Tom Matthews, Tough Competitor - 17

Dodger scout Bob Miske saw good movement on Tom Matthews' fastball, as well as a deceptive change in the young hurler's arsenal, Miske told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in June 1990.

But what impressed the scout most, Miske told The Post-Gazette was Matthews' attitude on the mound.

"He has the fire that is hard to find in someone his age," Miske told The Post-Gazette. "He is a very tough competitor."

Matthews took his competitiveness to the pros that year in 1990. But it couldn't get him a long career. His career consisted of that single season.

Matthews' career began and ended that year, taken by the Dodgers in the 46th round of the draft out of Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. He played his high school ball at Moon Area High in Coraopolis, Pa.

Matthews went 4-5, with a 5.42 ERA at Edinboro in spring 1990.

Matthews played his season with the Dodgers in the Gulf Coast League, at Kissimmee. By mid-August, he was 3-2. He picked up his third win on a start where he gave up two earned and a walk, along with nine hits.

Overall, Matthews went 5-3 on the year, with a 3.69 ERA, over 11 starts in his only season as a pro.

Matthews, though, continued to play. In June 1994, The Post-Gazette listed him as pitching in semipro ball, throwing hitless and scoreless relief for North Pittsburgh in a win over West Pittsburgh.

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 14, 1990: N. Pittsburgh pitcher picked by Dodgers

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,132
Made the Majors:1,140-36.4%
Never Made Majors:1,992-63.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 473
10+ Seasons in the Minors:282