Bruce Tanner knew the majors. His father Chuck Tanner had played and managed there pretty much all of Bruce's life.
But getting there himself as a pitcher in June 1985, Bruce Tanner knew that was special, he told The Tallahassee Democrat.
"If I can just tell my kids some day that I pitched one game in the big leagues. ... It's something I'll never forget," Tanner told The Democrat.
Tanner ended up pitching more than one game - his major league career would total 10 games pitched, all for the White Sox in 1985.
Tanner, however, would go on to a long post-playing career, as a coach in both the minors and the majors, as well as an advanced scout.
Tanner's career began in 1983, taken by the White Sox in the fourth round of the draft out of Florida State University.
Tanner started with the White Sox at short-season Niagara Falls, single-A Appleton and at AA Glens Falls. He saw five relief outings at AA Glens Falls, giving up one earned in six innings.
He then moved to AAA Buffalo to start 1985. Then, in June, he made it all the way to Chicago.
As he made the bigs, Tanner credited both his father and his mother for getting him there. His father gave him the atmosphere, his mother Barbara gave him the day-to-day patience and instruction, he told The Associated Press.
"She was a big influence on me," Tanner told The AP. "If I got mad and threw my bat or helmet, she'd tell me 'Hey, you don't have to do that sort of thing.' She taught me patience, and after I did something wrong, I'd never do it again."
For Tanner's father, then the manager of the Pirates, Chuck Tanner got to see his son pitch in his debut on satellite at his brother's house, after his Pirates got rained out, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote.
"I don't know how many people are going to be there but I can guarantee two things: I'll have the best front-row seat, and there won't be any talking allowed in the room," the father told The Post-Gazette.
The younger Tanner ended up seeing those 10 outings, four starts. He went 1-2, with a 5.33 ERA.
Tanner then returned to Buffalo for 1986, then saw AAA with the Athletics for a shortened 1987 and AA Huntsville in 1988. He's last credited as playing at AAA with the Athletics and Giants in 1989.
Tanner then turned coach. He served as pitching coach first with short-season Spokane in 1990. He moved up to AA Carolina by 1996.
In 2001, Tanner returned to the majors with the Pirates as a bullpen coach. He stayed there through 2005. After a season coaching at short-season Williamsport, Tanner moved to the Tigers as a major league advance scout, a job he's last credited as holding in 2018.
- Tallahassee Democrat, June 12, 1985: For Bruce Tanner, dreams do come true
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 13, 1985: Pirates
- Appleton Post-Crescent, Associated Press, June 23, 1985: Mother aided Bruce Tanner's career
Made the Majors:1,345-33.2%-X
Never Made Majors:2,702-66.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:548
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333
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