He got the invitation in the form of a letter that off-season.
"It's nice," Faulker told The Herald-Tribune in late February. "I didn't really expect to go to big league camp, but I was pleased when I got the letter. Being near my home is all that much better, because I can sleep in my own bed, eat my own food."
Despite the invitation to big league camp, Faulker didn't make the Orioles that year, or any year. He ultimately played eight seasons, making it up to AAA. Faulkner, though, is still close to home. But, instead of playing, he's coaching.
Faulkner has served as the head baseball coach at Venice High School in Venice, Fla., since 1999, winning a state championship in the meantime. It's the same school that Faulkner attended as a youth.
Signed by the Orioles in 1987 out of Louisiana State, Faulker played his first season at short-season Batavia. He hit .273 with 16 home runs. He moved up to single-A Hagerstown for 1988, hitting .283 with 12 home runs. He hit one of those home runs in a late June game.
After that spring in 1989, Faulkner stayed at Hagerstown, but moved up with the club to AA. But his average dropped, to .204. The catcher did get a three-game look at AAA Rochester.
But it was back to AA for 1990. He got off to a quick start, going 10 for 19 early on. His average eventually settled in at .249 on the year.
Faulkner would stay in AA through 1993. He spent 1991 and 1992 with the Brewers at AA El Paso, then 1993 with the Cardinals at AA Arkansas.
He got his first and only extended look at AAA in 1994, back with the Orioles at Rochester. He also got his first look at snow, on an April road trip to Ottawa, according to The Baltimore Sun. Faulkner played 36 games for Rochester that year, his last as a player.
By 1995, Faulkner was coaching, named the first base coach for AA Bowie with the Orioles. Of his decision to move to coaching that year, Faulkner told The Herald-Tribune he simply "ran out of talent.
"My first pro manager always told us if you didn't make it to the big leagues make sure it was because you ran out of talent, not because you didn't work hard enough," Faulkner told The Herald-Tribune that May. "I feel that was my situation, so I'm not walking away with any bitterness or regrets."
His first year back at Venice was in 1999. Faulkner took Venace to the 2007 state championship, as well as 2012 and 2013. After the 2013 win, The Herald-Tribune tried to compare Faulkner's teams with other great area teams. Few were comparable.
"I didn't get to see all those teams," Faulkner told The Herald-Tribune, "but I'm very proud of this team. There have been some good teams in our area, but they can't be much better than these guys."
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Feb. 20, 1989: Faulkner Catches On In Baltimore Camp
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 16, 1995: Faulkner has no regrets
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 22, 1999: Faulkner steering good ship
- Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 18, 2013: Win puts Indians in elite category
Players/Coaches Featured:1,144
Made the Majors: 666 - 58.2%
Never Made Majors: 478-41.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 289
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173
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