The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, then and now.

[Tobywan]

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He signed with the Cleveland Indians on January 3, 2006 becoming their 5th starter, he made 14 starts with a 3-8 record and a 5.96 ERA before being designated for assignment on June 20th, the day after his contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox. Boston pitchers Matt Clement, David Wells and Lenny Dinardo had all gone to the disabled list.






Bullpen Coach Al Nipper chats with Johnson

He made 6 starts for Boston before being optioned to the A+ Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League. He only played one game before being sent to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the IL, he went 0-4 in those 6 starts with a miserable 7.36 ERA and was recalled to the Sox on August 1st . He was designated on the 18th and released. He signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on August 30th. He was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats of the IL, he played one game when his contract was purchased by the Reds, he made 4 appearances an was a free agent on October 31st.

Somewhere during this last couple of years he and Stacey ended their marriage, was unable to find any information on whether or not they had children together.

On January 10, 2007 he signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League, he made 7 starts going 1-4 with a 4.35 ERA. His contract was for one year at $3 million (US) and loaded with incentives that weren't met.


On February 8, 2008 he signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was assigned to the Las Vegas 51s in the PCL making 16 starts (20 appearances) with a 11-5 record an a 3.82 ERA. He had a stipulation in his contract that if he wasn't called up by June 1st or at the lastest July 23rd he could be released from the contract.



He was dominating but when June 1st rolled around it was Clayton Kershaw who got the call up, he considered invoking his option but decided to wait until the alternate date. He turned down the Pacific Coast-International League All-Star team selection of starting pitcher to make his regular start with the 51s because he wanted to get back to the majors. His contract was purchased by the Dodgers on July 18th, he was used mostly in relief with 16 appearances (2 starts) going 1-2 with a 5.2 ERA.



He was left off the Dodgers play-off roster after they won their division. They swept the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, but were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in the NLCS. He was once again a free agent on October 31st.

Johnson received an invitation to spring camp on a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on January 6, 2009, but just before he was to report he went to the eye doctor for a new exam and contact lenses and the ophthalmologist found an abnormality in his right eye. He went to the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, where his father would meet him for his appointment. He was diagnosed with cancer of the retina formally known as choroidal melanoma, treatment was to surgically implant a radiation plaque on his eye that he would have to wear for four days, he was to stay in bed with as little movement as possible. Jason had recently proposed to his girlfriend Ember, she had gone to visit her mother when he gave her the news. His father John stayed with him day and night at a hotel, while Dad was worried about his son's life, all Jason could talk about was the life he wanted with his new fiance. He met Ember just the summer before while with the 51's on a flight to Salt Lake City, she was then a flight attendant for Skywest Airlines, he proposed before he left for camp a few days before Valentine's Day. She went with him for his post-op exam, he was responding very well to treatment and soon returned to camp. He started the season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the IL, but in just a few weeks he went on the DL with torn cartilage in his labrum.



Jason shows a young boy hold to grip a ball as Ember looks on, Johnson speaks often to children to not let the disease keep them from doing anything they enjoy.

He tried to rehab the arm without surgery which included a 2 game stint with the AA Trenton Thunder of the EL then went back to Scranton on July 2nd, he couldn't get any kind of stability and was released on August 6th. He then re-signed a minor league deal with the LA Dodgers, but it was discovered that he had a strain to his rotator cuff, had to have surgery that finished his season.




On November 15, 2009 Jason and Ember (nee Blueggel) were married in Maui, Hawaii. He took 2010 off to continue healing and spend time with his new bride.

He signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Independent Atlantic League on March 8, 2011. He started 8 games going 0-6 with a 10.92 ERA in 29.2 IP, before he was complaining of shoulder problems and left the team in early June.







On March 21, 2013 he signed with the Amarillo Sox in the American Association of the Independent League, he went 5-6 in 18 starts with 2 complete games and a 5.40 ERA in 108.1 IP and was released on October 8th.



His last MLB appearance was on September 26, 2008 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 11 seasons with 8 different teams he had a 56-100 record, 4.99 ERA, 810 strikeouts in 1,357 innings pitched.




He and Ember are still very active in Junvenile Diabetes awareness making many appearances at hospitals and clinics and Ember has written a book about the desease and tips on cooking for diabetics.

Jason and Ember reside in Tampa, Florida, they have one daughter Cavalli.



Jason with baby girl April 2014

[Tobywan]

Tim Laker #16 (26) (36)-Catcher

Timothy John Laker was born on November 27, 1969 in Encino, California. Tim and his brother Mike both played baseball for the Santa Susana Baseball League in their youth, their father Bill and mother Mary ( born in Fukuoka, Japan) made sure their children got to all their sporting events, the boys played baseball while daughters Christi and Wendee played soccer. Tim snd Mike also attended and played for the Simi Valley High School Pioneers. Tim had a 20 game hitting streak as a senior, the record still stands (as of 2014), he graduated in 1987. Two other Pioneer teammates would figure very prominently in Tim's life, Don MacLean and Scott Radinsky.


Laker was selected in the 49th round of the amateur draft by the Kansas City Royals on June 2, 1987 but did not sign. He decided to play ball at Oxnard Community College in California for the Condors.


He was selected in the 6th round of the June 1, 1988 amateur draft by the Montreal Expos with just one year of college ball under his belt he was signed on June 3rd by Kevin Malone the Expos Director of Scouting (later LA Dodgers GM). He was assigned to the A- class Jamestown Expos of the NYPL. He started the 1989 season with Jamestown, then promoted to the Single-A Rockford Expos of the Midwest League. He finished the season with a .223 BA . He spent the majority of the 1990 season with Rockford, he hit 18 doubles, 7 home runs with a .221 BA. He was promoted playing 2 games with the High-A West Palm Beach Expos in the FSL, where he started in 1991, playing his last 11 games with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League.





He finished the season with 16 doubles and 6 home runs batting .236. Tim would begin the 1992 season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators of the EL. While he was toiling in the minors hoping for a chance to start a career in the majors another fellow, a catcher for the Montreal Expos was nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career. Gary Carter would be hanging up his cleats at the end of the season. Laker known more his defensive skills was hitting .242 with 19 doubles and 15 home runs at Harrisburg when he got his call. He made his ML debut on August 18, 1992 against the Atlanta Braves taking over for Gary Carter in defense at the top of the 8th. The Braves were already ahead 4-1 and scored one run in that inning to win the game 5-1, Laker did not get to bat.




When Laker got up to the big club Expos vice president of business operations, Bill Stoneman noticed how thin Laker had become, he notified the team's medical staff to have him evaluated. He was diagnosed with colitis and a plan was developed to treat him and get his weight back. He caught 28 games until the end of the season. Tim would later recall one of his most treasured memories from Montreal that season which occurred during a game against the Chicago Cubs, On September 27, it was the last home game for the Expos and for teammate Gary Carter. Laker had been
picking Carter's brain every chance he got as his back-up and hopefully his successor. On that night Carter hit a go ahead double that flew over his former teammate Andre Dawson causing a thunderous clang from the crowd at Olympic Stadium. Laker went out to second base to take over as a pinch runner and Carter hugged him as a "passing the torch" kind of gesture. Tim had only just received his first promotion a month earlier, Carter had logged 2,300 games .

It was a struggle at first getting his colitis under control. His fiance Ginger would spend time at his bedside during multiple hospital stays with her laptop learning everything she could about the disease. Tim and Ginger met through his best friend, former classmate and teammate from Simi Valley High, Don MacLean. Don went on to be a UCLA standout and a professional NBA player. Ginger had to get it through Tim's head to change his diet, he loved fried foods, that was out. He loved katsu, a deep-fried chicken dish prepared by his Japanese-American mother, Mary, that was out, too. Fish and natural chicken would be the staple from now on if he wanted to keep the disease under control and his weight at a healthy level.




Laker began the 1993 season with the Expos but he began struggling, when his BA hit .198 after 43 appearances and just 14 starts he was sent to the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx of the IL on August 13th. He was pretty down, but that didn't last long as he developed a good relationship with then manager Jim Tracy. He would be in Ottawa for the rest of the season and all of 1994, running Tracy ragged in the batting cages everyday. He had the time of his life and his best season to date batting .309, with 32 doubles, 12 home runs, 71 RBIs and a .860 OPS and was a member of the International League All-Star team. In 1995 he was back with the Expos the back up to Darrin Fletcher. During one game in August, he hit a ninth-inning, game winning home run against the Phillies. Near the end of the season he injured his elbow requiring Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of the 1996 season. He started the spring with the Expos but was placed on waivers and claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on March 25, 1997, he was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the IL. He was called up to the Orioles on June 18th he appeared in just seven games before being designated for assignment on July 18th and released. He was granted free agency on October 17th.


He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on November 18, 1997, during spring training in 1998 he was assigned to the Durham Bulls of the IL.



He is credited with hitting the first home run for the Bulls after being given Triple-A level status on April 9th. His contract was purchased on May 26th when catcher John Flaherty was placed on the disabled list. In his first game with the Rays on May 29th in Seattle, he started the game at DH.
His first at bat was leading off in the 3rd against Randy Johnson where he walked and later scored, then singled in the 5th and struck out swingng in the 7th, the Devil Rays lost 6-2.



He played in just 3 games before being designated for assignment on June 20th, he refused and was granted free agency on the 26th. On July 9th he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League.




In just 44 games he hit 16 doubles, 11 home run and batted .365, he got a call up on September 8th to the Pirates got in 14 games during the last month.



Tim married Ginger on October 19, 1998. He was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 18th

He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 11, 1999, he failed to make the team and was traded back to the Pirates for a PTBNL on March 26th. The Pirates sent Jason Ryan to finish the deal. He spent the entire season with Nashville hitting .269, with 29 doubles and 12 home runs. He was called up to the Pirates on September 13th where he made 6 appearances. He was granted free agency on October 14th, but re-signed on December 20th. Spending 2000 with the Sounds, he batted .247 with 28 doubles and 19 homers but never played a game for the Pirates and was given free agency on October 18th.

On December 20th he signed with the Cleveland Indians, he joined the team knowing full well he would be a back up catcher and was now at a point where that suited him just fine. It was during this time with the Indians that he relished a mentoring role for many of the younger players getting him thinking about continuing a life in baseball after his playing days were done. He wasn't quite ready though to go into coaching yet, he wanted
to try to play at least a couple more years.








Laker colliding into Tampa Bay's catcher, Javier Valentin, at home plate.

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He enjoyed his time with Cleveland, a more personal reason was being reunited with his old friend and former high school teammate Scott Radinsky who had been bopping around the Majors since 1990. They got even more close this time. He was assigned to minor league camp on March 27th, 2001 his contract was purchased on June 19th but he was designated on July 27th, he accepted and was recalled again by the Indians on September 1st. The next night he pitched the ninth inning in a hopelessly lost game, he faced five batters giving up a hit, a walk and struck out one. He played in just 16 games for the Tribe spending the rest of the time with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the IL hitting .247 with 13 doubles and 20 home runs. He caught the eye of Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro while working with some of the minor-league players.

Ever since he had been diagnosed with colitis he had to have a colonoscopy done every 2 years , in November 2001 he went to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica for his usual exam, but doctors decided to do something different. They gave him an exam that required him to drink a liquid dye, it was an outpatient procedure, and Laker went home that afternoon. His wife Ginger was at work when she got the an emergency call from Simi Valley Hospital that Tim had become very ill. His body had rejected the dye and was damaging his pancreas. By the time Ginger got to the hospital Tim was in the ICU, he had gone into cardiac arrest, one of his lungs collapsed along with suffering kidney failure and liver damage doctors warned her that the prognosis didn't look good. They asked her how they should handle life saving measures should Tim need to be put on a respirator, did she have power of attorney, were his affairs in order. She asked if he could be moved to St John's since they had been monitoring his condition, but doctors warned that transporting him might kill him. As days went by the news got more grim instead of positive, she kept some details from him. She was terrified that she was about to lose her 32 year old husband, just a month earlier they had celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary. He slowly improved and after 10 days he was sent home, then he spent all of January getting treatments at UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent more surgery. During those months he lost 50 lbs, one day while at UCLA he lost his cool from frustration at the fatigue and rapid weight loss. He tried to pull out his feeding tube and IVs yelling at Ginger that he had to go, he had to get ready for spring training. She had to break it to him that he wasn't going this year.

