At one point, he set down 10 in a row on his way to the win.
"I've been working hard on my control," Christopher told The Bulletin afterward, "and it's starting to pay off. I feel real comfortable. I feel fine now."
That work paid off in Christopher's first season as a pro. He got into four more seasons, but his work never paid off with a trip to the majors.
Christopher's career began that year in 1986, signed by the Phillies as amateur free agent out of the University of Texas-Arlington.
At Bend in 1986, Christopher went 4-6, with a 4.23 ERA. He pitched into the seventh in an early July game, giving up two earned for the win. He picked up his fourth win in mid-July, pitching into the ninth.
Christopher moved to single-A Spartanburg for 1987. He went 9-11 there, with a 3.74 ERA. He played 1988 at single-A Clearwater and then split 1989 between Clearwater and AA Reading. He also turned relief pitcher.
He came in in relief in a July game, getting out of a jam with two strikeouts. An elbow tear ended his season in mid-August.
Christopher came back in 1990. He got six outings at Reading and he played the rest of the season at Clearwater. It was his final season as a pro.
- Bend Bulletin, July 10, 1986: Determined Phils put it all together
Players/Coaches Featured:1,747
Made the Majors: 827 - 47.3%
Never Made Majors: 920-52.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 358
10+ Seasons in the Minors:209
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