Tom Duffin played 2 seasons, became top high school coach

The Salt Lake City Trappers went on a bit of a run in July 1990, winning four straight, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote. 

After the fourth win, Salt Lake hitter Tom Duffin, who'd provided two key singles and a stolen base in the fourth win, attempted to explain to The Tribune his team's success.

"Our manager wants us to run at every opportunity and it's paying off," Duffin told The Tribune. "Also, we are playing better now because we are more relaxed."

Duffin spoke then in his second pro season. It also proved his last. He made single-A. He then went on to a coaching career himself, where he became one of the top high school coaches in Florida.

Duffin's pro career began in 1989, taken by the Mariners in the 30th round of the draft out of the University of South Alabama.

Duffin played his high school ball at the Miami-area Pace High - the same high school he would later coach. He impressed as a player.

"He can hit, he can field, he can run," Duffin's high school coach John Messina told The Miami Herald in April 1985 as Duffin was hitting .541. "He's one of the first to come to practice, the last to leave. I'm absolutely shocked by his stats. He's in a world of his own."

With the Mariners. Duffin played at single-A San Bernardino in 1989. He got into 38 games and hit .200. That season proved his only season with the organization.

Duffin moved to Salt Lake City for 1990. He got into 65 games there and hit .306, with four home runs and 11 stolen bases to end his career.

Duffin soon returned to Pace as an assistant coach. He spent five seasons in that role before becoming head coach in 1999. He stayed head coach until his retirement in 2024. He continued serving as athletic director.

Along the way, Duffin won more than 500 games, won 16 district titles and two state titles, The Herald wrote. 

"It's been an honor and privilege to have been able to coach at my alma mater for the last 30 years," Duffin told The Herald. "I'll always cherish the wonderful relationships that I've had with my coaches, players and the many families who supported me throughout the years."

• Miami Herald, April 11, 1985: On a bad day, Tom Duffin goes two-for-five
• Salt Lake Tribune, July 19, 1990: Slow-Starting Trappers Clip Gate City
• Miami Herald, Jan. 30, 2024: Longtime Monsignor Pace baseball coach Tom Duffin to step down

More: The 1990 Salt Lake City Trappers

1990 Minor League Tally 

Players/Coaches Featured:4,480
Made the Majors:1,426-31.8
Never Made Majors:3,054-68.2%-X

5+ Seasons in the Majors:577

10+ Seasons in the Minors:357