Wayne Stofsky worked, played in pros, then TV, coaching

Florida high school star Wayne Stofsky looked on to college at LSU in July 1985. His American Legion coach thought he could even go on to the pros, The Miami Herald wrote.

"Wayne is going to be a super college player," Stofsky's Legion coach at Pompano Beach told The Herald. "He's already an above-average player. With a little work, he could make it to the pros."

Stofsky's college time took him from LSU to Florida Atlantic. It also briefly took him to the pros. He saw a single pro season, then later spent time playing in Italy.

Stofsky's pro career began in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers out of Florida Atlantic. He played his high school ball at Nova High School in Davie, Florida.

After moving to Florida Atlantic, Stofsky played summer 1989 with the Miami Twins, helping the club to the National Baseball Congress in Wichita that August.

"I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance," Stofsky told The Herald then. "It is only second to the College World Series. It's a showcase of amateur baseball talent."

In February 1990, The Herald caught up with Stofsky with Florida Atlantic. Stofsky played catcher, third base and outfield, The Herald noted. 

He wanted to play in the major leagues, he told The Herald. Also, when his playing days were done, he wanted to be an announcer, the next Bob Costas.

That summer in 1990, Stofsky signed with Salt Lake City. He got into 21 games and hit .310 in his only minor league season.

Stofsky then went to Italy as a player coach for Piacenza to end his playing days.

Stofsky got into local TV sports as an anchor and producer in Florida, according to MaccabiUSA. He then turned to school administration and youth coaching. 

"I knew that at some point I wanted to spend time with my children, and if my kids were going to be playing sports at all, as a television sports anchor it would be hard to see them play," Stofsky told MaccabiUSA of his transition from TV sports. "The newscasts are at six or 11 o'clock at night so a typical workday starts at 2pm and goes till midnight. That’s when everything happens."

• Miami Herald, July 21, 1985: Stofsky swings for success
• Miami Herald, Aug. 10, 1989: Miami ball players hope scouts take note
• Miami Herald, Feb. 23, 1990: FAU's All-American fill-in
• MaccabiUSA, 2021: Wayne Stofsky is a Man of Many Hats

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,466
Made the Majors:1,426-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,040-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Matt Stevens, Some Excitement, 12/29/12
 - Scott Stevens, Good Record, 4/6/17
 - Brady Stewart, Any Way, 8/11/18
 - Carl Stewart, Fine Start, 5/7/13
 - Tito Stewart, Great Experience, 9/4/10
 - Rob Stiegele found himself alongside HOFers as batboy; Later turned pro, saw two seasons, 1/3/23

 - Rod Stillwell played, coached youth, 5/10/14

 - Rick Stiner hit, then taught game, 5/9/24

 - Kelly Stinnett had attitude, frame of mind to make bigs over 14 seasons, 8/13/23
 - Doug Stockham, Good Crowds, 4/16/15

Dennis Moeller made majors with Royals in seventh season

Dennis Moeller made his major league debut with the Royals in July 1992 and, while the outing didn't turn out the way he'd hoped, that he got there was exactly what he'd hoped for.

The outing, a start, included Moeller giving up three earned runs, two on back-to-back home runs, in 4.1 innings, The Associated Press wrote.

"I wasn't really nervous, though," Moeller told The AP afterward. "I was excited. This was a long time coming."

That debut came in Moeller's seventh pro season. He went on to return to the majors the next year with the Pirates. Those two seasons marked the extent of his major league career.

Moeller's career began in 1986, taken by the Royals in the 17th round of the draft out of Los Angeles Valley College.

He started with the Royals at short-season Eugene. He made single-A Appleton in 1987, then first saw AA Memphis in 1989.

For 1990, he started at Memphis and then moved up to AAA Omaha. He moved up despite a rough stretch at Memphis. He went eight innings in an early outing for Omaha to get the win.

"From what we heard," Moeller's new manager Sal Rende told The Omaha World-Herald after that Moeller win, "he was struggling with his control. Tonight, he was around the zone all night."

Moeller returned to Memphis and Omaha for 1991, then started 1992 back at Omaha. 