The Indians released him from his contract on March 1st, but re-signed him to a minor league contract on the 5th so he could attend extended spring training, rehab as well as get his strength and weight back working out in the minors. His spirits were lifted from frequent visits by Radinsky, Scott had also suffered from a medical issue, he was a survivor of Hodgkin's disease.

When the Indians opened the 2002 season on the West Coast, Laker went to Dodger Stadium for an exhibition at Dodger Stadium to see his teammates. They were shocked by his weight loss, even though he had gained back 20 pounds. After spring camp he was sent to the disabled list, then played 13 games in a minor-league rehab with the Single-A Columbus Red Stixx of the South Atlantic League before finishing the season in Buffalo. He was named the Bisons Most Inspirational Player of the Year.



He thought he would retire if he had to spend another season in the minors but after almost losing his life he was thrilled to just be playing. He re-signed to a minor league contract with the Indians on December 18th. Tim rejoined the Tribe back to his original 225 pounds and beat out A.J. Hinch for the reserve catching role out of spring, His contract was purchased on March 29, 2003 splitting time with Victor Martinez as back-up catcher to Josh Bard.






Tim with stepson Brando at Yankee Stadium 2003.

He re-signed on October 17th, avoiding arbitration and once again made the team out of spring in 2004.



Laker with Omar Vizquel

The Indians had a particularly rough few days near the end of April, the staff had given up 32 runs in three nights, arms
were tired, so once again on the night of the 20th in a 15-5 blow out Eric Wedge decided to trot out Laker to pitch in the 9th. He pitched a hitless, scoreless inning (he gave up one walk) to the delight of the crowd at Jacob's Field.




Laker waves to the Tribe fans after ending a 15-5 rout.




Mark Bellhorn scores on Laker in the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston, May 12, 2004.




Indians manager Eric Wedge, P Rick White and Laker plead with umpire Marty Foster not to toss White after he hit Bucky Jacobsen of the Mariners on July 18 2004 at Safeco Field.





As the back up for Victor Martinez he was limited to 44 games. After the end of the season, he was designated for assignment, refused and was made a free agent on October 7th.

He re-signed with the Devil Rays on December 15th to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.





He was originally assigned to Durham, but his contract was purchased on April 8th to back- up Toby Hall when Charles Johnson had to take a sudden leave of absence for a personal matter. He played one game and when Johnson returned on the 12th, Laker was designated, cleared waivers and sent outright to Durham. He finished the season with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and batting .226. He became a free agent on October 5th. He went back to the Indians signing a minor league contract on December 16th. On April 1, 2006 he was assigned to Buffalo, but his contract was purchased on May 20th, when Kelly Shoppach was sent down, the following month they were swapped again with Laker being designated, he accepted and finished the season with the Bisons. He was once again named the Bisons Most Inspirational Player. He retired after the season making his last ML appearance June 18, 2006.

In an 11 year major league career he finished with a .266 BA with 11 home runs and 79 RBIs in 282 games.


Soon after former director of player development John Farrell wanted Laker to become a roving instructor for the Indians, Laker declined. He wanted something a little more, he wanted management he weaseled his way into a deal that he would be an instructor during the 2007 spring training season and when the short-season Mahoning Valley Scrappers took the field in May, he would make his managerial debut. He got a one-bedroom apartment in the small town of Niles, Ohio just blocks from Eastwood Field where the Scrappers play. He was back riding buses in the minor leagues where he spent a good majority of his 19 years in the game.



The Scrappers finished in 7th place with a 37-37 record. He ended up in the hospital over the winter though as after an 11 year remission his colitis flared up.

Illness would not be the only problem he would have that off season as he was named in the George J. Mitchell Report released on December 13, 2007. As an employee of MLB, he was required to cooperate during interviews and Tim decided to face the music, he was very forthcoming about his connection to Kirk Radomski, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee. He detailed how he purchased Deca-Durabolin and testosterone 4 different times from 1995-1999 including that he injected himself with the drugs in the buttocks once a week for a few months. He described how he was introduced to Radomski by former teammate David Segui, but refused to divulge or point fingers at any other players that he may have had knowledge of using or give his opinion on how prevalent steroids were in the game.



When questioned during spring training of 2008 a very contrite Johnson answered the media's request for a statement by saying he made a poor decision, it was a big mistake, that all he could do was ask for forgiveness and try to move on. Whenever the subject has come up he speaks of regret, wishing he had taken a different path and passes on advice to younger players including students at his former high school to stay away from steroids, he would sometimes even jokingly refer to his less than mediocre offensive numbers to show they might not even give them the edge they want. He alluded to one reason he felt they might help him was because of his constant battle to keep weight on, keeping up a healthy weight equals keeping up strength . He fully admitted that he didn't think through the future ramifications of interrogations, coming clean to his family and the grilling they had to face. He was especially grieved that his mother had endure questioning so shortly before her death on May 22, 2008. He has stated that he had been considering steroids for years before 1995 and that he stopped in 1999. He stated there was no one specific reason why, but he felt they really weren't working, he was still having issues with weight and pointed out that he didn't get full time status until 2 years after he stopped using. He expressed a desire to continue working in the game and hoped he would be given the opportunity.

Manager Eric Wedge supported Laker and was pleased for him to continue in the Indians organization, due to his recent health battle he took the the job of "roving catching instructor" for the 2008.


On December 7, 2009, the Seattle Mariners named Laker as the manager of their Double-A affiliate West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League. In 2010 they finished in 4th place with a 73-66 record, they lost in the first round of the play-offs. On December 20, 2010 he was named hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights for the 2011 season, they went 69-74 placing third in the International League - South Division. He was named the Chicago White Sox minor league hitting coordinator in October 2011 and he is currently in that role.

He has taken part in the annual Simi Valley alumni games with other noted players like Jeff Weaver, Bryan Anderson and Scott Radinsky.

Tim and Ginger reside in Simi Valley, his step-son Brando played collegiate baseball for the University of Oregon Ducks.

Brando was selected in the 25th round of the June 7, 2014 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was assigned to their Class-A affiliate Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League, but just days later his contract was voided when a post draft X-ray showed a screw in Tessar's elbow even though the team was aware of his medical history. He has applied for a medical red-shirt with the NCAA so he can return to the Ducks, but was denied and is currently under appeal.



Tim, Brando and Ginger (2014)

[Tobywan]

Scott McClain #20 -Infielder


Scott Michael McClain was born on May 9, 1972 in Simi Valley, California to Terry and Mary McClain. He attended Atascadero High School (Atascadero, CA) playing basketball, baseball and football for the Greyhounds. He excelled as a quarterback completing 102 of 175 passes for 1,926 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. He was wooed by every Pac-10 school except UCLA and in March of 1990 he signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Southern California on a full football scholarship when they assured him he could play both football and baseball. He decided to forgo the football path to play pro baseball when he was selected in the 22nd round of the June 4, 1990 draft by the Baltimore Orioles and signed on June 7th.


He was assigned to the Rookie class Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League he even pitched an inning in one game and had a 9.00 ERA. He was promoted to the Single-A Kane County Cougars in the MIDW in 1991 but when he struggled he was sent back to Bluefield, he finished the season
batting 2.49 in 66 games. He spent the 1992 season with the Cougars batting .266 playing just 96 games. He was promoted to the High-A Frederick Keys of the Carolina League in 1993, he played in 133 games with 22 doubles , 9 home runs and .260 BA and was a member of the League all-Star team. He was moved up to the Double-A Bowie Baysox of the EL for the 1994 season batting .241 in 133 games with 29 doubles and 11 home runs.



After a few years struggling in the minors he admitted he was tempted to go back to football, he could still use the scholarship, but he loved baseball more. When he was drafted he saw no reason to delay a pro career, it was always his dream and he has never had any nagging regrets about the decision. Due to the strike he started 1995 with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in the IL then he finished the season back at Bowie. He finished with 23 doubles, 21 home runs and a .266 BA though committed a team high 27 errors. During this time Scott was considered the Orioles best 3B prospect in the organization. He played in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions.



He played all of 1996 with the Red Wings with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and a .281 BA. He was sent to the AFL again to play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

After seven seasons with the O's he was traded on March 22, 1997 along with Manny Alexander to the New York Mets for Hector Ramirez, they didn't have need for him on the big club either as he spent the entire year with their Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides of the IL. He finished with a .280 BA with 29 doubles and 21 home runs. Even though he was voted the best defensive third baseman in the International League the Mets didn't offer him a new deal and he was granted free agency on October 15th.



He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a minor league contract on December 16th with hopes of a new team, a new start and hopefully a real chance of establishing himself as a major league player.







That hope was dashed when he didn't make the opening day roster and was once again back in the minor leagues with Triple-A Durham Bulls in the IL. His contract was purchased but he didn't get into the game that night, the next game May 14th he was on the bench again, but in the ninth inning of a lost cause, Rays down 10-1 he got the signal to pinch hit for Kevin Stocker, he flied out to short right field. He got his first hit against Seattle on May 24th off of Randy Johnson. Shortly after he was sent down. He had career minor league highs in plate appearances, runs, hits, doubles, home runs (34), RBIs (109) and BA (.299) when he was recalled in late September. He was an IL All-Star and was named the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Minor League Player of the Year, leading the Bulls to their first appearance in the International League Champioships, though they lost to the Buffalo Bisons.



On February 06, 1999 he agreed to terms on a new one year deal. He had been asked by manager Larry Rothschild at the end of last season if he would be willing to go to fall instructional league to learn how to be a catcher. Scott was willing to do anything to get a shot at playing in the big leagues on a full time basis.Scott brought a cathcer's mitt with him to spring, but both John Flaherty and Mike DiFelice had good springs, they also both had very good seasons so he was never used as catcher. He lost out on the bench as well and spent the entire season with the Bulls and again made the All-Star team, finishing with 33 doubles, 28 homers, 104 RBIs and a .251 BA.The Bulls got to the championship finals again only to lose to the Charlotte Knights. He was realeased by the Devil Rays on December 13th. He had really hoped to fit in with Tampa Bay, his wife Jennifer was from Sarasota, Florida, they met while Scott was there for spring training with the Orioles and that is where they had decided to make their home.

On February 15, 2000 he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.



At the end of spring he was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL. He spent the entire season there hitting
.276 with 25 doubles and 25 home runs. He became a free agent on October 15th.


He signed with the Seibu Lions of the Japan Pacific League on January 1, 2001. He played for 3 seasons hitting 51 doubles,and 67 home runs, he only played 19 games in 2002 due to injury.


He signed with the Chicago Cubs on December 2, 2003, he had to really fight if he wanted to make the bench for 2004 as his two positions of first and third were blocked by Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. He had a very impressive spring going 16-for-48 with five doubles, six home runs and 16 RBI, one of his homers was the only run of a win against a spring game that Greg Maddox started, but it was spring.




He was the last player cut from the 25-man roster on April 1st, instead of taking an assignment in Iowa he went back to play for the Lions, but only got into 35 games. He was invited back by the Cubs so he signed a minor league contract on February 8, 2005. He was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the PCL, he got a call up on August 28th but he struggled hitting just .143 in 13 games. With Iowa he hit 27 doubles and 30 homers with a .291 BA. He was granted free agency on October 6th.

He signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics on December 9, 2005, he spent the entire 2006 season with the Sacramento River Cats their Triple-A team in the PCL.




McClain with Keith Ginter

He batted .252 hitting 33 doubles and 28 home runs. He made the PCL All-Star team and was named the League's Most Valuable Player, but was not given a September call up. He became a free agent on October 15th.



He signed with the San Francisco Giants on November 18th. When the Giants opened their 2007 season Scott went to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League hitting .267 with 24 doubles and 31 home runs.



His contract was purchased on September 8th playing in 8 games. He was granted free agency on October 16th, but re-signed on November 2nd.
Once again he found himself at Triple-A, he hit a minor league career high 143 hits and finally hit .300, with 32 doubles, 29 home runs and 108 RBIs for the Grizzlies in 2008.



McClain with Doug Mientkiewicz






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He was called up to the Giants on September 2nd, flying to Colorado to meet the team for a series against the Rockies at Coors Field. The next day he would be in the line-up he got 2 hits, driving in two runs while starting at third base and had two RBI singles against Cook before he came to the plate in the sixth facing Steven Register, who he had batted against him in the minors. On the third pitch he belted the first home run of his major league career high and deep to left field. He took his time going around the bases, it had been a long time coming and at 36 years old he wanted to savor it. His teammates gave him the traditional treatment of ignoring him when he came into the dugout before erupting in hugs and high fives. He wasn't the oldest in history to send one into the stands but he was the oldest non-pitcher since Bob Thurman (who was a former Negro Leaguer) in 1955.








Scott McClain, left, is congratulated by second baseman Eugenio Velez, center, and shortstop Emmanuel Burriss after the Giants' 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Sept. 3, 2008.





He hit a second homer on September 6th. He was outrighted to Fresno, refused and was granted free agency on October 10th and re-signed on the 22nd.




Pirates Freddy Sanchez tries in vain to avoid a tag from McClain during a rundown between first and second base in the seventh inning San Francisco, Sept. 6, 2008.








On November 15, 2008 he was inducted into the Atascadero Greyhound Athletic Hall of Fame at a dinner at Santa Margarita Ranch. He earned a total of nine varsity letters in 3 sports, he was male athlete of the year as a senior, ALL-CIF in football and baseball and was SLO County Player of the Year in both sports. He was selected eight times to All-Los Padres League teams and was LPAL player of the year twice in baseball and once in football.







He had high hopes going into 2009 spring training camp, but again he was sent to the Grizzlies and his contract was sold to the Hiroshima Carp of the Japan Central League. Before he left the Grizzlies honored him with a bobble-head give away in July to mark his home run total of 292, more than any other active minor leaguer at the time and his over 1,000 runs/1,000 RBIs total.







On January 14, 2010 he signed a minor contract with the Chicago Cubs, but wasn't responding well after off season surgery and never got into playing shape, the Cubs kept him around as a coach for Iowa. He was granted free agency on November 6th. He retired in December.

His last major league appearance was September 26, 2008 with the San Francisco Giants.

He spent just part of 4 seasons in the majors finishing with a .192 BA, 15 hits, 11 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, 9 walks and 18 strike outs in 44 games. He spent 16 years in the minors collecting 1,684 hits, 1,040 runs, 357 doubles, 292 home runs, 1,115 RBIs 853 walks and 1,382 strike outs with a .357 BA in 1,783 games. A real life type "Crash Davis".

He became a a US-based scout for the Hiroshima Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in 2011 and is still working with them in that capacity. He covers the International League and cross checks with the scout covering the PCL. He usually makes two trips a year to their spring camp in Japan.

For all of those players out there that seem to make the game of baseball look effortless, there are the Scott McClains.



Scott and Jennifer still reside in Sarasota, Florida, they have one daughter named Kennedy (February 2006).

[Tobywan]

Brad Pennington # 57-LHP


Brad Lee Pennington was born April 14, 1969 in Salem, Indiana, he pitched for the Eastern High School (Pekin, Indiana) Musketeers and graduated in 1987. He attended Bellarmine College in Louisville, KY pitching for the Knights, he then went on to Vincennes University (Vincennes, IN) pitching for the Trailblazers.


He was selected by Baltimore in the 12th round of the June 5, 1989 Amateur Draft, he signed on June 9th. He was assigned to the Advanced-Rookie Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League going 2-7 with 14 starts and a 6.58 ERA. In 1990 he was promoted to the Single-A Wausau Timbers of the MIDW going 4-9 in 106 IP with a 5.18 ERA. He split the 1991 season with the Single-A Kane County Cougars of the MIDW and High A Frederick Keys of the Carolina League going 1-6 in 66,2 IP and a 4.59 ERA being used strictly in relief with 46 GF and 17 saves.




He met his future wife, Tara on a road trip to Durham while pitching for the Frederick Keys that year. He did a lot of traveling in 1992 spending time with the Keys, the AA Hagerstown Suns of the EL and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the IL. He went 3-5, with 39 GF, 14 saves in 76.1 IP while posting a 2.24 ERA. He got some extra time in the Arizona Fall League playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions.




Brad was very close to making the 1993 Opening Day roster, the decision to cut him was emotional for manager Johnny Oates and Pennington. He was visibly upset, he hadn't allowed a run all spring, but Mark Wiliamson and Fernando Valenzuela were also outstanding and Brad had minor league options left. He was sent to the Red Wings but was called up on April 17th, to make his debut at Camden Yards against the California Angels. Arthur Rhodes had started the game only lasting 3.1 innings, Mark Williamson followed pitching 2.1, Pennington came into face the fifth batter in the 6th. The game was tied 5-5, Williamson had put two one, so with runners at the corners and two outs, Brad faced Luis Polonia who hit a dribbler to short forcing the batter at 2nd to end the inning. In the 7th he retired the side in order, but in the 8th he walked Rene Gonzales the JT Snow tripled for the go ahead run and he was promptly replaced by Todd Frohwirth. The Angels would score once more and Brad was given the 7-5 loss.



He finished the season with the O's going 3-2, with 16 games finished, 4 saves and a 6.55 ERA in 33 IP. The team urged him to play winter ball as he had too much major-league service time to be eligible to play in the Arizona Fall League, he was reluctant and it turned out to be a disaster. Already losing his confidence, he went in with a bad attitude and the atmosphere surrounding the Mayaguez club of the Puerto Rican Winter League didn't help. Many teammates like Pudge Rodriquez quit due to differences with manager Rick Dempsey and the owner Carlos Mendez was constantly interfering with the roster. Pennington wanted to go, he wasn't pitching well and was drowning in self doubt. Dempsey tried to convince him to stay but when Mendez, who already wasn't pleased with his performance heard Brad was unhappy, he had no problem abruptly releasing him to save money. The Oriole's organization wasn't pleased, but were willing to give him every opportunity to prove himself.




He started the 1994 season with Baltimore, but his ERA blew up to 12.00 after just 6 innings pitched and he was demoted back to Rochester after he blew a game in Seattle on April 24th. The Orioles were leading 6-4 and he turned it into a 7-6 loss. During a game in early May against the Pawtucket Red Sox batter Luis Ortiz hit a ball back to the mound that struck Pennington on the side of his head. During his next 4 appearances he pitched 12 innings giving up no hits but walked 15. He went 6-8 with a 5.32 ERA with 9 starts, 17 GF in 35 games and 86.1 IP for the Red Wings.




Brad and Tara with Mike Mussina and Van Halen.


He made the Opening Day roster out of spring in 1995, he pitched 6.2 innings in 8 appearances going 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Tony Nieto (minors) and Danny Clyburn on June 16th. He was up with the Reds for about a month he pitched 9.2 innings with a 5.59 ERA before he was sent to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians of the American Association on July 17th where he didn't do much better, he finished with a 10.29 ERA in 14 IP. The O's were ready to wash their hands, he was granted free agency on October 16th.

On November 8th he signed with the Boston Red Sox and made their 1996 Opening Day roster.





He went 0-2, while he had 13 strikeouts in 13 innings during 14 appearances with a 2.77 ERA, he also had 15 walks. He was designated on May 5th and picked up on waivers by the California Angels on May 17th, he went to the DL on the 28th with inflammation in his left elbow. He made 2 rehab starts with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League before returning to the Angels on June 23rd. He was only there a couple of weeks before being demoted to the Vancouver Canadians their Triple-A affiliiate in the PCL. He went 3-0 for them with a 4.23 ERA in 27.2 IP. He ended up pitching just 7.1 innings for for the Angels with a 12.2 ERA for the season. He became a free agent on October 15th.

He and Tara welcomed their first child a daughter.

He signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on November 16th, they sent him to their complex in Tampa, Florida to work with pitching coach Billy Conners. The Yankees staff was stacked in the rotation and the pen and there just wasn't any room for someone as wild and inconsistent as Pennington, he was released at the end of spring training. He signed with the Kansas City Royals on April 30, 1997, he was assigned to their Double-A Wichita Wranglers of the Texas League then sent to Triple-A Omaha Royals of the AA. He finished the season going 2-1 with one start, 14 games finished, 3 saves with a 3.63 ERA in 62 IP. He was given free agency on October 15th.

He signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 8, 1998 with an invitation to their first Major League Spring Training camp.







The Rays pitching coach Rick Williams noticed right away he was having control problems, he felt it was mainly his delivery not coordinating with his size, so they worked on it. Manager Larry Rothschild wanted two lefties so every left hander had a shot. He didn't perform well though, was cut half way through spring and sent to minor league camp on March 13th. He was assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls, as pay back to the big club he defeated the Devil Rays during a rare exhibition in the first week of the season in Durham on April 6th.



He spent the entire season with the Bulls, going 4-4 with 6 starts wth 11 GF in 45 appearances, 1 save in 100 IP. After Durham lost the championship final to the
Buffalo Bison he was called up along with Dave Eiland when due to a double header on September 22nd against the Boston Red Sox. He got into the game the following night to relieve a struggling Julio Santana in the 3rd inning. He walked the first three batters, then he gave up a hit which led to a run before being replaced by Mike Duvall. The Rays lost 11-2. He retired none becoming the only pitcher in franchise history with a season ERA of infinity. He became a free agent on October 7th.

He was in negotiations on a deal to play in Japan but after it fell through he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on May 18, 1999 he was sent to Triple A Syracuse of the IL after injuries depleted the SkyChief's pitching staff. He went 3-0, in 27 appearances, with one save in 34 IP before he was released August 27th.

Brad's marriage to Tara ended in divorce in 2000.

He decided to give baseball another shot signing in 2001 with the Allentown Ambassadors of the Independent Northeast League going 4-2 with 8 starts in 50.2 IP, then he'd had enough and retired.

His last MLB appearance was September 22, 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he was 29 years old.

He spent just 5 seasons in the majors finishing with a 3-6 record, a 7.02 ERA with 31 GF, 4 saves in 75.2 IP during 79 games. Pennington averaged 10.59 walks per nine innings and one wild pitch every 6.9 innings in the majors. He still managed to average more than one strikeout per inning, and less than one hit per inning.In those 79 appearances he held opponents to a .225 average and minors just .212, he just couldn't seem to throw strikes.

After his career was over he went back to school attending North Carolina State University, graduating in 2003. He has been working for VPX, a vitamin and supplement supplier and is currently Southeast Regional Sales Manager.


Pennington was arrested on March 21, 2013 on a domestic battery charge, he was accused of attempted strangulation, but could no further details as to the relationship or the final verdict.




Brad resides in Hypoluxo, Florida (Palm Beach County). He has one daughter Kyrie Leigh (1996) from his marriage to Tara. Kyrie was a volleyball standout at Charlotte Christian School (North Carolina).

