The Chicago Tribune caught up with the Kane County Cougars, including Jose Millares, in August 1991 about the challenges of playing minor league baseball, and living, in a larger market.
Millares spoke to The Tribune of stretching meal money with grocery store trips. He also compared it with where he and his teammates all wanted to be, the majors.
"This makes you really appreciate what you're striving for," Millares told The Tribune then. "Ten years ago, players didn't even get this much meal money and the pay was worse. Those players suffered, but they're there. They loved the game, and they're up there now."
For Millares, he ultimately experienced the minors over seven seasons. He never made the majors. He topped out at AA.
Millares' career began in 1990, taken by the Orioles in the 38th round of the draft out of Azusa Pacific University.
Millares started with the Orioles at rookie Bluefield. He got into 48 games and hit .273.
He moved to single-A Kane County for 1991. He hit .271 in 114 games there. That June, he hit a three-run double to give his team the lead, The South Bend Tribune wrote.
"He jammed me," Millares told The South Bend Tribune of the starter. "I got the same pitch (on the double) and I got a hold of it."
Millares played 1992 at high-A Frederick. He then first made AA Bowie for 30 games in 1993. He hit .280 there.
Millares then played all of 1994 at Bowie, as the team got settled in the unfinished Prince George's Stadium. He returned to Bowie in 1995 and a finished stadium. He compared the two experiences to The Baltimore Sun, calling it "like night and day."
"I'd like to be at (AAA) Rochester, but I am so happy to be here, too," Millares told The Sun. "I didn't want to go through Bowie without getting a taste of this finished park."
Millares hit .225 in 89 games at Bowie in 1994, then .248 in 120 games there in 1995. Millares returned to Bowie again in 1996. He saw 25 games then and .186 to end his career.
- South Bend Tribune, June 13, 1991: S.B. Sox lose Keith Strange, arguments, game to Cougars
- Chicago Tribune, Aug. 13, 1991: Cougars
- Baltimore Sun, April 13, 1995: Finished Bowie home is sweet
Made the Majors:1,424-32.0
Never Made Majors:3,030-68.0%-X
More 1990 Minor Leaguers:
- Dave Miley, Worked Out, 12/1/12
- Sam Militello, Good Start, 9/8/15
- Bernie Millan, Stretch Run, 3/11/17
- Gar Millay, Good Ballplayer, 1/13/12
- Darrell Miller, Doing His Job, 4/30/10
- Dave Miller, Sinker Guy, 5/25/13
- David Miller, Complete Game, 12/16/11
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