After getting his call to Kansas City in 1992, Moeller saw five outings, four starts. He gave up 14 earned in 17 innings for a 7.00 ERA. He also went 0-3.

He moved to the Pirates in a trade for 1993. He then got 10 relief outings in Pittsburgh. He picked up one win, but ended with a 9.92 ERA in 16.1 innings.

In one May outing, he gave up five runs in the eighth inning, but found support in the dugout from his teammates, according to The North Hills News Record.

"That always makes you feel better," Moeller told The News Record. "On some teams, guys will avoid  somebody, sort of glare at them. Here, you know everybody's on your side." 

Moeller returned to the Royals and AAA Omaha for 1994. He then returned later to play with independent Pacific in 1998 and briefly at independent Sioux Falls in 1999 to end his career.

Moeller then turned scout. He's recorded as scouting for the Dodgers and Angels.

• Omaha World-Herald, July 10, 1990: Promotion of Moeller Proves No Joke to Iowa
• Omaha World-Herald, Associated Press, July 29, 1992: Back-to-Back Homers Spoil Moeller's Debut
• North Hills News Record, May 2, 1993: Pirates notes

More: The 1990 Memphis Chicks

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,465
Made the Majors:1,426-31.9-X
Never Made Majors:3,039-68.1%

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Mario Moccia left college to turn pro; Played two pro seasons, later returned to old college as AD, 5/4/20
 - Eric Moen, His Future, 11/23/17
 - Mike Mohler, Big Thing, 3/30/15
 - Dale Mohorcic, Quietly Done, 5/14/12
 - Bobby Molinaro, Top of the Game, 9/5/10
 - Frank Monastero, Bigger Thrill, 3/14/15
 - Bill Monbouquette, Pitching Teacher, 1/16/18
 - Raul Mondesi had everything, won NL Rookie of the Year, played 13 ML seasons then went to prison for corruption, 6/5/20

 - Steve Mondile had good day as he signed as pro; Saw four seasons, made high-A, then turned coach, scout, 12/27/22

 - Miguel Monegro helped seal team's comeback at Elmira; Saw four pro seasons, made high-A, 2/18/23

Daryl Smith took chance meeting to majors with Royals

Daryl Smith had played professionally for a decade, but hadn't gotten his call. It took a chance meeting for him to the majors, The Kansas City Star wrote in September 1990.

After a season out due to injury, the Royals director of player personnel ran into him, the same director who'd helped originally sign Smith with the Rangers a decade earlier, The Star wrote.

"Baseball is in my heart," Smith told The Star after he took that chance to his only major league callup. "It's part of my life as well as my family. I treated it with the utmost respect because of the talent God gave me."

Smith's callup that September led to two outings, 6.2 innings of work. In a career that spanned 17 seasons, those marked his only two outings in the majors.

Smith's career began in 1980, taken by the Rangers in the sixth round of the January draft out of the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus. Smith was also credited as Dar Smith.

Smith started with the Rangers at single-A Asheville and in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He went 6-4 in 26 outings, nine starts that first year, with a 4.73 ERA. 

He returned to Asheville for all of 1991 and went 16-5, with a 2.76 ERA in 29 outings, 22 starts. That August, he picked up his 14th win on a five-hitter. Afterward, to The Greenwood Index-Journal, he looked back to a last at-bat loss the week before.

"It makes me feel real good to come back and pick up a win here in Greenwood after the tough lost the last week," Smith told The Index-Journal.

Smith made AA Tulsa for nine outings in 1982, but didn't make AAA until 1987, with the Phillies. In the meantime, he also saw time with the Padres and Indians systems.

He arrived with the Royals for 1990, after that chance encounter. He saw 21 outings at AA Memphis, 11 at AAA Omaha and those two with Kansas City.

That August, he pitched into the eighth inning, giving up six hits, but no runs as he impressed his manager, according to The Omaha World-Herald.

"That's as good a pitching as we've seen this season," Omaha Manager Sal Rende told The World-Herald. "The way he pitched tonight, he could have pitched anywhere."

Smith's first game with Kansas City came Sept. 18, his second and last Oct. 3. He gave up three earned in those 6.2 innings.

