Normally an infielder, Portland Sea Dog Joe Aversa sometimes found himself playing elsewhere, including pitching, The Portland Press Herald wrote.
On this night in May 1996, he got an outfield assignment - and played a perfect carom to prevent a double, The Press Herald wrote.
"Man, you just found yourself another position," Portland teammate Pookie Wilson responded to Aversa, The Press Herald wrote.
That season marked Aversa's seventh in the pros. He went on to see one more. He topped out at AAA.
Aversa's career began in 1990, taken by the Cardinals in the 45th round of the draft out of Southern California Christian College.
Aversa started with the Cardinals at rookie Johnson City and in the rookie Arizona League. That August, as the regular Johnson City third basemen, he got an early fill-in role on the mound. Overall, he hit .177 in 50 games and pitched in two games.
He moved to single-A Springfield for 1991. In 78 games there, he hit .234. He had an RBI single in a May game.
He saw high-A St. Petersburg and AA Arkansas in 1993, then Arkansas again in 1993. He made AAA Louisville in 1995. He saw 85 games there and hit .220.
For 1996, he played 13 games with the Mets at AA Binghamton and 54 with the Marlins at AA Portland. He hit .234 overall in 67 games.
That August, he struck out against Bowie pitcher Jim Dedrick, who he grew up with and who was also his wife's brother, The Press Herald wrote. Both families also were in town for the game.
"You know, 20 years down the road this is probably some place we'll be back to visit," Aversa told The Press Herald after leading his relatives on a tour. "We'll say remember when?"
Aversa played one more season, 1997 at single-A Kane County, to end his career. He's then credited as briefly coaching in 2000 with short-season Utica.
Made the Majors:1,423-32.1
Never Made Majors:3,012-67.9%-X
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