1990 Gastonia Rangers player profiles, Texas

-
Mike Arner 1990 Gastonia Rangers card

Features on each member of the 1990 Gastonia Rangers, single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Players featured are as included in that year's team sets.

Interview (1)
1 - John Graves, That Chance
John Graves chose to take the opportunity, didn't look back.

Gastonia Rangers (32)
Mike Arner 1990 Gastonia Rangers card
1 - Mike Arner hit his spots, made AAA with Rangers
2 - Eric Bickhardt took competitiveness to pros, saw 4 seasons
3 - Travis Buckley played 10 pro seasons, saw AAA in five
4 - Mike Burton saw 7 pro baseball seasons, then turned golf pro
5 - Jim Clinton played anywhere over 7 seasons, made AAA
7 - Joey Eischen, Unusual Approach
Joey Eischen had an unusual approach. It got him into 10 major league seasons.
8 - Troy Eklund saw 2 seasons, single-A
9 - Brian Evans, Into Perspective
Brian Evans pitched well, but he only pitched in three professional seasons.
10 - Jay Franklin, Deserved That
Jay Franklin has gone from a brief playing career to a long career as an agent.
11 - Orlando Gomez, Stayed Young
Orlando Gomez has stayed young for 50 years.
12 - John Graves, Save Earned
John Graves earned an April 1990 save. Pitched just two seasons as a pro.
13 - Perry Hill, Infield Guru
Grew into an infield guru as major league coach
14 - Jonathan Hurst, In Heaven
Jonathan Hurst stepped on his high school baseball field and was in heaven. Made bigs in two seasons.
15 - Joe Lewis, Cut Down
Joe Lewis cut a runner down at second in 1989. He played three seasons as a pro.
16 - Randy Marshall, Key Hit
Randy Marshall got the key hit in a 1991 high-A game. He played three seasons as a pro
17 - Buddy Micheu, His Officers
Buddy Micheu went from baseball to a career in law enforcement in New Orleans.
18 - Timmie Morrow, Slow Progress
Timmie Morrow helped the Port Charlotte Rangers to a 1992 win, but he never could help himself to the bigs.
19 - Craig Newkirk, Quiet Style
Craig Newkirk tried to lead by his actions. He played four seasons as a pro.
20 - Jose Oliva, Show People
Jose Oliva wanted to show he could play in the bigs. He played there in two seasons.
21 - Kenny Powell, One Run
Kenny Powell played five seasons as a pro. Since gone into another career: acting.
22 - Carl Randle, One Night
Carl Randle threw a no-hitter at Gastonia in 1990. He played five seasons, never made AA.
23 - Brian Romero, Felt Better
Brian Romero felt more relaxed with the lead. He played seven seasons, never made AAA.
24 - Ronaldo Romero, Lost Friend
Not long after his Gastonia photo was taken, Ronaldo Romero was gone. He was 19.
25 - Ramon Santiago, More Equipment
Ramon Santiago kept track of equipment. He later changed careers.
26 - Tony Scruggs, Same Feeling
Tony Scruggs' baseball fate was different than his old teammates Juan and Sammy.
27 - Brian Steiner, Hard Worker
Brian Steiner was a hard worker but he never made AA.
28 - Tom Tisdale, His Work
Tom Tisdale received recognition for his training work in 2005.
29 - Joey Wardlow, Was Hungry
Joey Wardlow helped his high school to a state championship. He played four seasons as a pro.
30 - Randy Whisler, Developed Them
Randy Whisler left pro baseball multiple times, only to return multiple times.
31 - Marvin White, School Career
Marvin White threw no-hitters in high school. Coached, but didn't play in the pros.
32 - Barry Winford, Crossed Paths
Barry Winford crossed paths with a Hall of Famer in spring training. He never made AA himself.

The 1990 Single-A South Atlantic League

Browse By:

-Player Name
-Player Team
-Date Featured

Players A to Z

Popular posts from this blog

Mark Brewer amassed coaching experience over long career

-
Image
Asheville Tourists pitching coach Mark Brewer explained to The Asheville Citizen-Times in 2016 the impact injuries and call-ups have on a staff. Every team dealt with them, Brewer told The Citizen-Times that July. "If the guy who moves up is performing on a consistent basis, then, sure, (it’s tough on the staff)," Brewer told The Citizen-Times . "You have to wait to see if the guy replacing him has the same capabilities, and if he doesn't you have to work on putting him in a situation where he can succeed more often than not." Brewer spoke with the experience of well over two decades in the game as a minor league coach , time that started in college ball and in independent work. Brewer's time in baseball actually started growing up. His father Jim Brewer played and made the majors over 17 seasons, 16 of those with the Dodgers. Mark Brewer is recorded as having been drafted by the Giants , taken in the 32nd round of the 1978 draft out of Coronado High Sch...
Read more