Smith returned to Omaha for 1991, then briefly saw AA Bowie with the Orioles in 1993. He saw AAA Columbus with the Yankees in 1995 then played two final seasons in Taiwan, with Jungo in 1995 and Sinon in 1996 to end his career.

• Greenwood Index-Journal, Aug. 17, 1981: Tourists' Smith cools Pirates
• Omaha World-Herald, Aug. 2, 1990: Unbeaten Omaha Pitcher Dedicates Victory to Wife
• Kansas City Star, Sept. 18, 1990: Fate gives pitcher his break

More: The 1990 Memphis Chicks

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,464
Made the Majors:1,425-31.9-X
Never Made Majors:3,039-68.1%

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Aaron Small, More Wins, 10/16/13
 - Jeff Small, Six Hits, 12/25/10
 - Mark Small, Not Enough, 9/26/13
 - Roberto Smalls played three pro seasons, made single-A, then went to prison in Virgin Islands for murder, 4/28/13
 - Reuben Smiley, Next Time, 2/11/13
 - Bryan Smith, Exciting Plan, 1/19/16
 - C.L. Smith, Enough Offense, 3/11/19

 - Chad Smith turned pro after high school no-hitter; Saw five seasons, made high-A, 5/21/23
 - D.L. Smith played 9 pro seasons, saw AAA in 6, missed majors, 2/29/12

 - Dan Smith improved his slider enough to see two ML seasons; Returned from injury, 8/16/20

Ron Gerstein returned from injuries to make AA, Taiwan

El Paso Diablo Ron Gerstein started the 1995 season badly, as in 1-8 badly. But he then worked to turn it around, and came back with a 5-2 stretch, The El Paso Times wrote that August.

His fifth win in that stretch came as he nearly pitched a complete game and came out of the game to cheers, The Times wrote.

"I made some adjustments after my horrible first half start," Gerstein told The Times. "Before, I would go five innings and out after giving up some runs. It was nice to get this far and have the cheers."

If Gerstein started that season rough, his career started rough, as well. Injuries limited his first two campaigns to nine total outings. He then came back to see time in five more campaigns, as well as Taiwan and Italy. He topped out at AA.

Gerstein's career began in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers out of Oklahoma State University and Tulane.

At Salt Lake City, Gerstein saw two games and then got hurt, injuring his elbow. He then returned to the field for 1991 with the Expos at single-A Sumter. He saw seven relief outings, 9.1 innings, and gave up no earned runs. He then got hurt again.

Gerstein finally remained on the field at single-A Rockford in 1992. He went 4-8 over 33 outings, five starts, with a 5.65 ERA.

He moved to the Brewers and high-A Stockton for 1993 and saw 36 outings, seven starts, then made AA El Paso for 1994. He went 12-3, with a 4.40 ERA at El Paso.

In July 1994, he threw a five-hit shutout, The Times wrote.

"The last six innings, I was getting first pitch strikes," Gerstein told The Times after that game. "They hit the ball and we had really solid plays behind me."

Gerstein returned to El Paso for that 1995 season. He ended 6-12, with a 4.55 ERA in 28 outings, 22 starts.

Gerstein played in 1996 for independent Lubbock. He went 14-4, with a 3.56 ERA in 23 starts. He then moved overseas. He played two season in Taiwan, then briefly went to Italy in 1999 to end his career.

• El Paso Times, July 21, 1994: Diablos blank Captains
• El Paso Times, Aug. 5, 1995: Strong pitching gives Diablos victory

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,463
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,039-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:357-X

More 1990 Minor Leaguers

 - Russ Garside, Some Credit, 7/24/14

 - Darius Gash worked hard to turn heads after late start; Saw five seasons, made AA, 11/8/22
 - Russ Gaston, Early Jams, 5/30/15

 - Tom Gavin hit rookie ball curve, 6/23/24

 - Jeff Gay returned to pros and found new start at single-A Reno; He saw six seasons, made AA, 9/16/22
 - Jac Gelb hoped to replicate his first minors season in his second, 11/9/19
 - Mike Gellinger, Great Stuff, 6/10/13
 - Randy Gentile, Clutch Performer, 10/2/14
 - Chris George made bigs for 2 games, 1/17/19
 - Will George, Saw Enough, 4/18/14

Rod Nettnin got drafted by Miami Miracle, then got hurt

Columbia Basin College's Rod Nettnin could both hit and pitch. He liked both and did both well, The Tri-City Herald wrote in April 1988.

