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Thursday, April 1, 2010

1990 Oakland Athletics minor leaguers


Features on each member of the 1990 Oakland Athletics farm system.

Complete

  • AAA - Tacoma Tigers (28)
  • AA - Huntsville Stars (26)
  • High-A - Modesto A's (41)
  • Single-A - Madison Muskies (38)
  • Short-Season - Southern Oregon A's (33)


Tacoma Tigers (28)

1 - Troy Afenir, Envisioned Himself
Troy Afenir was far from satisfied with success in the minors. He later made the bigs.
2 - Tony Ariola, That Guy
Tony Ariola pitched well in the minors, but he only got four pro seasons. He also never made the majors.
3 - Larry Arndt, Enjoy It
Larry Arndt worked hard, made the majors. His stay there was brief, just two games.
4 - Joe Bitker, Meant It
Joe Bitker made the majors, just like he said he would. But it took him longer than he thought.
5 - Mike Bordick, Work Habits
Mike Bordick was praised for his work habits in the minors. He had a long major league career.
6 - Tim Casey, His Best
Tim Casey knew all he could do was his best. His best wasn't good enough to make the majors.
7 - Scott Chiampariano, Showing Emotion
Scott Chiamparino had enough stuff to make the majors for parts of three seasons with the Rangers.
8 - Patrick Dietrick, Tie-Breaker
Patrick Dietrick broke a tie with home run in a 1988 AA game, he couldn't break himself into the majors.
9 - Chuck Estrada, In Condition
Chuck Estrada played and coached in the majors. He kept pitchers in shape.
10 - Bruce Fields, Impression Left
Bruce Fields tried to leave an impression in 1986, played in three major league seasons.
11 - Brad Fischer, An Idea
Brad Fisher had a short career as a player and he's had a long one as a coach.
12 - Eric Fox, Smoked It
Eric Fox smoked a grand slam opening day 1993. He played in four major league seasons.
13 - Scott Hemond, Catching Job
Scott Hemond went from Athletics backup catcher to starter after an injury. He played in seven major league seasons.
14 - Steve Howard, Looked Good
Steve Howard tried to go out and have fun. He ultimately went out and made the majors for 21 games.
15 - Dann Howitt, No More
Dann Howitt felt like he had to keep up, he then tried steroids, he told his hometown paper in 2010.
16 - Doug Jennings, More At-Bats
Doug Jennings was outstanding in his first start for the Athletics. He went 4 for 4 with a home run.
17 - Reese Lambert, Good Stuff
Reese Lambert impressed a future major league manager. Lambert, however, wouldn't be a future major league player.
18 - Joe Law, Good Enough
Joe Law got called up to the Athletics to relieve a tired bullpen in 1988. He never got into the game, and never got back. 
19 - Russ McGinnis, Up to Him
Russ McGinnis could provide right-handed hitting pop. He did so in the majors for just 17 games.
20 - Dave Otto, Never Doubted
Dave Otto came back from a DL stint to show what he could do. That was throw six scoreless innings.
21 - Al Pedrique, Promised Himself
Al Pedrique made the bigs after nine seasons in the minors. He then worked to get back.
22 - Dick Scott, Most Enjoyable
Dick Scott has tried to get players where he got, the bigs. For longer than he got there.
23 - Dave Veres, Comeback Bid
Dave Veres tried to comeback from hip surgery in 2007, for an 11th season in bigs.
24 - Bruce Walton, Could Pitch
Bruce Walton's fastball wasn't that fast. But it was fast enough to make the majors.
25 - Kevin Ward, Kept Going
Kevin Ward applied himself, then he finally made the majors with the Padres in his ninth pro season.
26 - Weston Weber, One Pitch
Weston Weber thought he might make the majors in his 11th pro season. Then his career ended on one pitch.
27 - Ed Wojna, Eye-Opening
Ed Wojna tried to open the eyes of the Padres in 1986. He played in a total of four major league seasons.
28 - Ray Young, Nasty-Looking Stuff
Ray Young had nasty-looking stuff. The issue, though, was control. He never made the majors.



