1990 Winter Haven Red Sox player profiles, Boston

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Tracy Allen 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox card

Features on each member of the 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox, high-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, as included in that year's team set. 

Winter Haven Red Sox (28)

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Ken Bolek taught baseball skills as manager, instructor

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Ken Bolek worked in 2012 to help kids learn the fundamentals of the game . Bolek, the longtime director of IMG Baseball Academy focused this day on kids age 10 to 12 with a summer IMG wood bat league, according to Baseball The Magazine . "Here," Bolek told Baseball The Magazine , "we focus on the technical skill, not just having players show up to the ball park and go home. A very small percentage of players are getting individual technical instruction at the youth level." Bolek has served as baseball director with IMG Academy in Florida since 1995, helping teenagers learn the game. Before that, he helped pros learn the game as a coach in the minors and in the majors. Bolek's time in baseball started before that, as a player himself, taken by the Tigers in the 24th round of the draft out of the University of Arizona . At Arizona, Bolek helped his team to the College World Series championship .  He helped get them into the championship game with a tw...
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Quentin Harley went to play everyday, saw AA with Padres

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Speaking to The Los Angeles Daily News in August 1994 for a feature on the minor leagues, Padres farmhand Quentin Harley described previously getting released by the Astros. He'd called his mother and told her he was done, he was going to college. Two weeks later, he called his agent looking to get back in, he told The Daily News . "You just have to make the most of it," Harley told The Daily News . "When I was with Houston I took it for granted. I really did." Back in the game, Harley eventually made it to AA. He then later returned in independent ball. He topped out at AA . Harley's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the fifth round of the draft out of Sheldon High School in Oregon. Harley was also credited as Al Harley or Alquentin Harley . Harley started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He got into 35 games and hit .321. He them moved to single-A Asheville for 1991 and single-A Burlington for 1992. He hit .237 at Ashevill...
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Glen Reyes sprinted from high school to pro baseball

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Glen Reyes chose track over baseball in high school. But he still got to turn pro - in baseball, The Los Angeles Times wrote . He did so as an Astros scout recalled his work way back as a freshman, the speed he'd show in track and his defense, The Times wrote . "He's got some tools that people like," Reyes' high school baseball coach Art Warren told The Times after Reyes got drafted in 1989. "My personal opinion is that baseball is his best sport. I've said that all along." Track, however, would be ultimately what Reyes would be remembered for , at least locally. Reyes' speed got him to two pro seasons, both spent in rookie ball . Reyes' career began that year in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 13th round of the draft out of Orange Glen High School in California. On the track, Reyes was setting records by age 15, The Escondido Daily Times-Advocate wrote in June 1985. In his first season, he took home state championships golds in the 100-...
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Jermaine Swinton followed heart to decade-plus in pros

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Taken in the second round of the 1989 draft by the Astros, it took 16-yea-old New York City high schooler Jermaine Swinton until that September to sign, Newsday wrote . The delay in choosing between college and the pros meant he missed the 1989 season, first hitting the field in 1990. "I would have been happy either way," Swinton told Newsday in July 1990 of his decision. "But it turned out to be a good decision ... I just followed my heart to play pro ball." Swinton's pro career ended up spanning more than a decade . He spent more than half of that in independent ball. He topped out in the minors at high-A. Swinton's career began that year in 1989, taken by the Astros 42nd overall out of Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. After his selection in 1989, his coach spoke to Newsday . "It didn't surprise me at all," Fort Hamilton coach Jim Apicella told Newsday . "He has good speed and some tremendous power." Swinton started for t...
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Features from the 1990 minor league sets (By Date)

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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 ordered here by the date published, newest first.  Every player has a story. With the help of contemporaneous newspaper articles, find that story here. Most recent players added Dec. 1 ,  2024 Features in order of when the y appeared: February 2025  -  Doug Bair  did his job in major leagues over 15 seasons , 2/23/25  -  Nick Belmonte  played, managed, broadcast Florida games , 2/22/25  -  Mark Brewer  amassed coaching experience over long career , 2/21/25  -  Dan Shwam  had long independent league managerial career , 2/15/25  -  Jim Schifman  dreamed of pros, made it for eight games , 2/11/25  -  Steve Keighley  worked to hit over 4 seasons, made high-A , 2/9/25  -  Jim Doyle  helped Sal...
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Wally Heckel, Didn't Forget - 3477

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St. John's University was looking to advance in the 1988 Big East Tournament and Wally Heckel helped them do that, according to The Associated Press . Hitting against Seton Hall, Heckel picked up three hits, including a home run, helping his team to a 6-2 victory . Heckel's performance that year got the notice of scouts for the Blue Jays, the team taking him way down in the 65th round of the draft that year. Heckel instead stayed in school, but the Blue Jays didn't forget him. A year later, Heckel had improved his draft stock considerably, the Blue Jays taking him in the 12th round . Heckel is also credited by his full name, Walter Heckel. As a pro, though, Heckel couldn't show that same improvement. His professional career ended up consisting of just two seasons . Heckel's efforts at St. John's in 1988 earned him selection to that year's All-Tournament Team. In 1989, he also won First Team All-Conference honors . In summer of 1988, Heckel he...
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Jimmy White showed patience, saw 7 pro seasons, made AA

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Astros farmhand Jimmy White assessed his progress in 1994 to his hometown Tampa Tribune . When he started four years earlier, he didn't know anything. He just went up and hit, he told The Tribune . "Now you look over how the pitcher pitched you last time. You go up there more prepared," he told The Tribune . "Things are a lot different. I'm more patient and confident." White made AA for the first time that season. In a career that spanned seven seasons , he didn't make it higher. White's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the sixth round of the draft out of Brandon High School in Florida. Ahead of the draft, The Tribune spoke to scouts to gauge his prospects. "He's an interesting project," one scout told The Tribune . "He reminds me of a young colt. He needs to grow and develop, but he has all the tools you like to see in a major-league prospect." White started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League . He...
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