[Tobywan]

Bryan Rekar #56 (35) -RHP

Bryan Robert Rekar was born on June 3, 1972 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He attended Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois pitching for their baseball team the Celtics.

Bryan's uncle is Bob Bercich who was a defensive back for the Dallas Cowboy and his cousin was linebacker Pete Bercich who played for the Minnesota Vikings. Pete and Bryan were very close growing up together playing little league summer leagues (along with Bryan's older brother Paul) and went to high school together both playing for the Celtics. Before their senior year of high school, the boys decided to dye their hair which turned out pure white, Pete went to a barber but Bryan cut his own hair looking atrocious until the hair grew out. They would separate when it came to attending college, Pete went to Notre Dame to pursue a career in football. Bryan attended Bradley University in Peoria (1990-1993) and played for the Braves. He struggled as a freshman going 4-8 with 6.71 ERA, but he became the ace the next two seasons going 8-4 with a 2.33 ERA as a sophomore and 8-2 with a 2.45 ERA as a junior leading BU to a 40-16 record and a third-place Missouri Valley Conference finish. He made first-team all-MVC both seasons finishing his collegiate career with a 20-14 record and a 3.45 ERA.

During his major league career Rekar wore the jersey number 56 whenever it was available as that was Pete's number with the Minnesota Vikings.


He was selected in the second round of the June 3, 1993 amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies signing on June 7th. He was sent to the A- Bend Rockies of the Northwest League, he went 3-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 13 starts with one complete game.




He was moved up to the A+ Central Valley Rockies in the CALL he went 6-6 with 19 starts (22 games) and a 3.48 ERA to finish the 1994 season. He would start the 1995 season with the New Haven Ravens of the EL before being moved up to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL, after just seven games he was called up making his ML debut with a start on July 19th against the Philadelphia Phillies. The first batter he faced was Lenny Dykstra who singled to right, then another single from Gregg Jefferies to center. Dykstra would later score. He pitched 6.1 innings giving up 3 runs, 7 hits, one walk and hit Dykstra in the 5th, who scored again, he struck out 3. He was relieved after 106 pitches (73 strikes) after walking Dykstra in the 7th, being replaced by Lance Painter with the score of 5-3, neither team scored again, giving Rekar his first win. He would get 14 more starts going 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA and pitched one complete game. His minor league numbers for the season were 10-5 with 19 starts, 3 complete games and a 1.89 ERA.




He would split time between the Sky Sox and the Rockies in 1996. He made the Opening Day Roster out of spring but was demoted at the end of April after going 1-2 and ERA blew up to 13.97. He got another brief call up in June then went back to the Sky Sox until September 1st. His ML totals were 2-4 with a 8.95
ERA in 58.1 IP and minors were 8-8 in 19 starts with a 4.46 ERA in 123 IP. In 1997 he spent all but a week in the minors, he was called up near the end of June getting just 2 starts, his numbers with the Sky Sox were 10-9 in 25 starts, with a 5.46 ERA in 145 IP.

He was selected in the second round with the 38th pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the November 18, 1997 expansion draft.



He was in contention for a roster spot but suffered with back soreness through most of spring training that finally landed him on the DL to start the season, he was transferred to the 60 day disabled list on May 16th (retroactive to March 31st). He spent some time rehabbing the St. Petersburg Devil Rays in the FSL and at Durham before being activated and called up making his first start with the Rays on July 9th against the Yankees.


He pitched 5 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, one walk, one hit batter striking out one but taking the loss. When Rekar was told by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that a local TV station was sending a limousine to take him to a live interview, Rekar got an inspired idea. He bought a bottle of champagne, invited his girlfriend, Jami Dock to join him and then dropped to one knee and proposed to her in the back of the limo. He told the Tampa Tribune that popping the question wasn't really the hardest part. "She got all upset (after I proposed) and messed up her makeup, so I told her some dumb jokes, so she'd stop crying." He made himself available to the local press and even did movie reviews for the St Petersburg Times during the 1999 season, but his good rapport with the press would soon change.



In 1999 he was again battling for a rotation spot, he appeared to be healthy, he didn't make the opening day roster. He was soon up with the Devil Rays when injuries started to mount on the pitching staff. He swapped between starting and long relief as pitchers went to and were activated from the disabled list. He made 27 appearances with 12 starts going 6-6 with a 5.83 ERA before being optioned back to Durham when Wilson Alvarez was reactivated from the DL. .





He was well on his way to making the 2000 Opening Day roster, but a mishap with his lawn mower right as Spring games were starting put him on the DL until mid March, he was assessed again but the burns weren't healing well so he was out until the end of April. Jami banned him from mowing and got a service. The season would turn out to be his best performance wise, he logged the most innings (173.1), appearances (30) and starts (27) in his career. His personal life, his rapport with the media and the support of fans would be rocked though when on August 20th while the Devil Rays were in Chicago, police were called to the team hotel aound 1 am by hotel security to Rekar's room. His wife had joined him on the road trip, when officers arrived Jami Rekar's nose was bleeding and her face was swollen, acording to the report Bryan had hit Jamie in her face with his forearm. She refused medical treatment and to sign the arrest complaint stating she did not want her husband arrested. Due to the obvious injuries they took Rekar to jail he was released the next morning following a bond hearing. The team allowed him to continue as normal with the team stating they would allow the "judicial process" to play out. The Rays did receive some cristism over the decision especially from the media, by this time the crowds had dwindled at the Trop anyway. Rekar made a start for the Devil Rays just 4 days after his arrest at the Metrodome against the Twins.There were letters to the editors of local papers, most calling for Rekar to be benched at the very least, with handful of folks siding with the Rays that he should play until it was decided if this was "abuse" or "accident". Rekar was given a court date of October 6, 2000, but on September 5th the misdemeanor domestic battery charges against Rekar were dropped because the state of Illinois felt they didn't have enough solid evidence to make a case after speaking to both the arresting officer and Jami. According to authorities there had also been no history of any other domestic abuse or at least not involving the police. In the aftermath, Bryan's only statement to the St Pete Times was "We are pleased that this incident is over", he thanked the Rays for their handling of the situation and went on to comment ," "I'd like to have as much written about this being dismissed as when you made it big news. And now I don't ever have to talk to you again." 2001 would not be his best season. He went 13 straight starts without recording a win, it is unclear as to why with so many others getting demoted and even given up on, the Devil Rays stuck so long with Rekar. They may not have had much choice with so many injuries among the staff.



On July 20th he was sent to the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder rehabbed a few games with the Orlando Rays of the SOUL , he returned on August 26th, finishing the season at the majors. He finished that season with a 3-13 record and a 5.89 ERA in 25 starts. He was released by the D-Rays on December 13th. Bryan held the Rays franchise record for innings pitched with 495.1 until 2011 (currently 8th) and is tied for losses with 37 and currently 9th in games started with 79.

He signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals on January 2, 2002. He started the season with the Omaha Royals of the PCL, then was called up in late April making 2 starts for Kansas City allowing 12 runs, was designated, cleared waivers and outrighted to Omaha on May 2nd.




One of his two starts with Kansas City on April 28, 2002, Royals lost to th Orioles 13-0.

Then on May 17th he was traded to his original club the Colorado Rockies for Eduardo Villacis. He spent the entire rest of the season with the Sky Sox going 7-10 with a 5.93 ERA in 20 starts and 123 IP. He was not offfered another contract and became a free agent. That same year his wife Jami who holds a degree in Sports Management from the University of South Carolina, left her job with the West Michigan Whitecaps (a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) and started working as the Director of Promotions for the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League.

Rekar signed a minor league deal with the Florida Marlins on January 15, 2003. Just a week into spring training he was assigned to minor league camp, he refused assignment and later signed on with the Long Island Ducks. He did well there making the Atlantic League All-Star team and going 9-4 with a 2.12 ERA (third in the league) in 23 starts, he even pitched 3 complete games with 2 shut outs.




Rekar was inducted into the Bradley Hall of Fame on Feb. 13, 2004. He signed to play for the Angelopolis Tigres of the Mexican League making just three starts going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Then he signed back with the Ducks in June. He made just 11 starts, but they won their first championship.

He retired after the season, he spent 8 seasons in the majors his last appearance was on April 28, 2002 for the Kansas City Royals, he was 29.
He had a win/loss record of 25-49 with a 5.62 ERA, with 383 strikeouts in 655 IP.


He went back to school attending the University of South Florida to get a BA in Mass Communications and Advertising in 2006. He started working for Ritz Safety in January 2005 as an Account Executive then in July 2006 he got on with Roaring Lion Energy Drink until August 2010 as the Southeast Territory Manager.



He then went to Southern Wine & Spirits and is still with them as an Off-Premise Sales Represenative. Jami is now Director of Imports and Retail Operations at Destroyer Promotional Products.

Bryan and Jami reside in Wesley Chapel, Florida and have two sons Ethan and Nolan.

[Tobywan]

Kerry Robinson #15-OF

Kerry Keith Robinson was born on October 3, 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri. He started out out playing baseball with the N.Y.A. (National Youth Association) and became a three sport standout at Hazelwood East High School graduating in 1991. As a member of the Spartans, he holds the highest career batting average (.517) in school history, and also for goals scored (29) on the ice hockey team. Kerry's father drilled the game into him throughout his life, he would later reflect that Dad didn't seem to get overly intense until he got into high school, seemed the better Kerry did the harder his father drove him. His father Rogers Robinson also grew up playing the game, he was a member of the teen youth team from St Louis that won the 1956 American Legion National Championship. He also spent 11 seasons in the Cardinals minor league system as a first baseman-outfielder in the late 1960's. Kerry grew up watching Vince Coleman and Ozzie Smith trying to model his style after them as he was a slight 175 lbs.




He went on to attend Southeast Missouri State University (1992-1995) playing for the Indians he had the longest hitting streak in NCAA Division I baseball during the 1995 season when he hit safely in 35-consecutive games. That streak stood as the longest in Southeast and Ohio Valley Conference history until 2012. Robinson was an All-OVC selection in 1995 when he hit .385 overall and .457 in conference play. He graduated with a degree in Sports Management.





He was selected in the 34th round of the June 1, 1995 amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and signed on June 5th, a huge thrill to play for his home town team. He was assigned to the Rookie class Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League, he batted .296 with 12 doubles, 8 triples, a homer and 14 stolen bases.

In 1996, he led the Midwest League with a .359 batting average and 50 stolen bases (a tie) and was second in the league in hits (158), triples (14), and runs (98) while playing for the Single-A Peoria Chiefs. His BA and triples are still Chiefs single-season and career records. He also had a 21-game hitting streak, which was tied by Jack Wilson in 1999, but eventually broken by Paul Hoilman. He was promoted n 1997 playing the majority of the season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League then was sent to the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds in the American Association playing in just a couple games. He finished the season with a .318 BA with 16 doubles and 40 stolen bases. He made the All-Star teams 2 years in a row. He went to Arizona Fall League playing for the Mesa Saguaros.

He was selected in the November 18, 1997 expansion draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second round as the 44th pick.





During spring training in 1998, he was assigned to minor league camp with the Double-A Orlando Rays of the Southern League before being moved up to the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the IL as the Bulls headed to the championships, losing the final to the Buffalo Bisons. He was a late September call up making his debut on September 22nd, he came into an already lost cause to the Boston Red Sox. The Devil Rays were behind 2-10 when Robinson got into the game in place of Quinton McCracken to begin the 6th playing left field. He got his first at bat in the 8th facing Pete Schourek, he grounded out to third. Red Sox got one more run winning 11-2. He got into just one more game. He went to AFL again playing for the Grand Canyon Rafters, they lost the Championship to the Sun Cities Solar Sox. He was designated in November and selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on November 19th.