Huntsville Stars (26)
1 - Glenn Abbott, Pitching Assessments, 7/27/14
2 - Rich Berg, Still Took, 12/17/16
3 - Jorge Brito, Spanish Adage, 12/13/16
4 - Scott Brosius, Genius Tag, 12/17/16
5 - Tony Brown, Hit Hard, 12/25/16
6 - Ozzie Canseco, Much Experience, 1/4/17
7 - Sam Chavez, This Level, 1/1/17
8 - Steve Chitren, Drove Him, 1/7/17
9 - Ron Coomer, Kept Working, 12/25/16
10 - Dan Eskew, Fluid Motion, 1/2/17
11 - Daryl Green, Reached Back, 1/6/17
12 - Ray Harris, Funnest Time, 1/3/17
13 - Jim Kating, Baseball Mind, 12/24/16
14 - Pete Kuld, Played On, 12/26/16
15 - Darren Lewis, His Style, 12/15/16
16 - Kevin Macleod, Gem Thrown, 12/21/16
17 - Jeff Newman, Big Hits, 12/28/16
18 - Bob Ralston, Positive Feedback, 12/31/16
19 - Stan Royer, Different Feeling, 12/16/16
20 - Will Schock, His Passion, 1/4/17
21 - Nelson Simmons, Best Thing, 12/24/16
22 - Joe Slusarski, Mental Toughness, 12/20/16
23 - Mark Stancel, Bases Loaded, 12/26/16
24 - Brian Thorson, Dedicated Person, 12/14/16
25 - Brian Veilleux, Grand Slam, 12/27/16
26 - Tack Wilson, Stayed In, 1/1/17



1990 Modesto Athletics (41)
1 - Dana Allison, Really Something


Madison Muskies (38)
1 - Kurt Abbott, Never Imagined
Kurt Abbott never imagined his first major league hit would be a home run.
2 - Marcos Armas, Home Run
Marcos Armas hit his only major league home run for his second major league hit. 
3 - Wynn Beck, Real Plus
Wynn Beck had a left-handed bat - as a catcher. He never made the bigs.
4 - Shane Borchert, Started In
Shane Borchert started as a trainer in Montana.
5 - Bert Bradley, Lessons Learned
Bert Bradley has taught lessons in the pros since 1987.
6 - Brad Brimhall, Continued Hoping
Brad Brimhall played for a chance at the majors. He never got it.
7 - Eric Campa, Steady Play
Eric Campa took steady play to the pros, then to police work.
8 - Mike Conte, Dual Role
Mike Conte had a dual role as pro. First as fielder, then as pitcher. He's now with the Cal Vulcans.
9 - Fred Cooley, Division Title
Fred Cooley helped his Southern Oregon team to a division title.
10 - Gerbacio DeLeon, Rather Unique
Gerbacio DeLeon is unique for his name, not his career.
11 - Jim Gibbs, Like This
Jim Gibbs frustrated batters at short-season in 1990.
12 - Matt Grott, Saw Results
Matt Grott's results saw him get to the bigs for two games.
13 - Hugh Gulledge, His Heroes
Hugh Gulledge's heroes were his parents.
14 - Scott Henry, All-Conference
Scott Henry made his college's all-conference team.
15 - Darin Kracl, Counterfeit Outings
Darin Kracl had multiple counterfeit outings.
16 - Chad Kuhn, Told Him
Chad Kuhn came prepared to be a hitter. He then became a pitcher.
17 - Dave Latter, Those Pitches
Dave Latter took his pitches to six seasons and to AAA. He passed away in 2014.
18 - Reynaldo Martinez, Big Jump
Reynaldo Martinez' ERA jumped. He played two pro seasons.
19 - Glenn McCormick, Late Lead
Glenn McCormick hit a late go-ahead home run at short-season in 1990.
20 - Leandro Mejia, Leader Board
Leandro Mejia threw a complete game at single-A. He never made AA.
21 - Henry Mercedes, Wanted To
Henry Mercedes learned the language, then made bigs.
22 - Mike Mohler, Big Thing
Mike Mohler happened to be in right place for his first major league win.
23 - Glenn Osinski, Fifth Inning
Glenn Osinski helped his Modesto team to a win. He played two pro seasons.
24 - Gavin Osteen, Did His Job
Gavin Osteen felt in control in independent ball. He never made the bigs.
25 - Casey Parsons, Situational Hitting
Casey Parsons hit in the bigs. He then managed in the minors.
26 - Bronswell Patrick, Paid Off
Bronswell Patrick got his call to the bigs in his 11th season.
27 - Steve Peck, Enough Stuff
Steve Peck evaluates talent as a scout. He played eight pro seasons.
28 - Tim Peek, World Series
Tim Peek helped his team to a minors title. 
29 - Pedro Pena, Brief Outing
Pedro Pena played three seasons as a pro. He never made AA.
30 - Scott Shockey, Made It Back
Scott Shockey never liked being told he couldn't do something.
31 - Enoch Simmons, Much Potential
Enoch Simmons tried out a new sport, baseball. He then turned pro.
32 - Carlos Tamarez, Perfect Bunt
Carlos Tamarez laid down a perfect bunt in a short-season 1990 win.
33 - Keith Thomas, Had Tools
Keith Thomas chose a pro baseball career over college track.
34 - Lee Tinsley, Very Satisfying
Lee Tinsley felt better at the plate. He also had his best season.
35 - Ed Tredway, Big Switch
Ed Tredway hoped he'd return to baseball. He didn't return.
36 - Todd Van Poppel, Kept Playing
Todd Van Poppel had a long career, just not the career everyone hoped.
37 - Darryl Vice, That Situation
Darryl Vice wasn't trying to hit a home run.
38 - Jim Waggoner, Tie Broken
Jim Waggoner broke a 1994 minors tie with a home run.


