In his third major league start that August, Bullinger took his bid into the eighth inning before he finally gave up a hit, a home run, The Times wrote.
"I knew when I warmed up I had good stuff," Bullinger told The Times afterward. "But I didn’t expect this."
Bullinger debuted with the Cubs that year in his seventh pro season - his third since switching from shortstop to the pitching mound. He went on to see time in seven total major league campaigns. He then didn't stop pitching until 2005 as he continued in the minors, independent ball and in Mexico.
Bullinger's career began in 1986, taken by the Cubs in the ninth round of the draft out of the University of New Orleans.
Bullinger started with the Cubs at short-season Geneva - and in the field. He got into 78 games at short and hit .246. He then hit .256 at single-A Winston-Salem in 1987. He made AA Charlotte in 1989 and hit .216 on the year.
That year at Charlotte, though, started his transition to pitcher. His manager Jim Essian put him in to pitch out a runaway game. He struck out four over those two frames, The Washington Post wrote.
"If I hadn't become a pitcher, I probably wouldn't be with the Cubs," Bullinger told The Post. "And I possibly wouldn't be playing baseball anymore. It was the most important decision of my life."
Bullinger spent his full-time season on the mound in 1990 at high-A Winston-Salem and AA Charlotte. He went 10-10 between them, with a 4.16 ERA.
He then played 1991 between AA Charlotte and AAA Iowa. He then debuted in Chicago the next May.
He went 2-8 over 39 outings, nine starts, that first season with the Cubs. He ended with a 4.66 ERA and saved seven.
Bullinger then saw 15 more outings with the Cubs in 1993 and 33 in 1994. He went 12-8, with a 4.14 ERA over 24 starts in 1995.
He started 1996 with a gem as he went eight innings and gave up five hits in a win against the Dodgers.
"I've struggled all spring with my fastball away from right-handed hitters," Bullinger told The Chicago Tribune after that April win, "and (Friday) I had it."
Bullinger ended that year 6-10, with a 6.54 ERA. He then played 1997 with the Expos and concluded his major league time with two outings in 1998 with the Mariners.
Bullinger went on play briefly in the minors with the Dodgers in 1999, Cardinals in 2001 and White Sox in 2005. In between, he played in independent ball and in Mexico. By the time he was done in 2005, he'd seen time in 17 pro seasons, seven of those in the majors.
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 31, 1992: Bullinger Makes Pitch for Starter's Role
- Washington Post, Sept. 1, 1992: Deep in the hole, versatile Bullinger repackages self
- Chicago Tribune, April 6, 1996: Bully Market
Players/Coaches Featured:3,284
Made the Majors:1,180-35.9%-X
Never Made Majors:2,104-64.1%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 487-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:286
More 1990 Minor Leaguers:
- Gary Buckels got outs enough in minors for 10 games in bigs, 7/1/11
- Steve Buckholz drew Leyland's notice, saw 5 seasons, AA, 3/26/18
- Steve Buckholz drew Leyland's notice, saw 5 seasons, AA, 3/26/18
- Travis Buckley played 10 pro seasons, saw AAA in five, 6/11/14
- Troy Buckley played 6 seasons, coached Long Beach State, 8/10/10
- Troy Buckley played 6 seasons, coached Long Beach State, 8/10/10
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