On January 16, 1999 he married his fiance Maggie Gentry, a month later he reported to spring camp in Peoria, Arizona with the Mariners, he was assigned to minor league camp. He played for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the PCL, he was batting .322 with 16 doubles, 9 triples (leading the league) and 30 stolen bases (third) when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Todd Williams on July 22nd. He was sent to the International League playing for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, he batted .264 with 14 stolen bases and 34 hits. He got a September call up, but was mainly used as a pinch runner or in late game defense. On October 9th he was outrighted to Indianapolis. He was released during the last week of spring training in 2000 then signed with the New York Yankees on April 9th. He spent the entire season with their Triple-A affiliate the Columbus Clippers of the IL. He finished the season with a .318 BA with 17 doubles, 9 triples, 37 stolen bases and 139 hits. He was granted free agency on October 15th.

He re-signed with the St Louis Cardinals on December 7th. He was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the PCL on March 12th and failed to make the 2001 Opening Day roster. He was batting .325 when his contract was purchased on April 17th as one of the roster moves when Mark McGwire was sent to the disabled list. He got his first hit on April 24th as a pinch hitter against the Expos and his first home run on June 17 against the White Sox.




Kerry rounds the bases after hitting his first homer.




Robinson robs Phillies Marlon Anderson of a home run to end the seventh inning August 17, 2001 at Busch Stadium.



On August 9th against Montreal he collected 4 hits. He finished the season with a .285 BA and .330/.344/.674. St Louis nabbed the NL wildcard and were to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the division series, Kerry was added to the post season roster. Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa took a lot of heat for a roster decision in a deciding game during the play-offs when he sent Robinson into the game to pinch hit for Mark McGwire. Big Mac beloved by the St Louis bleeding red Cardinals fans and still in the good graces of many in the game was slowing down, his knees shredded. Much of the media and fans took it as a slap to him instead of a logistical move to try to win an important game. Robinson had gotten into three games, collecting an RBI and a hit in pinch hitting roles, but in he is probably best remembered as the guy that took Big Mac's last at bat in Game 5. The game was tied 1-1 going into the 9th, Jim Edmonds had singled, so McGwire who was 0-3 on the night was lifted for the speedy Robinson, who did successfully move Edmonds over with a sac bunt, but the next two batters struck out and they failed to score. The DBacks would score in their half to win the game 2-1, they would go on to pull off one of the most improbable World Series Championships. In hind sight LaRussa felt it was a mistake given the fact as it turned out that McGwire would retire a month later even though a 2 year offer was on the table. Robinson indirectly got the brunt of some unfair scorn.

Robinson made the Opening Day roster for the 2002 season as a bench player. Robinson developed some good relationships with his teammates, but he formed an unlikely friendship with one of the aces of the Cardinal staff, the likable, friendly and very focused Darryl Kile. They made a deal, Kerry would teach him to play chess and Darryl would give up the secret to his curve ball, so they began trading skills. They played chess almost daily after batting practices. Robinson was still getting occasional starts but mainly being used in defense relief and to pinch hit or pinch run.




Batting against the Florida Marlins on May 2, 2002 at Busch Stadium



On June 18th they needed a win to move into first place, Kile delivered a win against the Anaheim Angels, but the joy was bitter sweet as the Cardinals beloved long time announcer Joe Buck passed away the same night. The team and city honored Buck during a memorial service before heading on the road to face their biggest rival, the Chicago Cubs. They would lose the day game on Friday in one of the shortest games in Cardinal history just an hour and 47 minutes. On Saturday, June 22nd the players were gathering in the outfield to stretch before warm ups and batting practice. Kerry remembers teammates joking about not seeing Darryl Kile out on the field, he was usually one of the first out to the park ( usually taking a cab instead of waiting for the team bus). The players were ready to razz him for being late. Catcher Mike Matheny who had become Kile's personal catcher was asking everyone if they had seen Kile, that's when it hit Robinson and the others that something might be wrong. Manager Tony LaRussa called the players in towards the dugout, visably shaken, having to tell them they had lost another "family" member, Darryl Kile had been found dead in his hotel bed. He had suffered a heart attack in his sleep. The game was postponed, most of the players felt they should return to St Louis, but management felt they should go ahead and play the final game instead of having to make up even more games later. Some refused to play including Matheny, but the Sunday game would go on which ironically was to be Kile's next start. Jason Simontacchi pitched with former Devil Ray Mike DiFelice doing the catching, no one wanted to be there, they lost 8-3. With heavy hearts they continued on, Kile's jersey hung in the dugout, they put a memorial on the wall of the outfield at Busch Stadium with his No. 57 and his initials DK. LaRussa read a letter to the team that DK wrote upon the death of his father, who also passed away young due to a heart attack, they used it all as inspiration. The team kept winning including both games of a double header in August one of the make up games from that fateful weekend. Robinson continued to play his role he batted .260 (.301/.359/.660) scoring 27 runs with 47 hits in 181 at bats. The Cardinals won their division and in an ironic twist from the time of Kile's death to end of the season they won 57 games. As luck would have it the team they would face in the first round was the reigning champions the Arizona Diamondbacks. Robinson was named to the NLDS roster, he got into 2 games with 2 at bats, collected another hit and an RBI but this time St Louis would be the victors in a clean sweep. Kerry, rode along for the NLCS getting into 3 games against the San Francisco Giants, he got a walk and a run scored, but the magic came to an end as they lost Game 5 and were eliminated 4-1. Seasons are often disappointing for every team except the last one standing, but many of the Cardinals including Robinson still look back with heavy hearts that they couldn't finish that one for DK.




Robinson after the last out when the Cardinals were eliminated from the post season on October 13, 2002 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco.



In 2003 Robinson re-signed a year deal on February 25th. He was once again riding the bench, though he would spend a lot of time yo-yoing back and forth between St Louis and Memphis. He was first optioned on May 3rd, recalled on May 13th, demoted again on May 23rd, recalled on June 3rd, down on June 27th
then brought back two days later, this time to stay. He played 16 games in Memphis, batting .344. In August, Robinson would become a key component in a series coined "Three Nights in August ". Once again facing their arch rivals the Chicago Cubs, the Cardinals were in third place on August 26th. Robinson was in the line-up starting in right field, he went 0-4 as they lost the first game. He got the start again the next night going 1-4 but the Cardinals won putting them in second place. He would start the third game, but with the team down 2-0 he got them on the board when he doubled home Edgar Renteria. Teammate Scott Rolen tied it up in the 7th with a solo home run. Robinson led off the 9th and hit a walk off homer to right off Chicago Cubs' relief pitcher Mike Remlinger to be the hero of the night. The win put them in a tie for first with the Houston Astros.





It could have been the turning point of the season for the team and for Robinson, but neither could sustain the momentum. Robinson was soon back riding the bench and the team ended up third and out of play-off contention. He finished the season batting .250 (.281/.322/.603). He signed another one year deal with the Cards on December 20th, he once again took part in the Cardinal's Caravan, being a St. Louis native, he was always a popular draw especially in the Cape Girardeau area where he attended college.









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[Tobywan]

On March 29, 2004 he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Brian Hunter.




Robinson celebrates defeating the SF GIants 4-3 with Sean Burroughs as Phil Nevin and Eddie Oropesa sprint to join them on April 8, 2004.


He made the 25-man roster starting the season with the Pads but was sent outright to the Portland Beavers of the PCL on July 4th, he was designated on the 8th, cleared waivers and outrighted back to Portland. He stayed in Triple-A before his contract was purchased on September 1st. With San Diego, Robinson hit .293 in just 92 at-bats, and he led the Padres with 11 stolen bases despite playing in only 80 games. He also scored 20 runs. At Portland, where he was a starter, Robinson batted .306 and stole 25 bases while being thrown out just once. He was outrighted to Portland and became a free agent on October 9th.


In 2005 a book titled "Three Nights in August" was released by author Buzz Bissinger, it chronicled that series in 2003 when the Cardinals went from third to first. It mainly revolved around manager Tony LaRussa, though there is a portion that deals with Robinson and his heroics in game 3 of the series. According to the book, LaRussa didn't care much Robinson, there was a face to face confrontation during spring training and a statement to third base coach Jose Oquendo that “if (Robinson) starts another game this year, I’ll kiss your ass.” According to Robinson the spring training incident never happened. LaRussa supposedly was the co-writer/provider of the inside scoop on what transpired between him and players in private talks throughout that season. Robinson though insists there was never a "falling out" between them and that if LaRussa had it out for him he was never aware of it. Robinson himself feels he didn't make the most of his opportunities in St Louis as the reason he never became an everyday player. Though there was also a rumor that the reason he was on the team at all was due to the lack of African-Americans at the Cardinals Major League level at the time, basically that they kept him on the roster to appease the critics. This stems from the fact he had little power and a poor on base percentage and yet he held on to a bench position for a couple of years. That walk off in the August series was the only home run he hit that season. Robinson viewed it as a league problem not a Cardinals problem, the number of black players had been dwindling.



It was time to move on so on January 7, 2005 Kerry signed with the New York Mets with an invite to spring training.







Spring training game on March 2, 2005 vs the Washington Nationals at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida.





He stayed through the spring but was hoping to back players like Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron and the newly signed (to a huge deal) Carlos Beltran against a slew of other versatile players. They chose Marlon Anderson and Victor Diaz for the bench and Robinson was released on March 31st, he then re-signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres on April 6th. He was sent to Portland batted .289 in 61 games before being released on June 15th, then signed with the Atlanta Braves on the 22nd, playing for their Triple-A Richmond Braves of the International League before being released on September 1st.

He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on November 14th. He didn't make their 2006 Opening Day roster and was sent to minor league camp assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals of the PCL. He was called up April 30th. He fell right in with the woeful sideshow that was the KC Royals during those years when on May 7th in a loss against the White Sox at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field he climbed the outfield wall to snag a home run ball, having apparently lost the ball in the sun, only to have the ball land several feet in front of the warning track. ESPN got a big kick out of it. He was designated for assignment and accepted.



Kerry Robinson is congratulated by third base coach Luis Silverio after hitting a triple as Cleveland Indians 3B Ramon Vazquez appears frustrated. The Royals won 10-8 for a sweep at Kauffman Stadium on May 10, 2006.



His contract was purchased on June 16th then he was designated again on the 21st, finishing the season in Omaha. He played in just 18 games for Kansas City hitting .266. He played 100 games for Omaha batting .314 with 24 doubles and 17 stolen bases. He was once again a free agent on October 2nd. On December 4th he signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.




He was assigned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the IL on March 12, 2007. He was released on May 4th after just 7 games to make room on the 40-man roster for some kid named Jacoby Ellsbury and retired soon after.

His last MLB appearance was June 17, 2006 for the Kansas City Royals. He played seven seasons with five teams with 196 hits,a .267 BA, 56 RBIs, 25 doubles, 9 triples, 3 HRs, 36 stolen bases and 37 walks in 463 games. Robinson logged 1,194 hits in the minor leagues with a .312 BA and 322 SB in 12 seasons. He was one of the few major leaguers to wear both 00 (1999 Reds) and 0 (2002-2003 Cardinals).

Shortly after retirement he worked as a financial advisor with New England Financial (a MetLife company) with the Cornerstone Financial Group. He was inducted into the Southeast Missouri State University and ST Louis Metro League Hall of Fame in 2008. He would show up once in awhile for charity events like the first Pujols Family Foundation Home Run Derby and All-Star game June 16. 2008 with special needs children. Also, local sports like in 2009 he acted as a base running guru part time for the O'Fallon, Missouri based River City Rascals of the Frontier League formerly known as the Zaneville Greys. They are not affiliated with any specific MLB team. The team did go to the play-offs taking the first round from the Windy City ThunderBolts 3-0 but lost the FLCS to the Lake Erie Crushers 3-2.

