early, saw 3 seasons, 3/16/25 Jorge Correa   played 3 seasons, t...

Julio Linares had a long career as a player in the minors, 15 seasons played with the Giants. But when the Astros came calling with a coaching job, Linares couldn't pass up the opportunity, he told The Johnson City Press in 1976. "I was 34 and I had to make a decision about my future," Linares told The Press . "At best I could play perhaps two more years or I could accept Houston's offer to coach. I really wanted to get into this phase of the game and I have no regrets." For Linares, it turned out to be the right decision - and the right organization. He went on to spend more than four decades in the Astros system, as a coach, manager and a scout. He even got time in the majors as a bench coach. Linares' career in baseball began in 1957 out of his native Dominican Republic at Class C Tucson. By 1960, he was formally with the Giants at Class D Quincy. He then continued with the Giants over the next 13 seasons. He first made AA at Rio Grande Valley in ...

John Vandemark started his career with two seasons in the Astros system, but he didn't appreciate his position, The Fargo Forum wrote later. Instead, he left baseball and soon joined the Marines .  "Back then they couldn't pay me enough to play," Vandemark told The Forum . "Now I'd pay them to play." Vandemark spoke to The Forum in June 1998, having resumed his pro career, first in affiliated ball then in independent ball, with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks.  Overall, Vandemark saw nine pro seasons. He topped out at high-A . Vandemark's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 62nd round of the previous year's draft out of Lockport High School in Lockport, New York. Vandemark started with the Astros in 1990 briefly as a position player, in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into nine games. He picked up five hits in 23 at bats for a .217 average. He moved to pitching for 1991, but saw only three outings , two in the GCL with the Astr...

Max Vejar 's listed hometown of Hermosillo, Mexico, is a baseball city. It has a team in the Mexican Pacific League called the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, a club that has won 17 league titles . It also boasts at least 10 major leaguers as hailing from it.  When Vejar played, though, only one Hermosillo native had made the majors, Francisco Barrios. Vejar would not go on to be the second.  Vejar's career lasted just a single season. He spent that season in the rookie Gulf Coast League .  Vejar's career began and ended in 1990, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Hermosillo. Vejar was also credited as Manimino Vejar. Vejar then started in the Gulf Coast League .  He went two innings in his first outing , giving up one walk, no hits and no runs, while striking out two. By early August, though, he was 0-1, and had given up 12 earned in 11.2 innings for a 9.26 ERA. Vejar ended the season with 13 total appearances and 21 innings pitched. He gave up 16 ...

Arizona State's Gordy Farmer came on in relief in this must-win 1988 College World Series game and he proceeded to have perhaps his best outing of the year, The Arizona Republic wrote . Farmer went 2.2 innings of relief, giving up one hit and striking out three, allowing his team time to get the win against Wichita State and stay alive, The Republic wrote . "Gordy came in when they still were totally in control of the game and handled it magnificently," coach Jim Brock told The Republic . "That's the best slider, curveball, slurve ... whatever you want to call it, that we've had at ASU." By that point, Farmer had already been drafted, and he soon signed. He went on to a pro career that saw five seasons. He topped out at high-A, and he's recorded as seeing Taiwan . Farmer's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Astros in the eighth round of the draft out of Arizona State . Farmer is also credited as Gordon Farmer. Farmer went to Arizona S...

Having just signed his pro contract with the Astros in June 1990, David Nix spoke to his hometown Evansville Courier and Press about his next steps. "My job is to learn and do the best job I can," Nix told The Courier and Press then. "So far, Houston's been great for me. We didn't argue over money one bit." Nix went on from there to see two pro seasons. He spent both in the rookie Gulf Coast League before an injury ultimately ended his career. Nix' career began that year in 1990, taken by the Astros in the seventh round of the draft out of Harrison High School in Evansville, Indiana. Nix started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. The pitcher saw 13 outings , four starts. He went 2-1, with one save. Going into 1991, Nix spoke to The Courier and Press about success he had that spring, and one instance where he even got to pitch in front of the Astros major league pitching coach Bob Cluck. "That was a great feeling, throwing for the...

Guillermo Sabino started off OK with his rookie Gulf Coast League Astros in 1990. In his first three at bats with the club, the infielder picked up one hit. He also stole a base, according to The Houston Post . By the time he was 10 games in, though, his average had slid to .179. Those 10 games proved to be the extent of his pro career . Sabino's career began and ended that year in 1990, signed by the Astros as a free agent. His college or home country is not included at either Baseball Reference or The Baseball Cube. By early August, Sabino had seen 13 at bats and three total hits , dropping his average to .231. He'd also stolen four more bases. By season's end, Sabino had recorded 28 at bats overall to 35 plate appearances. He notched five hits, one a triple, and stole those four bases. His average ended at .179, ending his career . More:  The 1990 Gulf Coast League Astros 1990 Minor League Tally   Players/Coaches Featured: 4,533 Made the Majors: 1,433-31.6% Never Made...

