Leo Gomez liked to think of it as his opportunity, not someone else's misfortune, according to The Baltimore Sun.
But, by June 1991, Gomez was making the most of that opportunity, an opportunity that was only possible because a player ahead of him, Craig Worthington, got hurt.
"If I play like I know I can, I'll be playing every day," Gomez told The Sun in June. "It's an opportunity. Sure it is. Don't get me wrong. I'm sorry Worthington got hurt. I don't want anything like that. But the club called me up, and here I am. If I play well, I stay. That's what I want. I want to be in the big leagues 15 or 20 years."
Gomez ended up sticking with Baltimore for 118 games in 1991. And, while he didn't achieve his ultimate goal of sticking around for 15 or 20 years, he did stick in the majors for parts of seven. He then went to Japan for another six, becoming "one of the most feared cleanup hitters in Japanese baseball."
Gomez' career began in 1985, signed by the Orioles as a free agent out of Puerto Rico. He played his first season in 1986 at rookie Bluefield, getting 31 hits in 88 at bats.
The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Leo Gomez in August 2011, read the interview: Leo Gomez, Good Attitude
He made AA Charlotte in 1988, then AAA Rochester in 1990. At Rochester, Gomez hit .277 on the year with 27 home runs. He also earned a September call up to Baltimore.
The call came a month later than originally expected. Gomez was to be called up Aug. 4, but suffered an injury just before the call came, The Sun wrote.
"I almost cried," Gomez told The Sun of that August disappointment. "But then my wife told me this was not my chance. It wasn't meant to be."
In September Gomez did get the call, getting into 12 games for the Orioles, and getting nine hits.
The next spring, Gomez looked for a permanent spot on the Orioles roster. It came down to the end of spring and Gomez was hitting well.
"It's nervous time," Gomez told The Sun of the wait, "but all you can do is try to work even harder. This is it. I'm very happy with the way I'm doing. I'm very happy they gave me a chance to play. But the decision is up to the manager. Whatever he says, I go from there."
Gomez ultimately made the team in April, but it wasn't until Worthington went down in late May that Gomez found a home at third. In 118 games that year, though, Gomez hit .233. He did hit 16 home runs. He used one home run in August to break out of a slump.
Gomez returned for another 137 games in 1992, improving his average to .265. In the field, Gomez also helped turn an August triple play.
Gomez stayed with the Orioles through 1995, including a 1994 campaign where he hit .274 with 15 home runs.
Going into 1994, though, Gomez was in danger of losing his job. Orioles owner Peter Angelos had to convince the front office to keep him, The Sun wrote. Gomez was a streak hitter, and showed a hot streak in May and June, hitting above .300, before going into another slump.
By 1996, though, Gomez was with the Cubs. He was also in his final season in the majors. With the Cubs, Gomez hit .238 in 136 games.
But Gomez also found himself in another competition for a starting job, competing with Dave Magadan for third base duties.
"I think right now, yeah, I've been doing my job so far," Gomez told The Chicago Tribune in mid-May while hitting .291. "I've put up some good numbers, so I think I deserve to play."
After his season with the Cubs, Gomez went on to play in Japan, playing for the Chunichi Dragons through 2002, hitting 36 home runs in 1999. He made another bid at the majors in 2001 in spring training with the Pirates, but returned for two more seasons in Japan.
But, in 2001, when it looked like Gomez' time in Japan was done, The Japan Times heaped on the praise, calling him "one of the most feared cleanup hitters in Japanese baseball." He did so, The Times wrote, by swinging and not looking for walks.
"The only one who gets paid for walking is the mailman," Gomez frequently said, according to The Times. The Times also quoted another Gomez phrase, one that originated from Gomez' father: "Always swing hard in case you hit the ball."
His playing career over, Gomez has gone on to coach and manage in the minors. For 2011, Gomez is serving as manager for the short-season Aberdeen Ironbirds of the New York-Penn League.
The call came a month later than originally expected. Gomez was to be called up Aug. 4, but suffered an injury just before the call came, The Sun wrote.
"I almost cried," Gomez told The Sun of that August disappointment. "But then my wife told me this was not my chance. It wasn't meant to be."
In September Gomez did get the call, getting into 12 games for the Orioles, and getting nine hits.
The next spring, Gomez looked for a permanent spot on the Orioles roster. It came down to the end of spring and Gomez was hitting well.
"It's nervous time," Gomez told The Sun of the wait, "but all you can do is try to work even harder. This is it. I'm very happy with the way I'm doing. I'm very happy they gave me a chance to play. But the decision is up to the manager. Whatever he says, I go from there."
Gomez ultimately made the team in April, but it wasn't until Worthington went down in late May that Gomez found a home at third. In 118 games that year, though, Gomez hit .233. He did hit 16 home runs. He used one home run in August to break out of a slump.
Gomez returned for another 137 games in 1992, improving his average to .265. In the field, Gomez also helped turn an August triple play.
Gomez stayed with the Orioles through 1995, including a 1994 campaign where he hit .274 with 15 home runs.
Going into 1994, though, Gomez was in danger of losing his job. Orioles owner Peter Angelos had to convince the front office to keep him, The Sun wrote. Gomez was a streak hitter, and showed a hot streak in May and June, hitting above .300, before going into another slump.
By 1996, though, Gomez was with the Cubs. He was also in his final season in the majors. With the Cubs, Gomez hit .238 in 136 games.
But Gomez also found himself in another competition for a starting job, competing with Dave Magadan for third base duties.
"I think right now, yeah, I've been doing my job so far," Gomez told The Chicago Tribune in mid-May while hitting .291. "I've put up some good numbers, so I think I deserve to play."
After his season with the Cubs, Gomez went on to play in Japan, playing for the Chunichi Dragons through 2002, hitting 36 home runs in 1999. He made another bid at the majors in 2001 in spring training with the Pirates, but returned for two more seasons in Japan.
But, in 2001, when it looked like Gomez' time in Japan was done, The Japan Times heaped on the praise, calling him "one of the most feared cleanup hitters in Japanese baseball." He did so, The Times wrote, by swinging and not looking for walks.
"The only one who gets paid for walking is the mailman," Gomez frequently said, according to The Times. The Times also quoted another Gomez phrase, one that originated from Gomez' father: "Always swing hard in case you hit the ball."
His playing career over, Gomez has gone on to coach and manage in the minors. For 2011, Gomez is serving as manager for the short-season Aberdeen Ironbirds of the New York-Penn League.
The Greatest 21 Days caught up with Leo Gomez in August 2011, read the interview: Leo Gomez, Good Attitude
- Baltimore Sun, Sept. 18, 1990: Gomez starts at 3rd on 1st day in majors
- Baltimore Sun, April 2, 1991: Orioles' Smith, Gomez play baseball, the waiting game
- Baltimore Sun, June 13, 1991: Job for his taking, Gomez is putting in overtime
- Baltimore Sun, July 27, 1994: O's overshadowed after day win
- Chicago Tribune, May 21, 1996: Gomez Puts In Claim For Third Base Job
- Japan Times, Jan. 7, 2001: CL pitchers happy to see last of Gomez
More: 1990 Rochester Red Wings
1990 CMC TallyCards Featured: 507/880 - 57.6%
Players/Coaches Featured: 518
Players/Coaches Featured: 518
Made the Majors: 344 - 66%-X
Never Made the Majors:174-34%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 143-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 116
Never Made the Majors:174-34%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 143-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 116
Gomez was nice when I met him earlier this year when they played the Cyclones. He signed a few cards for me at the game.
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