He was given a job by his old team the ST Louis Cardinals as a part time Professional Scout in November 2010. He represented the team at the 2011 First-Year Player Draft along with Mike Jorgensen. Though he did get the opportunity to participate in two post seasons, in 2011 he would finally get a World Series ring as part of the Cardinals organization when the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in seven games.




World Series trophy 2011


In 2013 he became a full time scout with the Cards, he now scouts 12 teams in the Class AA and Class A leagues, as well as players from the Pirates, Cubs, White Sox, Tigers and Royals. He collected another ring when the Cardinals became the 2013 National League Champions. He also serves as an Assistant Coach for the Ladies Athletics program at Hazelwood East High School and plays in an adult hockey league. He still travels in the Cardinal's Caravan during the off season.
On May 24, 2014 he participated in the Baseball Hall of Fame Classic, even as a former part time player he gets to hang with some greats of the game.



Hanging with Hideki Matsui






........and former Cards Marlon Anderson, David Eckstein, Ozzie Smith and Reggie Sanders.




as well as riding around with the likes of Pedro Martinez, Steve Garvey and Pudge Rodriguez in Trolley Parades.

On June 8, 2014 he took part in the Delta Dental High School All-Star Baseball Game that was held at Busch Stadium while the Cardinals were on a road trip. Every year two former graduating seniors from a local public high school are chosen to manage teams for the game that includes a home run derby. This year the “All-Star Blue Team” was coached by former Cardinals third baseman Scott Cooper, who played high school baseball for Pattonville and Robinson, coached the opposing “All-Star Green Team.” It is all part of a Tobacco-Free Nation campaign and proceeds go to benefit three local charities, Delta Dental Health Theatre, Give Kids A Smile, and Cardinals Care. He is well respected and remembered in the area, he is often invited to take part in fundraisers and autograph sessions at local events.


Kerry and Maggie reside in Ballwin, Missouri, they have three daughters Brittney, Cammie and Kori. The two older girls are members of their school's soccer team.




The Robinsons

[Tobywan]

Matt Ruebel #36 (53)-LHP


Matthew Alexander Ruebel was born on October 16, 1969 in Cincinnati, Ohio, but his parents James and Connie Ruebel moved the family to Ames, Iowa n 1978 when James accepted a job as a Professor at Iowa State University. James taught Matt and his brother Jason to play ball, they participated in youth sports and Matt became a standout with the Ames High School Little Cyclones, graduating in 1987. He got no offers of a scholarship not even from Iowa State, he wasn't even invited to try out, so he went to talk to the coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners. In 1989 he walked on as a lefty pitcher becoming a First Team Academic All-Big Eight that year. He was used as a reliever in 28 games, collecting 7 saves, which is tied for 6th in the single season list. His 28 games is tied for 9th in a season, he also sits at 9th in career appearances for the Sooners and is 8th in career strikeouts with 266. They went to the NCAA postseason finishing third. In 1990 he started 9 games with 4 complete and made 20 appearances with one save and a 6-4 record with a 4.02 ERA, but the team finished out of the play-offs. As a junior he went 7-6 with 17 starts pitching 5 complete games. He was named Big Eight Pitcher of the Week for April 2, 1991. He was named Big Eight All-Tourney and Third Team Academic All-American. He lettered in 1989 and 90. They once again made the post season ranking 2nd. In both of his play-off seasons the Sooners knocked out Iowa State. He pitched 50 innings in 1991, striking out 63 with 31 walks with a 4.14 ERA.


He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 3rd round of the June 3, 1991 amateur draft and signed on June 22nd. He was first assigned to A- Welland Pirates of the NYPL, he got 6 starts going 1-1 with a 1.95 ERA, then move d up to the Single-A Augusta Pirates of the SALL getting 8 starts, 2 complete games and one shut out, going 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA. He split 1992 between Augusta and the A+ Salem Buccaneers of the Carolina League. He finished with a 6-8 record, a .3.84 ERA in 23 starts, pitching 2 complete games. He split the season with the same two teams in 1993 but the majority in relief, 42 appearances with 8 starts, one complete game, 1 shut out and a 3.63 ERA. He spent 1994 in Salem, after he went 6-6 with a 3.44 ERA, the team gave him a choice, he could accept an unconditional release or be placed on the inactive list, he would sit for a time.




He then spent time with the Double-A Carolina Mudcats of the SOUL, he finished the season 7-7 and 3.94 ERA in 102.2 IP. He spent all of 1995 with the Mudcats, it was his first full season in one place and in one role, everything seemed to be falling into place. He pitched in 27 games all of them in the starting rotation, finishing with a 13-5 record, a 2.76 ERA, 4 complete games and 3 shut outs, he made the Southern League All-Star team and led Carolina to the post season and the championship series as they defeated the Chattanooga Lookouts.





However, this did not earn him a call from the Pirates. He pitched in the AFL with the Phoenix Desert Dogs. He was hopeful going into the 1996 spring camp but he was sent to minor league on March 17th, he was promoted to the Triple-A Calgary Cannons in the PCL, he was called up to make his ML debut on May 21st, joining the team in Colorado he got the start. He got the first batter he faced Eric Young to fly out to right field, but then gave up a single to Ellis Burks. Later in the first inning he gave up back to back home runs to Larry Walker and Andres Galarraga, he got touched with 5 runs on 12 hits and 2 walks striking out just one before being pulled in the 5th replaced by Jason Christiansen. The Pirates scored 3 runs in the 9th but came up short in the slug fest 12-10, Christiansen took the loss. He stayed with the club for a month, earned his first win pitching 7 innings against the Rockies on June 3rd, but was designated on June 22nd. He went back to Calgary to finish out their season and was called up in September, he earned a save on the 15th pitching 2 innings against the San Francisco Giants. With the Cannons he went 5-3 in 13 starts with one complete game and a 4.60 ERA.



He made the Opening Day roster for 1997, but spent time on the disabled list from May 5-May 21 with inflammation in his left shoulder. He was used exclusively in relief making 44 appearances with 9 games finished, no saves with a 3-2 record and a 6.32 ERA.




Matt Ruebel of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 21, 1997 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Pirates defeated the Cardinals 3-2.

He was removed from the 40-man roster in October and granted free agency on October 15th. He signed on with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 27, 1998, with an invite to spring camp.





Spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Devil Rays defeated the Royals 5-2. March 2, 1998.




Spring training game VS the Texas Rangers at the Charlotte County Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Rangers won the game, 10-5. March 10, 1998.


He did not make the 25-man roster but when Wilson Alvarez went to the DL Matt's contract was purchased on May 26th as the D-Rays made a few moves, they optioned Eddie Gaillard but wanted to keep him on the 40-man roster so they transferred Rick Gorecki from the 15-day DL to the 60 day. Ruebell started one game and finished one game in 7 appearances going 0-2, he was optioned back to the Bulls along with Dennis Springer on July 7th once Wilson Alvarez and Byran Rekar were activated and returned to the team. He went 9-6 with Durham in 23 starts, pitched one complete game and a shut out with a 4.74 ERA. He was a piece of the roster that made the play-offs losing the Governors' Cup to the Buffalo Bisons. He was designated for assignment on September 23rd and was made a free agent on October 30th.

He signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 17th with an invite to spring training.







He didn't make the big club's 1999 Opening Day roster, but was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League. He was released on May 10th when the Diamondbacks decided to promote Byung-Hyun Kim from Double-A El Paso and demoted Brian Anderson from the major league club Ruebell was released along with Dale Sveum. Matt had started the night before in an 11-9 loss to Tacoma where he had given up five hits and five walks, he was 1-3 with a 7.00 earned-run average in six games. He signed with the New York Mets on May 22nd, he was sent to the Double-A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League then he was promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides of the IL in July. He suffered an injury on July 22nd, couldn't find an reactivation date, release date or free agency date. He ended up appearing in just 19 games with 14 starts going 6-3 with a 4.72 for season with 3 different minor league teams.


He signed on for the 2000 season with the Zion Pioneerzz of the independent Western League, they had formed in 1999, he only made 7 appearances, his time with them was short lived and so was the team they folded after the season. He signed with the Montreal Expos and was playing with their A+ club the Jupiter Hammerheads of the FSL by June, in July he was moved to the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx of the IL. He played in just 4 games for Jupiter and 7 for Ottawa, he retired after the season.

His last MLB appearance July 4, 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age 28.

He spent 3 seasons in the majors finishing with a 4-5 record with a 5.54 ERA, one save, 78 strikeouts in 77 games, 8 starts with 130 IP.
He spent 9 seasons in the minors with a 57-50 record, 3.93 ERA , 11 complete games, 6 shut outs with 928.2 IP in 209 games (142 starts).



He was not unemployed for very long when he was made a scout in August 2001 with the Cleveland Indians organization, he was promoted to cross-checker in 2005. In September of 2008 he was hired to be a national cross-checker for the Baltimore Orioles by his former University of Oklahoma teammate Joe Jordan who was their scouting director. Matt replaced Alan Marr, who was fired this summer after he was linked to a federal gambling probe. Then when Jordan left the O's in October 2011 to be the farm director for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ruebel left to become the Pirates' National Supervisor.




January 2014

Matt resides in Moore, Oklahoma with his wife Christy (nee Ferguson) they have one daughter Kendall Shea.

[Tobywan]

Julio Santana #60 -RHP


Julio Franklin Santana was born on January 20, 1973 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, he attended Divina Providence High School. He grew up in a baseball oriented family, his uncle was major leaguer Rico Carty and his brother Ernesto pitched in the Pirates organization. Julio though was not highly scouted, but Texas Rangers' scout Hector Acevedo came to to evaluate one of Santana's friends he was impressed by Julio's performance. Acevedo convinced the Rangers Director of International Scouting, Omar Minaya and on February 18, 1990 he signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers when he was just 17 years old.




Rico Carty





Ernesto Santana

He was a fine defenseman but just couldn't get any consistency at the plate, he had a very strong arm so they began his transformation shortstop and centerfield to the mound near the end of 1992. He played for 3 seasons in their Dominican Summer League affiliate before being brought to the US to play for the Gulf Coast League Rangers. He made 26 appearances (12 starts) he went 4-1 with 7 saves and 50 strikeouts and just seven walks in 39 IP, with a 1.38 ERA in GCL in 1993, he led the league in Rolaids Relief Points and made the All-Star team. The Rangers were so impressed they added him to the 40-man roster and sent him to instructional league, during spring training camp in 1994 they put him under the tutelage of former Dodger great Sandy Koufax. He began the year with Single-A Charleston RiverDogs of the SALL making 16 starts with a 6-7 record and a 2.46 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 91.1 IP.




He made the All-Star team and earned a promotion to the AA Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League working exclusively as a starter. He went 7-2 in 11 starts with 2 complete games and a 2.90 ERA before the strike shortened the 1994 season and the Rangers named him their Minor League Player of the Year. By this time Santana had become one of the Ranger's highest prospects, Baseball America had him ranked #44 on their top 100 list heading into the 1995 season. In 1995 he was invited to spring training, beginning the season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association, it might have been too big a jump as he posted a whopping 39.00 ERA in just 2 starts, going just 3 innings giving up 13 earned runs on 9 hits (3 home runs) while walking seven. They sent him to the High-A Port Charlotte Rangers of the FSL to get himself back on track then promoted him back to Tulsa where he spent the rest of the season.





