Willie Dukes played 3 seasons, then became firefighter

-
Willie Dukes 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox card

Willie Dukes attempted to sum up his career to Delta Democrat-Times in 2019 - both his brief playing stint and his much-longer post-playing career.

He played three seasons in pro ball, then he moved on to a career in firefighting.

"I enjoyed the experience and really got a chance to do something that not many people get a chance to do," Dukes, a fire department battalion chief, told The Democrat-Times. "I was released after a few seasons back in April of 1992. By June of 1992, I was working for the Greenville Fire Department. And I've been here for 27 years."

Dukes' brief baseball career began in 1989, taken by the Red Sox in the 36th round of the draft out of Mississippi Delta Community College.

Dukes started with the Red Sox at short-season Elmira and the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 52 games and hit .205. He hit a double in an early September game for Elmira.

He returned to Elmira for 63 games in 1990, as well as 24 at high-A Winter Haven. He hit .206 on the year, with five home runs. He hit his fifth home run in an early August game.

That July, the usual outfielder was pressed into service as a catcher, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote. 

"Dukes hasn't caught since high school, but I think he's going to turn into an excellent catching prospect," Elmira manager Mike Verdi told The Star-Gazette. "The biggest think about being a good catcher is attitude. You've got to be a take-charge guy."

Dukes moved back to Winter Haven in 1991. He got into 80 games and hit .162. That season marked his last as a pro.

In 2017, Dukes' son, Willie Dukes III, readied to go off to college and play ball. As he did, the son cited his father, according to The Democrat-Times. 

"I want to follow in my father's footsteps. He played ball at the next level in the minor leagues with the Red Sox," the son told The Democrat-Times. "Seeing my father play at the next level made me play even harder."

Originally published June 21, 2021

Willie Dukes 1990 Winter Haven Red Sox card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:3,916
Made the Majors:1,306-33.4%
Never Made Majors:2,610-66.6%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:530
10+ Seasons in the Minors:326

Browse By:

-Player Name
-Player Team
-Date Featured

Players A to Z

Popular posts from this blog

Mark Brewer amassed coaching experience over long career

-
Image
Asheville Tourists pitching coach Mark Brewer explained to The Asheville Citizen-Times in 2016 the impact injuries and call-ups have on a staff. Every team dealt with them, Brewer told The Citizen-Times that July. "If the guy who moves up is performing on a consistent basis, then, sure, (it’s tough on the staff)," Brewer told The Citizen-Times . "You have to wait to see if the guy replacing him has the same capabilities, and if he doesn't you have to work on putting him in a situation where he can succeed more often than not." Brewer spoke with the experience of well over two decades in the game as a minor league coach , time that started in college ball and in independent work. Brewer's time in baseball actually started growing up. His father Jim Brewer played and made the majors over 17 seasons, 16 of those with the Dodgers. Mark Brewer is recorded as having been drafted by the Giants , taken in the 32nd round of the 1978 draft out of Coronado High Sch...
Read more

Doug Bair did his job in major leagues over 15 seasons

-
Image
As the St. Louis Cardinals made their run to the 1982 World Series title, Manager Whitey Herzog looked to his reliever Doug Bair , calling him "kind of an unsung hero here," The Dayton Journal Herald wrote . Bair had went 5-3, with eight saves and a 2.55 ERA for the Cardinals that year, his seventh major league season. "I feel good about being here because of one thing - because I've contributed to the ball club," Bair told The Journal Herald . "I did a job and I did it well." Bair ultimately did his job in the majors over 15 total campaigns . He helped win two titles, including in 1984 with the Tigers. He then didn't throw his last major league pitch until age 40 and even tried to return at 41. Bair's career began in 1971, taken by the Pirates in the second round of the draft out of Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He started with the Pirates at single-A Salem and AA Waterbury. He made AAA Charleston briefly in 1972. He then finally ...
Read more

