"I'm going to show what Frank DiMichele is made of," DiMichele told The Times in August 1989. "I had a taste (of the majors). Now I know what it takes."
Despite his brief stint in the majors the previous year, DMichele played 1989 back at AA. He played two more seasons after that, but those four big league outings proved to be the entire make up of his big league career. He didn't get back.
DiMichele's career began in 1985, taken by the Angels in the 15th round out of Community College of Philadelphia.
He started with the Angels at short-season Salem. He got into nine games, starting eight. He went 1-5, with a 5.83 ERA. He left an early August game with a sore elbow.
DiMichele returned to the field with single-A Quad City for 1986. He went 7-10, with a 3.67 mark. He then moved to single-A Palm Springs for 1987, going 6-9.
Invited to spring training 1988, the lefty DiMichele caught some eyes immediately. Among those eyes was Angels manager Gene Mauch, according to The Times.
"If DiMichele sneaks in there, what'd be wrong with that?" Mauch told The Times. "I don't know what's he's going to do, but he's definitely got my attention."
Not having played above single-A, DiMichele made the team. He debuted April 8. He got into four games in all and gave up five earned in 4.2 innings if relief.
He played the rest of that year at AAA Edmonton and AA Midland. He then returned to Midland for all of 1989.
In 1990, he started at Midland and then moved to the Padres at AA Wichita. He then finished out his career with 22 relief outings at AA Reading in 1991.
DiMichele has since returned home to Pennsylvania. He spent time as a coach and head coach at LaSalle University. More recently, he teaches pitching through ThePitchingPro.com in Norristown, Pa.
- Los Angeles Times, Feb. 29, 1988: Rookie Left-Hander Puts Gleam in Mauch's Eye
- San Bernardino County Sun, March 25, 1988: Angels' late-spring form is less than encouraging
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 13, 1989: It's Midland Madness
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