1990 Southern Oregon Athletics (33)
1 - Eric Booker, Big Adjustment
Eric Booker made the adjustment from college to the pros. He couldn't make the majors.
2 - Brad Brimhall, Continued Hoping
Brad Brimhall played in the minors to make the majors. He never made it.
3 - Scott Budner, Make It
Scott Budner wanted to make the bigs himself. He then helped others as a coach.
4 - Jeff Clifford, Touched Off
Jeff Clifford helped touch off a brawl with 1990 pitch. He played a single season as a pro.
5 - Craig Connolly, Good Pitches
Craig Connolly had a top year Penn in 1990. He played four seasons as a pro.
6 - Mark Craft, Stolen Pass
Mark Craft helped seal a VMI win with a stolen pass. He played one pro season in baseball.
7 - Kevin Dattola, Team Builder
Kevin Dattola became a team builder in independent ball.
8 - Jim Dillon, That Opportunity
Jim Dillon stayed in college and improved his draft spot. He played three pro seasons.
9 - Kirk Dressendorfer, Different Life
Kirk Dressendorfer made the majors quickly, then injuries came. Never made it back.
10 - Grady Fuson, Hung In
Grady Fuson hung in there and has had long career as manager, scout and assistant general manager.
11 - Chaon Garland, Final Level
Chaon Garland gained confidence in the pros. He played four seasons, never made the bigs.
12 - Chris Hart, Good One
Chris Hart helped future major leaguer Derek Lowe have a bad outing. He never made the bigs himself.
13 - Eric Helfand, Shut Down
Eric Helfand had a great throwing arm in high school. It took him to the majors.
14 - Scott Henry, All-Conference
Scott Henry made his college's all-conference team.
15 - Doug Johns, Pitch Variety
Doug Johns showed pitch variety in his first major league win.
16 - Luis Lanfranco, That Play
Luis Lanfranco made the play of the game in a 1991 contest. Played three seasons.
17 - Manny Martinez, Wasn't Nervous
Manny Martinez wasn't nervous upon his return to the bigs. He then had his two best seasons.
18 - Rafael Mercado, Felt Comfortable
Rafael Mercado worked hard in independent ball and felt comfortable. He never made AA.
19 - Mike Muhlethaler, Loosey-Goosey
Mike Muhlethaler called on his old coach to help him turn pro. He played a single season.
20 - Eric Myers, Molder of People
Eric Myers was a molder of people as a college coach. He passed away in 2007 from a brain tumor.
21 - Glenn Osinski, Fifth Inning
Glenn Osinski helped his Modesto team to a win. He played two pro seasons.
22 - Don Peters, Didn't Complain
Don Peters got selected by the Athletics and he couldn't complain.
23 - Bill Picketts, His Future
Bill Picketts saw his future as a utility guy. He played just three seasons.
24 - Todd Revenig, Did Claim
Todd Revenig made it to the bigs when others didn't. He then didn't give up a run.
25 - Carlos Salazar, Triple Crown
Carlos Salazar won his district triple crown in college. He played four seasons as a pro.
26 - Curtis Shaw, Walk On
Curtis Shaw arrived at Kansas as a walk-on. He left as the 36th pick overall. 
27 - Glenn Sudbury, Good Location
Glenn Sudbury threw a no-hitter at Utah. He played four seasons as a pro, never made bigs.
28 - Carlos Tamarez, Perfect Bunt
Carlos Tamarez put down a perfect bunt in a 1990 game. He played just two seasons as a pro.
29 - Dave Tripp, Concentrated On
Dave Tripp settled down after he started concentrating. He played a single season as a pro.
30 - Todd Van Poppel, Kept Playing
Todd Van Poppel's career wasn't as everyone had hoped. But he still had a long one.
31 - Dan Vizzini, Good Year
Dan Vizzini had a good year in college in 1990. He played just two seasons as a pro.
32 - Ernie Young, Most Successful
Ernie Young won the Athletics leadoff spot in 1996. He played in eight major league seasons.
33 - Dave Zancanaro, His Goal
Dave Zancanaro's career began with high hopes. Then injuries happened.

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