Michael Friedland played two pro seasons, then, years later, helped coach his son's Little League team

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The San Mateo American Little League team made it to the Northern California championship game in 2019 and helping them get there were a young Donovan Friedland and his dad, Mike Friedland, according to The San Mateo Daily Journal.

San Mateo manager Jason Gordon marveled to The Daily Journal at their luck.

"We got a package deal with a dad who is an amazing baseball instructor," Gordon told The Daily Journal of the pair. "We definitely won the lottery with that one."

Gordon marveled because Mike Friedland brought with him experience as a player in both the college ranks and the pros. His pro career lasted two seasons and ended in 1991 with single-A Rockford.

Friedland's pro career began in 1990, signed by the Expos as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State.

Friedland started with the Expos at short-season Jamestown. The infielder played in 66 games. He hit .226, with four home runs and 28 RBI.

His Jamestown Expos card back offered more details about Friedland, including his favorite ball player, college major and his favorite TV show. The answers: Joe DiMaggio, physical therapy and Knots Landing.

Friedland moved to single-A Rockford for 1991. He hit into an inning-ending double play in a game that April. Overall, he saw time in just 12 contests. He went 4 for 46, with two RBI to end his career.
1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,181
Made the Majors:1,156-36.3%
Never Made Majors:2,025-63.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 480
10+ Seasons in the Minors:283

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1990 Minor League sets by team, Baseball Profiles

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What happened to your favorite minor league team in 1990? Find out here. Since late 2009, the players of 1990 have been featured at Greatest21Days.com, one at a time. Here, they've been divided by team.  Every player has a story. With the help of contemporaneous newspaper articles, find that story here. Most recent players added Dec. 1, 2024 Total Players: 4,457 Total Teams Completed: 151 1990 teams: Buffalo Bisons  -  Moises Alou  knew body English in 17 major league seasons , 11/8/19  -  Stan Belinda  saw 12 majors seasons, returned after MS , 9/22/11  -  Dann Bilardello  hit 1st ML HR off Seaver, saw 8 ML seasons , 6/24/10  -  Doug Bair  did his job in major leagues over 15 seasons , 2/23/25  -  Jackie Brown  made 7 ML seasons as player, later as coach , 6/19/14  -  Kevin Burdick  got dugout broken nose at AAA, missed bigs , 6/13/10  -  John Cangelosi  took his...
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Features from the 1990 minor league sets (By Date)

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A to Z: 1990 Minor League Players, Baseball Profiles

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Sam August saw 8 pro seasons, then returned to surfing

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1990 Minor Leaguers By Organization

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Texas' Coppell High School lost the game and lost the pitcher The Fort Worth Star-Telegram described as the team's ace, Steve Boatman , then 13-2. Coppell's opponent Carroll High saw three players hit doubles in the 7-2 win, "but the biggest blow" came with a single lined off Boatman's foot, forcing him from the game and possibly braking his ankle, The Star-Telegram wrote . However serious the injury was, Boatman came back and soon turned pro. His pro career ultimately lasted two seasons. He played both in rookie ball. Coppell's career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 42nd round of the draft out of Coppell High. At Coppell, Boatman also played on the football team  in 1988. In May 1989 in baseball, Boatman gave up just one hit in a win.  Though drafted in 1989, Coppell didn't hit the field for the Astros until 1990, in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into 13 games, starting 10. He went 3-4, with a 3.12 ERA. He then returned tp the GCL...
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1990 Minor League Baseball Teams - Player Features

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