Tracy Jobes went from Mississippi State to Salt Lake

Memphis-area high schooler Tracy Jobes signed with Mississippi State in July 1985 to play college baseball and Mississippi State head coach Ron Polk couldn't have been happier, The Germantown News wrote.

Jobes had earned All-Metro Memphis honors his junior and senior years and earned class Player of the Year honors, The News wrote.

"He's a top athlete from a very fine Germantown program under Coach Sykes," Polke told The News. "and we are happy to have an outstanding young player like Tracy Jobes coming into our baseball program."

Jobes went on to play four years at Mississippi State and to turn pro, signed as a free agent by independent Salt Lake City. His pro career, however, proved brief, one season.

At Mississippi State, Jobes helped his team to a win in the 1989 NCAA South Regional, giving up just two hits over eight innings.

"I don't think that I've pitched a better game in all the years I've been here," Jobes told reporters afterward.

Mississippi State missed out on the 1989 College World Series, but made it there in 1990, with Jobes' help. They got a single win there, one claimed by Jobes in a 15-1 rout.

"He's always complaining we don't get him enough runs," teammate John Cohen joked of Jobes after the lopsided win, according to The Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "He's just a real tough competitor."

Jobes ended up going 8-5 for Mississippi State that year, with a 3.75 ERA. He then went undrafted. Mid-June, he signed with independent Salt Lake City.

With Salt Lake, Jobes saw 13 outings, three starts. He went 1-1, with a 6.95 ERA. Those games proved the extent of his pro career.

• Germantown News, July 4, 1985: Jobes Signs With Miss. State, Part 2
• Hattiesburg American, May 26, 1989: State blasts W. Carolina, 8-0
• Jackson Clarion-Ledger, June 4, 1990: Dogs have their day

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,458
Made the Majors:1,424-31.9
Never Made Majors:3,034-68.1%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:356

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Roberto Jimenez, Early Start, 3/15/15
 - Vincent Jiminez, More Fleeting, 7/1/15
 - Mike Jirschele made ML in 37th year, 5/17/14

 - Mike Jockish pitched well in summer league; Played three pro seasons, 11/6/23
 - Doug Johns, Pitch Variety, 12/12/15
 - Anthony Johnson, College List, 7/2/15
 - Ben Johnson scored winning run in high school playoff game; Played single season as pro, 3/10/20
 - Billy Johnson, Polished Pitcher, 9/1/14
 - Brian Johnson, Daily Battle, 1/3/15
 - Brian Johnson initially bypassed pros for college; Saw five pro seasons later, made AAA, 8/7/22