Selected by the Astros that past January in 1984, Rob Mallicoat signed in May to  start his pro career . "This has been my goal all through baseball," Mallicoat told his hometown Hermiston Herald then. "It's going to be hard work, but I think it's going to be a good experience." For Mallicoat, it would be hard work, both on the field and off it. He made the majors . Then, after a series of injuries, he made it back. Mallicoat's career began that year, taken by the Astros in the first round of the January draft out of Taft College in California. Mallicoat started at short-season Auburn and single-A Asheville . He went 3-4, with a 4.02 ERA over 12 starts. He moved to single-A Osceola for 1985, then AA Columbus and AAA Tucson in 1986. He then played 1987 largely at Columbus, but got a call to Houston that September. With the Astros, Mallicoat got into four games, starting one. He gave up five earned in 6.2 innings of work. He spoke to The Pendleton Eas...

Scott Bullard moved on from his baseball career early on. He then went into a new one, building fences . He started Bullard Fence with his brother in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida and worked over two decades to build the business, until his passing . Bullard passed away in June 2020 at the age of 50. His brief baseball career came three decades earlier, in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 41st round of the draft out of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Bullard played with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He's recorded as getting into four games, starting three. He went 2-1, with a 1.64 ERA.  According to his obituary , arm problems then prevented him from going further. He underwent Tommy John surgery and ultimately went home to Jacksonville. "When Scott wasn't working he enjoyed spending his time with family & friends, playing golf, and cooking out," his obituary read . Cedar Bay Funeral Home: John Scott Bullard More:  The 1990 Gulf Co...

Astros minor leaguer Juan De La Cruz ' career turned out brief - a single season, spent in 1990. But his time was marked, in The Houston Post . In regular updates on Houston minor leaguers, De La Cruz was regularly there , at the top of the Gulf Coast League Astros pitchers list. However he pitched, though, De La Cruz never got to return for a second season. He spent his limited career in the GCL . De La Cruz' career began and ended that year, signed by the Astros as a free agent. De La Cruz' home country isn't listed on the baseball sites. His name was also written Juan DeLaCruz. De La Cruz' first mention in The Post came July 1. He then had recorded three outings and 5.2 innings. He'd given up one earned run.  By Aug. 5, he'd seen 12 outings and 19.2 innings and he was still recorded as giving up a single earned run. Overall, De La Cruz appears to have had some rougher final outings. He's recorded as ending with 18 appearances, 29.1 innings of work...

Coming out of Brandeis High School in New York City in 1988, David Wallace came with high praise, according to Newsday . Wallace was described as having a major league arm and major league speed. He'd hit .365 the previous year, Newsday wrote . "He might be the best position player in the city," a scout told Newsday of Wallace. Wallace went on from Brandeis to college and to the pros. His pro career ended up lasting three seasons . He topped out at single-A. Wallace's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 24th round of the draft out of Howard College in Texas. He then signed for 1990. He went to Howard out of Brandeis. At Brandeis, Wallace went 2 for 4 with a home run in a May 1988 game. He was also drafted that June by the Rangers, but chose Howard College instead. Wallace was credited with gunning down a runner at the plate in a May 1989 game with Howard. Wallace then signed with the Astros for 1990. He started in the rookie Gulf Coast League ...

An excited Jeff Bennington spoke to The Tampa Tribune in June 1990 after signing as a pro, with the Astros. The Astros scout had called him to inform him directly of the opportunity, Bennington told The Tribune . "All I ever wanted to do was play pro baseball," Bennington, a catcher,  told The Tribune . "I have that chance now. I never gave up hope. I won't waste the opportunity." Bennington went on from there to play as a pro over two seasons. He topped out at single-A .  Bennington's career began that year in 1990, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of Saint Leo College in Florida. Bennington played his high school ball at Boca Raton High School. In March 1985, the catcher spoke to The Miami Herald for a feature on one of his pitchers. "Before the game he was telling me to relax," Bennington told The Herald of the pitcher and a particular situation. "I ran out there and told him to remember what he had told me before t...

Asheville pitcher Javier Hernandez had a tough start in 1991, The Asheville Citizen-Times wrote . But in this July 1991 game, Hernandez went two innings and gave up one run, a performance that got the notice of his manager, Frank Cacciatore, The Citizen-Times wrote . Hernandez "came in and threw a lot of strikes - which he has had trouble with - his control," Cacciatore told The Citizen-Times . "Today, he showed improvement." Hernandez showed that improvement in his second season as a pro. He got into just one more. He topped out at high-A . Hernandez' career began in 1990, signed by the Astros as a free agent out of Miami-Dade Community College. Hernandez started with the Astros in 1990 in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into 15 games in relief and went 0-3, with a 3.49 ERA. He also saved two. He moved to single-A Asheville for 1991. He didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning of a May game, then hit a five-run fourth. Overall at Asheville, Hern...