Looking ahead, he hoped he did both well enough to get the notice of pro scouts, he told The Herald.

"I'd like to get drafted (by Major League team) and give it a run and see how far I can go," Nettnin told The Herald, the paper adding the parenthesis to clarify. "I'd like to both hit and pitch, but sooner or later I'll have to decide."

For Nettnin, he did eventually get drafted, just not by an organization he expected - the independent Miami Miracle. His career then spanned just three seasons, his on-field time confined to another independent, Salt Lake City.

Nettnin's career began in 1990, taken by the Miami Miracle in the 12th round of the draft out of the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nettnin was taken by the Miracle after the high-A Florida State League club won the right that year to draft players like the major league clubs. Nettnin signed and was then optioned to Salt Lake City.

He saw 13 outings that first year, 12 starts. He went 4-4, with a 3.23 ERA. 

That July, Nettnin picked up his first win, a six-inning, rain-shortened win after the team had gone through a rough stretch, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.

"Somebody's got to go out and stop the bleeding," Nettnin told The Tribune of getting back in the win column. "So you put a little extra pressure on yourself."

Late in the year, though, he suffered a muscle strain in his pitching elbow. By the next spring, it had turned into scar tissue and required surgery for Nettnin to continue, The Herald wrote. He'd been slated to play with Miami for 1991, but lost the full season.

He was then sent back to Salt Lake City for 1992.

"It'll be the moment of truth," Nettnin told The Herald that March. "I know I was given the tools to play baseball well. The only question is health."

Nettnin's comeback season, however, proved short. He saw four relief outings, 3.2 innings, and gave up eight earned runs to end his career.

• Tri-City Herald, April 18, 1988: CBS's Nettnin gets them out - and hits them out
• Salt Lake Tribune, July 9, 1990: Trappers Win in the Rain
• Tri-City Herald, March 29, 1992: Persistent Nettnin on way back to baseball recovery

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,462
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,038-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Jeff Nelson, Good One, 12/17/14
 - Jerome Nelson, His Part, 7/31/17
 - Mike Nelson worked hard to run his own club, 11/4/19
 - Rick Nelson, Bases Cleared, 3/31/16

 - Robb Nen showed nerves in minors, then became a top bigs closer with Marlins, Giants, 6/18/22

 - Jim Nettles made the majors as a player, looked to get there later as a manager, 8/10/23
 - Mike Newby, College Transfer, 2/19/17
 - Tom Newell turned pitcher, made bigs, 10/17/15
 - Craig Newkirk, Quiet Style, 6/1/14
 - Tim Newlin, Door Slammed, 11/6/14

Joe Sawaia tried pros in baseball, then coached golf

UNLV and Victor Valley High product Joe Sawaia went through three tryout camps after college, including two in Salt Lake City, as he chased the pros, The Victorville Daily Press wrote.

It was an effort Sawaia's father encouraged, The Daily Press wrote.

"I told him, you won't be happy until you try it (turning pro)," Sawaia's father Wade Sawaia told The Daily Press. "You're 21 years old, you have a lot of time ahead of you and if you want to give it a try, go ahead.

"He's doing what he wants to do so his life can go on," Wade Sawaia added.

Sawaia ultimately won a contract - with the independent rookie Salt Lake Trappers. But he soon did have to move on with life. His stay in Salt Lake City proved brief. He saw just two outings.

Sawaia's pro career began and ended that summer with Salt Lake City, signed out of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

In April 1989, The Daily Press noted UNLV's 24-7 start and that Sawaia was a big part of it. Sawaia won his previous five starts and saved three games.

With Salt Lake City, Sawaia saw those two outings. Together, he went just 1.1 innings and gave up six earned runs, for an official ERA of 40.50. Those two outings proved the extent of his pro baseball career.

