Dave Bettendorf won college award, saw 4 pro seasons, AA

Dave Bettendorf had a good year for Kent State in 1987. It was good enough to win Mid-American Conference baseball player of the year honors.

Bettendorf won the award by hitting .412, knocking 15 home runs and 15 doubles, according to The Associated Press.

Bettendorf's performance that year also won him a selection in that June's draft. But Bettendorf's pro performance could only get him four seasons. He also never made the majors.

Bettendorf was taken that June by the Orioles in the 20th round, out of Kent State. With the Orioles, he started at rookie Bluefield, hitting .249 over 61 games.

For 1988, Bettendorf moved to single-A Hagerstown, hitting .327 over 115 games. In late August, Bettendorf knocked a double and a triple in a game against Prince William, he also got the game-winning hit.

Bettendorf moved up to AA with the city of Hagerstown for 1989, hitting .276 on the season. He knocked three singles in one July game against Canton-Akron. Later that month, he also knocked in three runs in a game against Reading.

Bettendorf also received multiple other honors in 1989. He was named to that year's all-star team. In early June, he was named player of the week with an 11-for-24 run.

For 1990, Bettendorf returned to AA Hagerstown again. This time, though, his stay was brief, just 23 games. He homered in a July game, one of three he had total. But he hit just .211. It was his final pro season.

• Owosso Argus-Press, Associated Press, May 20, 1987: Lamphere Again Earns All-MAC Honors

More: The 1990 Hagerstown Suns

1990 Minor League Tally  
Players/Coaches Featured:1,137
Made the Majors: 664 - 58.4%
Never Made Majors: 473-41.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 287
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 173

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Sean Berry made 11 ML seasons with Expos, Astros, others, 3/4/13

 - Damon Berryhill had big World Series hit, saw decade in bigs, 11/23/19

 - Dan Berthel made name at Long Beach, saw 3 pro seasons, 1/8/23

 - Gerry Berthiaume put in long hours with AA Red Sox, loved it, 4/9/16
 - Jayson Best believed in practice as coach, in 7 pro seasons, 10/11/14

 - Marcos Betances threw rookie ball no-hitter, saw 3 seasons, 6/25/15

 - Jose Bethancourt made guys swing, saw two pro seasons, 6/16/24
 - Steve Bethea proved valuable at Spokane, saw six pro seasons, 10/24/15

 - Dave Bettendorf won college award, saw four seasons, made AA, 5/19/13
 - Ed Beuerlein took work ethic to three pro seasons, made AA, 9/23/13