Nick Belmonte played, managed, broadcast Florida games

-
Image
Passed over in the 1978 draft out of the University of Florida, Nick Belmonte tried to make his mark with independent teams of the Northwest League, The Salem Statesman Journal wrote . He played well enough for brief looks with the Brewers and Expos, but then found himself back with the independent Salem Senators for 1979, The Statesman Journal wrote . "I don't want to say anything against the Senators - they've been great to me," Belmonte told The Statesman Journal . "It's just that this isn't what I planned for myself." Belmonte the player ultimately didn't work out. But his time in baseball ultimately did. He took his broadcast degree he earned at Florida to local TV sports - and eventually right back to Florida. He became the Gators' longtime baseball broadcaster , a job he's held for over three decades. Belmonte's career in baseball began in 1978, signed by independent Boise as a free agent out of Florida . He played that first...
Read more

Jeff Gay returned, found new start, saw six seasons, AA

-
Image
A one-time second round pick, Jeff Gay soon found himself in a backup role at single-A Quad City. By early 1988, his third season, he'd had enough and went home, The Moline Dispatch wrote later.  But, after speaking with others, Gay got to go back. He also soon got a new start in the organization, at single-A co-op Reno, The Dispatch wrote . "I have to tell you, I had the best time I've ever had out there," Gay told The Dispatch at the start of 1990. "I had a good time and it was a learning experience. I'm kind of glad I went there." Gay eventually saw three more seasons after his return. He gained enough traction to make AA, but he couldn't make it higher. Gay's career began in 1986, taken by the Angels in the second round out of Santana High School in California. At Santana, Gay hit .540 his senior year and went 8 for 11 in the playoffs, enough for the Angels to take him 50th overall. The Angels, The Los Angeles Times wrote , were happy t...
Read more

Darius Gash worked to turn heads, saw five seasons, AA

-
Image
At age 23, when he started in pro ball, Darius Gash knew he'd gotten a late start, he told The Waterloo Courier in his second season. But he also knew he could still play, he told The Courier in August 1991 at age 24. "I think you're only as old as you make yourself and I think I have a lot left," Gash told The Courier . "I just need to keep working hard and keep turning heads." Gash eventually turned enough heads over five seasons to make up to AA. He topped out there . Gash's career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the 32nd round of the draft out of Middle Tennessee Stater University . Gash went into a slump mid-way through his senior year at Middle Tennessee, but he managed to get out of it, The Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal wrote .  "I have been hitting the ball again, and I have to hit the ball to utilize my ability," Gash told The Daily News-Journal . "If I just put the ball in play, I can beat out an infield hit or reach ...
Read more

Chris George made majors for two outings with Brewers

-
Image
One of Chris George 's 1992 baseball cards talked up his potential in the major leagues. He'd seen two outings with the Brewers in Milwaukee the previous year and he looked to return in 1992. "Tough and competitive, Chris just might be a solid addition to the Brewers bullpen in 1992,' the card read . By the time that card came out, though, George's major league career was over. He played that year at AAA and returned for one more after that, but those two appearances in 1991 proved the extent of his big league career. George's career began in 1988, taken by the Brewers in the seventh round of the draft out of Kent State University . Prior to joining the Brewers, George played 1987 in the Alaska Baseball League . He also played the National Baseball League and the National Baseball Congress tournament. George started with the Brewers at single-A Beloit . He went 7-4 over 22 outings, four starts. He saved six games. He moved to single-A Stockt...
Read more

Mike Gellinger coached for White Sox, helped Buehrle

-
Image
White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle had a rough stretch in 2010, giving up 18 runs in 22.1 innings of work, according to MLB.com . But was he tipping his pitches? Buehrle pointed to team video analyst and assistant hitting coach Mike Gellinger for that answer. "I'm not going to make excuses saying they're tipping pitches and that's why I've been getting hit around," Buehrle told MLB.com . "Mike Gellinger does a great job of watching us and watching hitters to see if we're doing something out of the ordinary." Whether Buehrle was tipping his pitches then or not, Gellinger was credited with spotting him doing just that four years earlier. Gellinger spotted him mid-game, according to MLB.com in 2006, allowing Buehrle to correct his motion and get the victory. Gellinger helped Buehrle as part of a baseball career that stretches back to 1986 , when he signed with the Tigers as a player. Gellinger's stay in the Detroit system lasted a...
Read more