Tom Dodd, A Success - 662

Originally published June 3, 2012

To The Eugene Register-Guard in 1991, Tom Dodd looked back on his career, the year after it ended.

It was a career that spanned 11 professional seasons, but one that got him to the majors in just one - eight games played with the Orioles in 1986.

"I feel I was a success," Dodd told The Register-Guard that June. "I'm disappointed I didn't get more time in the majors, because I thought I deserved it, but that doesn't leave a bad taste about the whole game."

For Dodd, his game as a professional began in 1980, taken by the Yankees in the first round of the January draft, out of the University of Oregon. At Oregon, Dodd once, in March 1979, knocked in seven runs in a game on two home runs.

With the Yankees, Dodd played his first two seasons at single-A, at Fort Lauderdale and Greensboro. He hit .253 his first year and .271 his second.

He made AA Nashville in 1982 before being traded to the Blue Jays mid-year. Dodd, though, was traded back to the Yankees with another player the next off-season. That deal sent Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan, back to the Blue Jays.

By the next May, though, Dodd was released by the Yankees. He soon signed with the White Sox, playing that year and the next at AA. In 1985, Dodd signed with the team that would bring him to the majors, the Orioles.

Dodd played much of 1986 at AA Charlotte, getting a brief 17-game look at AAA Rochester. That July, though, he also got a brief 8-game look at major-league Baltimore. He debuted July 26.

In 16 plate appearances, 13 official at bats, Dodd picked up three hits, one of them a home run. The home run came off a Jimmy Key 3-2 slider, Dodd recalled to The Register-Guard in 1989.

"It was only about my eighth at-bat, and I figured if you hit a home run every eight at-bats, you're doing pretty well," Dodd told The Register-Guard. "I thought I was there to stay."

He ended up staying until Aug. 6. He also didn't return.

Dodd played 1987 back at AA Charlotte, then 1988 with the Royals at AAA Omaha. He returned to Omaha for 1989, then ended his career in 1990 with the Mariners at AAA Calgary.

By 1991, he was out of the game, after 11 seasons as a pro.

"I think I was capable of playing in the major leagues, and everybody I've talked to said the same thing, Dodd told The Baltimore Sun in 1991. "As far as feeling any remorse or bitter feelings, I have none."

• Eugene Register-Guard, July 23, 1989: Last Duck in pro ball says he's just happy to be there
• Eugene Register-Guard, June 7, 1991: One Duck out, other plays on
• Baltimore Sun, July 15, 1991: Whatever happened to...