Nick Belmonte played, managed, broadcast Florida games

-
Image
Passed over in the 1978 draft out of the University of Florida, Nick Belmonte tried to make his mark with independent teams of the Northwest League, The Salem Statesman Journal wrote . He played well enough for brief looks with the Brewers and Expos, but then found himself back with the independent Salem Senators for 1979, The Statesman Journal wrote . "I don't want to say anything against the Senators - they've been great to me," Belmonte told The Statesman Journal . "It's just that this isn't what I planned for myself." Belmonte the player ultimately didn't work out. But his time in baseball ultimately did. He took his broadcast degree he earned at Florida to local TV sports - and eventually right back to Florida. He became the Gators' longtime baseball broadcaster , a job he's held for over three decades. Belmonte's career in baseball began in 1978, signed by independent Boise as a free agent out of Florida . He played that first...
Read more

Doug Bair did his job in major leagues over 15 seasons

-
Image
As the St. Louis Cardinals made their run to the 1982 World Series title, Manager Whitey Herzog looked to his reliever Doug Bair , calling him "kind of an unsung hero here," The Dayton Journal Herald wrote . Bair had went 5-3, with eight saves and a 2.55 ERA for the Cardinals that year, his seventh major league season. "I feel good about being here because of one thing - because I've contributed to the ball club," Bair told The Journal Herald . "I did a job and I did it well." Bair ultimately did his job in the majors over 15 total campaigns . He helped win two titles, including in 1984 with the Tigers. He then didn't throw his last major league pitch until age 40 and even tried to return at 41. Bair's career began in 1971, taken by the Pirates in the second round of the draft out of Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He started with the Pirates at single-A Salem and AA Waterbury. He made AAA Charleston briefly in 1972. He then finally ...
Read more

Jeff Gay returned, found new start, saw six seasons, AA

-
Image
A one-time second round pick, Jeff Gay soon found himself in a backup role at single-A Quad City. By early 1988, his third season, he'd had enough and went home, The Moline Dispatch wrote later.  But, after speaking with others, Gay got to go back. He also soon got a new start in the organization, at single-A co-op Reno, The Dispatch wrote . "I have to tell you, I had the best time I've ever had out there," Gay told The Dispatch at the start of 1990. "I had a good time and it was a learning experience. I'm kind of glad I went there." Gay eventually saw three more seasons after his return. He gained enough traction to make AA, but he couldn't make it higher. Gay's career began in 1986, taken by the Angels in the second round out of Santana High School in California. At Santana, Gay hit .540 his senior year and went 8 for 11 in the playoffs, enough for the Angels to take him 50th overall. The Angels, The Los Angeles Times wrote , were happy t...
Read more

Darius Gash worked to turn heads, saw five seasons, AA

-
Image
At age 23, when he started in pro ball, Darius Gash knew he'd gotten a late start, he told The Waterloo Courier in his second season. But he also knew he could still play, he told The Courier in August 1991 at age 24. "I think you're only as old as you make yourself and I think I have a lot left," Gash told The Courier . "I just need to keep working hard and keep turning heads." Gash eventually turned enough heads over five seasons to make up to AA. He topped out there . Gash's career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the 32nd round of the draft out of Middle Tennessee Stater University . Gash went into a slump mid-way through his senior year at Middle Tennessee, but he managed to get out of it, The Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal wrote .  "I have been hitting the ball again, and I have to hit the ball to utilize my ability," Gash told The Daily News-Journal . "If I just put the ball in play, I can beat out an infield hit or reach ...
Read more

Chris George made majors for two outings with Brewers

-
Image
One of Chris George 's 1992 baseball cards talked up his potential in the major leagues. He'd seen two outings with the Brewers in Milwaukee the previous year and he looked to return in 1992. "Tough and competitive, Chris just might be a solid addition to the Brewers bullpen in 1992,' the card read . By the time that card came out, though, George's major league career was over. He played that year at AAA and returned for one more after that, but those two appearances in 1991 proved the extent of his big league career. George's career began in 1988, taken by the Brewers in the seventh round of the draft out of Kent State University . Prior to joining the Brewers, George played 1987 in the Alaska Baseball League . He also played the National Baseball League and the National Baseball Congress tournament. George started with the Brewers at single-A Beloit . He went 7-4 over 22 outings, four starts. He saved six games. He moved to single-A Stockt...
Read more

Mike Gellinger coached for White Sox, helped Buehrle

-
Image
White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle had a rough stretch in 2010, giving up 18 runs in 22.1 innings of work, according to MLB.com . But was he tipping his pitches? Buehrle pointed to team video analyst and assistant hitting coach Mike Gellinger for that answer. "I'm not going to make excuses saying they're tipping pitches and that's why I've been getting hit around," Buehrle told MLB.com . "Mike Gellinger does a great job of watching us and watching hitters to see if we're doing something out of the ordinary." Whether Buehrle was tipping his pitches then or not, Gellinger was credited with spotting him doing just that four years earlier. Gellinger spotted him mid-game, according to MLB.com in 2006, allowing Buehrle to correct his motion and get the victory. Gellinger helped Buehrle as part of a baseball career that stretches back to 1986 , when he signed with the Tigers as a player. Gellinger's stay in the Detroit system lasted a...
Read more