In his life since, Sawaia has stayed in sports, he just turned to a different one: Golf.

Sawaia settled in Nevada, where he's become a high school golf coach. He even earned state preps coach of the year, taking his Coronado High School to its third-consecutive state championship as he coached his final season in 2024.

"Coronado's strong point was just the team concept and playing for each other and the name on the bag and shirt," Sawaia told The Las Vegas Review-Journal after his Coach of the Year award. "You hear that a lot in other sports, but it’s really rare to have that kind of mindset with golf."

He's also continued playing. In 2024, he participated in the 69th U.S. Senior Amateur.

• Victorville Daily Press, June 29, 1990: Minor leagues fulfill VV alum Sawaia's major fantasy, Part 2
• Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 19, 2024: Meet the Nevada Preps Coach of the Year

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,461
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,037-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Shigeki Sasaki, Second Win, 11/25/13
 - James Sass, Probably Not, 11/3/15
 - Hiroyuki Satoh, Stopped Him, 12/21/13
 - Jason Satre, Fresh Start, 8/2/11

 - Cory Satterfield proved reliable starter at single-A; Saw three seasons, made high-A, 7/30/22
 - Jeff Satzinger, Errant Pitch, 1/3/12
 - Jim Saul, Every Opportunity, 1/26/14

 - Doug Saunders had a great time in the bigs; Saw 28 games there over single season, 11/4/21

 - Rich Sauveur returned from college injury to see long pro career, 12/7/23
 - Jim Savage, Tie Breaker, 6/13/13

Gary Boone became Mesa State's ace, saw one pro season

Young players from around the west traveled to Mesa State College for a baseball camp in June 1989 to learn the game from coaches and players there, including player Gary Boone, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel wrote.

Boone, a pitcher at the school, worked with the 11- and 12-year-olds, to teach baseball fundamentals, The Daily Sentinel wrote.

"Some of the kids are more advanced than others, so you have to adjust sometimes when you're trying to teach a certain aspect of the game," Boone told The Daily Sentinel. "But the main thing is that they're all having fun."

Boone had enough fun at Mesa State, and did well enough, to turn pro. His pro career, however, was limited to a single season, with independent Salt Lake City.

Boone's pro career began and ended in 1990, signed by Salt Lake City out of Mesa State.

Boone went to Mesa State after transferring from Cochise Community College. With Cochise, he made it to the 1988 Junior College World Series. 

With Mesa State, Boone threw a three-hitter in an March 1989 game after some first-inning trouble, The Daily Sentinel wrote.

"I wasn't hitting the right spots in the first inning," Boone told The Daily Sentinel. "As the game wore on, I got into a rhythm and really felt good. The key for me was getting ahead of the hitters."

He then became the team's most valuable player in spring 1990, pitching a team record 97 innings and going 8-6.

With Salt Lake City in 1990, Boone picked up a relief win in a July game as he went four innings and gave up one run. 

Overall, Boone went 2-3 for Salt Lake City, with a 5.40 ERA in 20 relief appearances, marking the extent of his pro career.

• Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, April 1, 1989: Mavs hit Denver, fall later
• Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, June 14, 1989: Youngsters listen, learn at Mesa baseball camp

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,460
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,036-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Eric Booker saw five pro seasons, made AA with Athletics, 3/21/14
 - Greg Booker saw eight majors seasons, seven with Padres, 7/29/10

 - Danny Boone's 3rd ML season came 8 years after his 2nd, 4/18/10

 - John Boothby started in Australia, released after stunt, 6/18/21
 - Pedro Borbon worked hard, made bigs with Braves, others, 1/17/14

 - Mark Borcherding saw 5 seasons, made single-A with Reds, 2/12/14
 - Shane Borchert started in Montana, became minors trainer, 6/4/16
 - Rich Bordi played 9 seasons in bigs for 5 different clubs, 10/18/14
 - Mike Bordick impressed with work habits, saw 14 bigs seasons, 2/1/15
 - Mike Borgatti took it one pitch at time over 5 pro seasons, 5/27/13