Coming out of Clemson in 1980, pitcher Mike Brown expected to be a first-round pick - until he he hurt his back during laundry, he told The Hartford Courant later.
He didn't really hurt it, it was more like spasms, he told The Courant, but it was enough to scare some scouts away and he dropped to round two and the Boston Red Sox.
"I'm not going to criticize the scouts, but my coach and I told them if they wanted to get a doctor to check me out, they could," Brown told The Courant in April 1983. "But they didn't. The only team that struck with me was Boston."
With that, he was in the majors by 1982, eventually seeing time in six big league campaigns. He's later credited as becoming a coach - and a scout - himself.
Brown's career in baseball began that year in 1980, taken by the Red Sox 48th overall out of Clemson.
He played his first two seasons at single-A Winter Haven and Winston-Salem. He made AA Bristol in 1982. Then, that September, he debuted with Boston.
He saw three relief outings with the Red Sox and picked up a win. He didn't give up an earned run in six innings.
Going into 1983, Brown looked to stick around, he told The Daily Hampshire Gazette.
"I think it showed me what the big leagues were like," Brown told The Gazette about his 1982 stint. "I got some experience being around during a pennant race, and I think the whole thing helped me mature as a ballplayer."
Brown saw 19 outings, 18 starts with the Red Sox in 1983. He then saw another 15, 11 starts in 1984. After seeing just two major league outings in 1985, he returned for 21 in 1986, moving to Seattle mid-year.
He then saw one final outing with the Mariners in 1987 and played 1988 at AAA Colorado Springs to end his career.
Brown then moved into coaching. He coached 1989 in college at George Mason. He moved to the minors for 1990 with the Yankees at high-A Prince William, 1991 at high-A Fort Lauderdale and 1992 and 1993 at AAA Columbus.
He's then credited as becoming a scout, with the Indians, Royals, Mets and then, by 2010, Diamondbacks.
- Daily Hampshire Gazette, March 31, 1983: Brown likes majors, so he's staying
- Hartford Courant, April 20, 1983: All Comes Out in The Wash
Made the Majors:1,356-33.1%
Never Made Majors:2,738-66.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:552
10+ Seasons in the Minors:335
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