With a total of 22 starts,he pitched 4 complete games finishing with a 6-9 record, posting a 4.06 ERA. He pitched in the Dominican Winter League that off season , but reported to spring camp in 1996 carrying 50 extra pounds and now rated as their number two prospect. He spent all of 1996 with Oklahoma City, he would post minor league career highs in starts (29) and innings pitched ( league leading 185.2) when he went 11-12 with a 4.02 ERA with 4 complete games including a shut out and 113 strikeouts. The 89ers won the American Association championship that season. He pitched again in the DWL for Escogido in relief, when he came into spring camp for 1997 out of options he really had to show the team something if he ever wanted to make the bigs as Texas Ranger. In 16 innings he posted a 1.69 ERA so Manager Johnny Oates and GM Doug Melvin decided to give him a spot as a long reliever adding him to the Opening Day 25-man roster.





He made his major league debut in front of the home crowd, the Rangers were already clobbering the Orioles 9-2 when Santana came into the game to start the 9th to relieve Ed Vosberg in a game started by Roger Pavlik. Julio didn't off to a very good start giving up a walk to Mike Bordick then he hit Brady Anderson, then Jerome Walton singled to load the bases. He got Rafael Palmeiro to ground into a double play, but Bordick was able to score. He got Cal Ripken to ground out to end the game as the Rangers won 9-3. When starter Roger Pavlick went down needing elbow surgery they penciled Santana into the 5th spot of the rotation and he got his first win on May 11th against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway.




Santana bats during an interleague game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, his Rangers were defeated 6-3 on July 1, 1997.



Unfortunately, he ended up going to the disabled list when he partially dislocated his kneecap on July 15th. He made just one rehab start for Oklahoma City before returning on August 10th. He finished the season going 4-6 with a 6,75 ERA making 14 starts in 30 appearances with 104 IP, the rookie struck-out 64, walked 49 and surrendered 16 home runs. He pitched again in Winter League then made the 1998 Opening Day roster, but back in the pen.




Pitching a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox at the Charlotte County Stadium in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Rangers won the game, 9-1


He struggled early in the season giving up 5 runs in 5.1 IP in his first 3 appearances with a whopping 8.44 ERA. Santana became expendable when right-hander Danny Patterson was ready to come back from the DL and being out of options Texas didn't have much of a choice, so he was designated on April 18th. Reportedly, they were working on a trade but Julio was plucked off waivers by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on April 27th.




He was immediately added to the roster, Julio was thrilled, it was suppose to be his big opportunity to pitch regularly, a new start with a new team. His first appearance as a Devil Ray was on May 2nd against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field, he came into the 8th inning with the Rays were already behind 5-1 in a game started by Tony Saunders. He started he inning after Esteban Yan pitched the 7th, he retired Sandy Alomar, Brian Giles and Derek Bell in order. The Rays didn't score in the 9th. Just a couple weeks later he and his wife Kandora welcomed their first child, a daughter. After 15 relief appearances he was moved into the starting rotation.He had a good August (2-1, 3.53) but a bad September (1-5, 8.47). He finished 5-6 with a 4.23 ERA making 19 starts (32 appearances) with 1 complete game in 140.1 IP.




Being congratulated by catcher John Flaherty after a 3-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on May 17, 1998.


He spent the off season again pitching in the Dominican League. He came came to Ray camp in 1999 agreeing to terms and signing an new one year deal on March 1st. He was in serious contention for the fourth or fifth spot in the starting rotation, but when Bryan Rekar lost his spot due to nagging back issues, he was given the fifth spot.









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[Tobywan]

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He was excited for his chance, he made his first start for the D-Rays on April 10th at Tropicana Field against the Boston Red Sox. He started out getting Jose Offerman to strike out looking, but the Sox would tag him for 2 runs in the first. He meddled through the next two innings, but gave up a solo homer in the 4th and a 2 run homer in he 5th in the next at bat he walked Mike Stanley and was lifted for Mike Duvall. The Rays tried to come back scoring three runs in the 8th but Julio ended up with the 5-3 loss. Sadly he didn't get much better going 1-4 in 5 starts with a 7.32 ERA and was regulated to the bull pen by the end of the month, then on May 3rd he went to the DL with inflammation in his shoulder, he returned on May 24th. He ended up making just 22 appearances before he was designated on July 9th, then traded to the Boston Red Sox for a PTBNL and cash considerations.




On July 30th Boston sent minor leaguer Will Silverthorn to the Rays to complete the trade. However, it appears he still wasn't really healed as Julio never even got to pitch for the Red Sox at any level that season. He was still in pain and his year ended on the DL with tendinitis. He was released and granted free agency on December 21st. He re-signed a minor league deal and was invited to camp on February 2, 2000. He was assigned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in the IL, making 12 starts he posted a 4.71 ERA and a 5-3 record before he opted to exercise the out clause in his contract, he was given his release on June 15th . On the 18th he signed with the Montreal Expos, he made 36 appearances (4 starts) posting a 5.67 ERA and a 1-5 record. He was again a free agent on October 10th. He signed with the San Francisco Giants on November 10, 2000 then was taken by the New York Mets in the rule 5 draft on December 13th.





He was returned to the Giants on March 30, 2001. He was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate Fresno Grizzlies of the PCL, he went 8-8 in 25 starts with a 5.83 ERA, he had 125 strikeouts, walked 50 but gave up 25 homers in 132.2 IP. He was released after the season becoming a free agent on October 15th.

On November 16, 2001 he signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers with an invitation to spring. He failed to make the ML roster, on March 30th he was assigned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the IL making 7 appearances with a 2.13 ERA before his contract was purchased by the Tigers on April 22nd.






He was having shoulder soreness near the end of May and missed a couple games. Santana was 3-5 with a 2.84 ERA in 38 games
when his season ended on August 10th with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on August 26th. The team declined to tender a contract and he was granted free agency on December 21st. He spent another winter with Escodigo of the Dominican Winter League to get some extra rehab where he appeared in 10 games striking out 14 batters with a 2.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.


On January 24, 2003 he re-signed a one year with the Tigers, but was released on March 23rd. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on the 29th and assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons of the IL, he made 19 appearances going 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA, 3 saves in 29.2 IP. The Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese League were interested, the Phillies let him out of his contract and he signed with Yomiuri on July 1st. They wanted him to fill the closer role left vacant by Kazu Sasaki, went 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA with five saves, he made 25 appearances with 19 games finished. Even though he was the property of Yomiuri, Santana did not pitch at all in 2004 until the Dominican Winter League. His performance with Escogido was 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and no walks in 18.2 IP.

His former GM with the Rangers was now with the Milwaukee Brewers, Doug Melvin seemed to have soft for former Rangers during his tenure with them. He signed Santana to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training and was more than willing to give the former Ranger's prospect a chance to return the majors.




He started the 2005 season with their Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds of the PCL, his contract was purchased on April 29th, he posted a 3.14 ERA in the month of May for the Brewers, he recorded his first ML save on June 1st in San Diego. He was sent to the DL on August 14th with tendinitis in the right Medial Flexor then activated on September 22nd. With the Sounds he went 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in eight relief appearances, with 15 strikeouts. For the Brewers he went 3-5 in 41 appearances, with a 4.50 ERA and the one save, allowing just eight of 39 inherited runners to score. He also struck out 49 batters (and walked 19) in 42 innings. He pitched the 200th game of his career on September 29th against the Cincinnati Reds. On October 8th he was outrighted to Nashville, he refused the assignment and was given free agency on October 14th. He re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 30th to a one-year, $800,000 contract. The Phillies were familiar with him and they were looking to retool their pen after the departures of Billy Wagner and Ugueth Urbina.





Pitching against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on March 8, 2006 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida.


He got off on the wrong foot immediately with the Phillie Phans on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park on April 3rd against the St Louis Cardinals, when he gave up a grand slam to a former Phillie Scott Rolen. Jon Lieber had been pulled after just 3.1 innings after giving up 5 runs on 9 hits, when Santana came on he inherited 2 runners. He gave up a sac fly to Albert Pujols to make it 6-0, then intentionally walking Jim Edmonds to load the bases for Rolen, who launched it into the stands.The Cardinals went on to win soundly 13-5.




Santana pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on April 7th, 2006. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 5-3.





Santana bunts during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 14, 2006.



Near the end of April he was was suffering from a stomach ailment listed as gastroenteritis and placed on the disabled list, he was back by May 6th after a couple of rehab games with the Double-A Reading Phillies of the Eastern League. Just a week later he was suffering from soreness, he didn't responding to treatment or rehab during his stay on the DL.





On May 22, 2006 Phillies Wives Michelle Fonseca, Kandora Santana, Lucienne Cormier and Jen Cooper took part in the Phillies Phestival, the annual Phillies autograph and auction party to help Strike Out ALS.

Under further review he needed to have Tommy John Surgery, was transferred to the 60-day DL after having the procedure at the end of June. He only made 7 appearances for the Phills that season. He was released on October 11th. He decided he was done and retired.



His final ML game was May 12, 2006. He spent seven seasons in the majors with six teams compiling a 17-3 record, with a 5.30 ERA in 209 games with 479 IP and 308 strikeouts.

After five season away from the game he got the itch again, he was 39 when he signed with the the Rockland Boulders of the Canadian American League on July 19, 2012.



He made just 9 appearances all in relief before being released on August 25th.



Julio's last known residence was in Boca Raton, Florida, he and his wife Kandora have two children, a daughter Kandora Ana and a son Julio Josue.

[Tobywan]

Dave Silvestri #17-Infielder

David Joseph Silvestri was born on September 29, 1967 in St Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a large family , one of seven children. He attended Parkway Central High School (Chesterfield, MO) playing three sports, baseball, football and basketball for the Colts graduating n 1985. He attended the University of Missouri on scholarship, where he played for the Missouri Tigers baseball team from 1986-88. During his time at MU he racked up a few honors.

1987 /1988 College Baseball All-America First Team
All-District V 1987/1988 All-Conference Big 8 First Team
1987/1988 Big Eight Tournament All-Tournament Selection
Letterman 1986-88

He was a star for the Mizzou Tigers and appears in the top 10 of the majority of statistical categories of the school's records. His career batting average of .379 is fourth in school history. Set school records with 21 HRs, 89 runs, 186 total bases while batting .406 in his junior year and led the Tigers with 8 triples and 17 steals. He was a member of the National Team in 1987 and overcame a slow start to hit .316 for them that season. He hit .433 at Pan-Am Games, making all- tournament team.

Some of his placings on the MU list....

Season Records
Batting Average -10th with .406 in 1988
Extra Base Hits- 1st with 47 1988
Stolen Bases -tied for 6th Dave Silvestri 19 1988 and JAYCE TINGLER 19 2003
On-Base Percentage- 4th with .527 in 1988

Career Records
Hits- 4th with 248 -1986-1988
Triples- 2nd with 18- 1986-1988
Runs Scored- 5th with 206- 1986-1988
Stolen Bases-5th with 47 1986-1988
On-Base Percentage- 5th with .465 1986-1988


Dave was a member of the 1987 US National team playing in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana the tournament served as a qualifier for the next Olympics. The US had one its best performances in this tournament, but came away with a silver medal as Cuba took gold.



Joining many of the same teammates Dave played along side of future major leagues stars such as Jim Abbot, Andy Benes, Tino Martinez and Robin Ventura in the 1988 Baseball World Cup in Rome, Italy from August 23-September 7. Dave batted .333/.407/.542 with 10 runs at shortstop in the World Cup, as they again the US settled for a silver medal being defeated by Cuba. The World Cup tournament was part of a 48- game schedule leading up to the Olympics, there was a lot of pressure due to the second place finishes in the Pan-Am and World Cup. The 1984 Olympic team also fell short against Japan finishing with a silver. As in 1984 baseball would be played as a demonstration sport in the 1988 games, though they are awarded medals, they are smaller than the official medals and not included in the overall medal count. Baseball would become official in 1992, but were excluded in London in 2012 and will be left out in 2016 along with softball, officials are lobbying for both sports to be returned for the 2020 games. In the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea eight teams participated from the USA, the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei. The Bronze match consisted of Puerto Rico and S. Korea, with PR shutting out SK 7-0. In a 1984 final rematch the US handed Japan their first lost in the tournament 5-3 to take gold, a complete game pitched by Jim Abbot.




