In the Pac 10 tournament against rival Eastern Washington, Washington State pulled out a close game, Cougar John Skurla roping the game winner down the right field line."It was a curveball," Skurla explained later to The Spokane Chronicle in May 1984. "I was looking outside, and he came with the curve. I was looking for a curve, slider away."
Skurla's efforts on the field at Washington State got him selected by the Giants that year in the 19th round. His efforts off the field got him off to a slow start, possibly after missing a different kind of curve. He broke his hand in a post-season motorcycle accident and didn't play that year.
Skurla hit reasonably well in his first three years, all spent at single-A Clinton and Fresno. He made AA Shreveport for 1988, hitting .301, getting a taste of AAA Phoenix in 1989. His stint in Phoenix was poor, hitting just .206. The Giants let him go for 1990, never making it to San Francisco.
Picked up by the Angels organization for 1990, Skurla played in both AA Midland and AAA Edmonton. He helped the Trappers to an April win. But the Angels were unimpressed, releasing him in December, ending Skurla's pro career.
- Spokane Chronicle, May 19, 1984: Cougars, Eagles star in 'comedy of errors'
- Spokane Daily Chronicle, June 12, 1984: Injuries hurt pro chances
Cards Reviewed: 108/880 - 12.3%
Made the Majors: 67 - 62%
Never Made the Majors: 41 - 38%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 27
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 39
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