Speaking to a documentary crew in 2014, former Astros minor leaguer Corey Diggs recounted his connection to Vellejo, California's Wilson Park baseball field. He'd been seeing the big players at Wilson Park since his Little League days, he told the crew for their documentary on the park, " The Wilson Park Chronicles ." And he knew he could play at their level. "So when I went over there, I had a whole different attitude, like I wanted to prove to both parks who I was," Diggs told the crew , referencing Wilson and another park. "I felt like I was lost in East Vallejo. But when I came over there, man, I just wanted to be the best that I could be." Diggs went on from Vellejo to turn pro. His pro career lasted two seasons. He spent both in rookie ball . Diggs' career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 16th round of the draft out of Vellejo's Hogan High School. At Vellejo, Diggs helped his Little League team to the 1983 area championshi...

Jon Quaid had a big game this day for Mt. Eden High School in May 1987, according to The Oakland Tribune . Quaid picked up five hits and hit for the cycle, The Tribune wrote . Quaid appears to have gone on from Mt. Eden to Chabot College and then to the pros. His pro career, however, proved limited. He saw just 12 games, all in rookie ball . Quaid's career began and ended in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 17th round of the draft out of Chabot College. Quaid's connections before Chabot could not be confirmed, but he appears to have gone to Mt. Eden for that cycle. Though that Quaid's named was spelled John Quaid , instead of Jon, both Mt. Eden and Chabot are in Hayward, California and the dates fit. Before that, a Jon Quaid appears nearby in listings for a Fremont slowpitch softball league in 1984. The Chabot/Astros Quaid, listed as born in September 1968, would have been 15 then. That Jon Quaid homered and doubled in one June 1984 game. The John Quaid at Mt. Eden playe...

Astros minor leaguer Miguel Cabrera had a big night this game in May 1992. He hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning and followed that with a run-scoring sacrifice fly two innings later for four RBI on the night, The Asheville Citizen-Times wrote . Cabrera had that night in his third season as a pro. It also proved to be his last season as a pro. He topped out at single-A. That home run also proved to be his only home run as a pro. Cabrera's career began in 1990, signed by the Astros as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic . The more commonly known Miguel Cabrera is from Venezuela. He started with the Astros in 1990 in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He saw 20 games and hit .246. Cabrera moved to short-season Auburn for 1991. He got into 35 games there and hit .226. He also stole six bases. For 1992, he arrived at Asheville. He scored the game-winning run in a 2-1 win mid-May. Overall, he saw 22 games and hit .159 to end his career . Asheville Citizen-Times, Ma...

Astros catcher Raul Chavez hit his first major league home run in this September 2000 game, a game made all the more memorable - or unusual - by the addition of a streaker, The Quad-City Times wrote .  "I'll remember this day," Chavez told The Times afterward. "For everything." To get to that day - his first major league home run - took Chavez more than a decade of work. He'd seen the majors briefly in three previous seasons.  He went on to see the bigs - and more playing time - over seven more campaigns . His final major league time came in 2009, with the Blue Jays. Chavez' career began in 1990, signed by the Astros as a free agent out of his native Venezuela . Chavez started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He hit .323 in 48 games there. He then saw single-A Burlington in 1991, then high-A Osceola in 1993 and AA Jackson in 1994. He made AAA Tucson in 1995. He then moved to the Expos for 1996. He debuted in the majors with Montrea...

Alabama high schooler Joey Locke signed with the Astros in 1987, skipping a scholarship from the University of Alabama, his hometown Huntsville Times wrote . A few weeks in, Locke told The Times he was happy about his decision. "When you wake up, it's all baseball," Locke told The Times that June. "I didn't think practice would be like this, but I don't have any second thoughts. I love baseball, and this is my big chance." For Locke, however, his chance lasted three seasons. He made high-A . Locke's career began that year in 1987, taken by the Astros in the fourth round of the draft out of Sparkman High in Alabama. Locke was also credited as Roger Locke and Joe Locke. Locke started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He saw 13 starts and went 3-3, with a 4.73 ERA. He moved to single-A Asheville for 1988. He went 3-7 there, with a 6.56 ERA. His season at Asheville, however, also came with shoulder pain. He later had surgery and los...

Marsalis Basey started his pro baseball career in 1990. But, after one game, he went home, homesick, The Tucson Citizen wrote later. "It was a big difference from what I was used to," Basey told The Citizen in December 1992. "And I wasn't used to being away from home - at least not that far. But they told me I could leave and come back when I wanted to." The occasion for the interview was Basey's visit to Arizona as a member of the West Virginia University Mountaineers basketball team, where he played four seasons . Basey did return to the baseball field. He ended up playing over four seasons in the Astros system. He topped out at high-A. Basey's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 16th round of the draft out of Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, West Virginia. With the Astros, Basey got into that one game in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He went 0 for 5. He then returned home to West Virginia and joined the Mountaineers . He got...