He signed on October 18th to start his professional career also giving up his senior year at MU, though he did finish up his degree in 1990. He got to play with a familiar face when he was assigned to Houston's Florida State League class-A affiliate the Osceola Astros roster as his former Team USA teammate Scott Servais was also signed by the Astros. He played 129 games predominantly at shortstop, bating .254 with 111 hits, 20 doubles and 28 stolen bases. He was traded on March 13, 1990 along with a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Orlando Miller, the Astros sent Daven Bond (minors) on June 11 to complete the trade. In a full season with the High-A Prince William Cannons of the Carolina League, he batted .258 with 120 hits, 30 doubles and 37 stolen bases, the team finished second in the their division. He did get promoted and play a couple of games with the Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Eastern League they made the play-offs but lost in the semi-finals. He would spend the entire 1991 season with Albany making the All-Star team and batting .262 (.366/.465/.830) scoring 97 runs, with 31 doubles, 19 homers and 20 stolen bases as they went on to Win the Eastern League Championship defeating the Harrisburg Senators, two notable teammates that season were JT Snow and Brad Ausmus.








1991 Albany-Colonie Yankees



He signed a one year deal with the Yanks on March 3rd, but did not make the starting line up for 1992, but did get another promotion to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in the IL. He was called up on April 22nd when second baseman Pat Kelly went to the disabled list and made his major league debut on April 27th. He replaced Randy Valarde in the field to start the 8th inning, didn't et to bat but was involved in a few defensive plays to preserve an 8-7 Yankee win. He got his first start on May 5th collecting his first major league hit off Mariners' Dave Flemming in the 8th inning. He collected his first RBI in the following game though both were losses for the team. He got into just 4 games before being optioned back to the Clippers, spending the majority of the season there batting .279. After the Clippers won the International League Championship he was recalled to the Yankees to a make a few more starts before the end of the season.




He would once again begin the season in the minors with Columbus in 1993, he was given a brief call up mid-June again getting into just seven games, he would hit his first career homer a 2- run shot off Baltimore's Fernando Valenzuela in the 2nd inning of a game on June 25th at Camden Yards. The next day he was optioned back to the Clippers the next day.



He spent the rest of the season with them batting .269 with 26 doubles, 20 homers and 76 runs scored. Silvestri was not called up when rosters expanded in September and was quite vocal with his displeasure. When SS Spike Owen was traded in the off season to the Angels it looked like Silvestri might be inching closer to a starting role with the team. There was also talk that his competition Mike Gallego and Randy Valarde might also be on the block to trim payroll. He had been in the Yankees minor leagues for six seasons he wanted his chance be a real piece on the major league club.


He would lose out on the bench spot once again spending another season with the Columbus Clippers in 1994. This season he played along side a few of the players that would be an integral part of the future resurgence of the New York Yankees as youngsters Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter were promoted. Dave would be recalled on June 25th but stayed less than a month when he was optioned back on July 19th, batting .111 with one triple, one home run (off Seattle's Randy Johnson), two RBI and had one error in 12 games.



The move came when the Yanks needed to make room for the return of Sterling Hitchcock, unfortunately for Dave he would now be out of options. He had a heart to heart with manager Buck Showalter who advised him a change of scenery could be beneficial for him, but he wasn't traded before the strike which also knocked out the trade deadline. He was determined though that he wouldn't work as a "scab", some team owners most vocally Marge Schott of the Cincinnati Reds was calling for minor-leaguers to be called up to finish out the 1994 season. The decision involved more than upsetting striking major league players, Dave viewed it as being handed a job instead of earning your way on the roster. The idea did not set well with the majority of the league and the rest of the season was scrapped, no play-off, no World Series. In the shortened season he batted .251 with 19 doubles, 25 homers, 18 stolen bases and 72 runs at Triple-A.

The strike lasted through the beginning of spring 1995 and there were "replacement players" in camps as the league and the players association continue to try to hammer out an agreement to get the game back into action. Dave stood firm in his decision not play until the strike was officially over. He had finally won an infield reserve spot however, he soon ended up on the disabled list with a hairline fracture of the left hand after being hit with a pitch. It would be the fist season he wouldn't spend any tim ein the minors not even to rehab. Almost as soon as he was set to return the team chose to reactivate Pat Kelly and designated Dave for assignment then traded him to the Montreal Expos for Tyrone Horne (minors) on July 16th. He was added to the big league roster and would spend the rest of the season in majors.





He recorded his first stolen base in the majors on August 24th. He batted .264 in 39 games that season as a member of the Expos mainly as a utility bench player, more playing time than he had in any of his seasons with the Yanks and Dave was hoping to get even more. He would later reflect that while he was grateful for the opportunity to be around some great Yankee veterans, he felt he wasn't really given a legitimate shot by the club and that it may have even cost him some prime major league years. He impressed well enough to make the 1996 Opening Day roster with a bench spot behind Shane Andrews at third base and Mark Grudzielanek at shortstop.


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[Tobywan]

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Rockies' Ellis Burks reacts after Silvestri tags him out at third base during the third inning on April 5,1996 at Montreal Olympique Stadium, Expos won 6-4.




Giants' Barry Bonds is safe on a steal of third in the fourth inning during play at Olympique Stadium in Montreal, Giants woud win 8-1 on June 2, 1996.


He would only manage to get into a little more than half the games, and unimpressive .204 (.304/.247/.587). He was designated and picked up off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on November 15th. Failing to make a roster spot with the M's during spring camp in 1997 he was selected off waivers by the Texas Rangers on March 27th and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate the Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association. Outfielder Warren Newson strained his left calf muscle in the Ranger's home opener on April 1st, he wasn't responding to treatment so when he was sent to the DL, Silvestri's contract was purchased to fill the roster spot on April 8th. He had gone 1-for-13 with one RBI in four games with the 89ers before the move. He got into just 2 games before being optioned back to the 89ers on April 20th. He batted .240 with Oklahoma City with 25 doubles and 17 home runs in the final season of the American Association. The 89ers would moved to the Pacific Coast League as the Oklahoma Redhawks, but Dave would not go with them as he was granted free agency on October 8th.

He was inducted into the University of Missouri Hall of Fame Class in 1997.

On January 27, 1998 he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays he didn't make the 25-man roster being assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the IL. He batted .277 with 31 doubles, 8 home runs and 74 runs, but as teammates were heading off to the final rounds of the International League play-offs he was called up to the Devil Rays on August 30th to make his first start for the club. Joining the team in Detroit he went 1-4 against the Tigers., he would get into seven more games to finish out the season without a single hit, ending his season with the DRays batting .071. He became a free agent on October 16th but re-signed on November 25th.



He once again would start the season in the minors, he played one game for Durham going 0-3 and was released on April 9th. On April 19th he signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Angels. He was sent to the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers of the PCL but just a few weeks later the Angels purchased his contract on May 9th. He made three starts got one hit and one RBI before being designated for assignment on the 20th, he accepted and finished out the season in Edmonton. He was used off the bench and batted .318 with 18 doubles and took 22 walks. He was released after the season and retired.

He made his last MLB appearance on May 16, 1999 for the Anaheim Angels.

He played parts of 8 seasons finishing with a .202 BA, 68 hits, 6 home runs, 36 RBIs, 42 runs in 181 games. In nine minor league seasons he collected 1,044 hits, 115 homers, 578 RBIs, 652 runs with a .266 BA in 1, 087 games.


Dave like many other athletes had a superstition. He referred to hits as "knocks" and if he was struggling at the plate he would go to whoever was the hottest hitters at the time to find out what they were eating before games. If it was KFC he would send a clubhouse attendant out for it, telling him there were "knocks" in the food. It obviously wasn't a very good working system when it came to the majors as he only collected 68 career "knocks".



He wasn't out of work for long as the Devil Rays gave him a job managing the short-season Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League. He took over from Edwin Rodriguez when he was reassigned to the Rookie Princeton Devil Rays of the Appalachian League. He was joined by returning pitching coach John Duffy and hitting coach Ramon Ortiz. The team won their opener but lost their first 12 road games, the first road win came on July 14, 24 games into the season. Silvestri and Duffy called the collective group of players out for having a "lack of heart". Out of the 33 players that made an appearance only 12 would ever make it to Double-A or higher and only 5 ever made it to the Major League level. Despite the abysmal season there were a few highlights like Doug Waechter throwing the teams first-ever no-hitter on August 10 against the Pittsfield Mets. Tempers flared often, the coaching staff took turns getting ejected several times throughout the season. Silvestri was given a 2-game suspension in early August for bumping an umpire then on August 31st he was suspended again for another incident (his third) that occurred on August 28th during the first game of a double header against the New Jersey Cardinals missing the remaining seven games of the season. The incident was Silvestri arguing about a call that allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth inning. Silvestri felt a hitter was running out of the base line when he was hit by a thrown ball on an attempted double play. A runner scored on what turned into a wild throw to end the game.



Hitting coach Ramon Ortiz tries to calm Silvestri down at the end of the 1st game of a double header on August 28, 2000.


The Renegades ended up 14th with a 23-52 finish setting a franchise record in losses, after taking the 1999 New York-Penn League championship series by defeating the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. The 2000 club had a few future hopefuls like Doug Waechter, Mark Malaska, Juan Salas and Seth McClung. Hudson Valley's GM and Vice President Steve Gliner was saddened at the thought of possibly losing in his view, one of the best managers he'd worked with in my 13 years in baseball despite Dave's quick temper. On September 14, the Devil Rays and Renegades announced a four-year renewal to their player development contract, extending their relationship through at least 2004. Silvestri did not return to the club.

He then signed on with the LA Dodgers to manage the Great Falls Dodgers of the Pioneer League for the 2001 season finsihing in 4th place with a 37-39 record.


In 2004 he was inducted into the Parkway Central High School hall of Fame.




Silvestri is a batting instructor at Inside Edge Athletic Academy and has worked for a medical supplies company named Olympus working in the greater St Louis area since 2009. Dave still resides in Chesterfield, Missouri, has one son name Jake. Only found one reference that Dave was married during the 1994 off season but could find no information on her name or if they are still married. Most of his large family still resides around the Chesterfield area, many are involved in community causes and events as well as being both Parkway Central and MU alumni.




Dave and Jake Silvestri

[Tobywan]

Terrell Wade #36-LHP


Hawatha Terrell Wade was born on January 25, 1973 in Rembert, South Carolina. He attended Hillcrest High School playing for the Rams. His name Hawatha is often misspelled as Hiawatha. While attending an Atlanta Braves sandlot tryout camp in Sumter, SC he caught the eye of scout Alex Smith. He was signed as an amateur free agent with the Braves on June 17, 1991 reportedly on a pool table in a hall owned by his parents. He was sent to the Rookie class Gulf Coast League Braves going 2-0 in 10 appearances (2 starts) with a 6.26 ERA. In 1992 he pitched for the Rookie Pioneer League Idaho Falls Gems starting 11 games (13 appearances) going 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in 50.1 IP. He did a lot of traveling in 1993 spending the first half of the season with the Class-A Macon Braves of the SALL. Then he played a handful of games with the High-A Durham Bulls in the Carolina League before finishing up with the Double-A Greenville Braves of the Southern League. The Braves awarded him with their Phil Niekro Award as the best pitcher in their minor league organization for 1993. He finished with a 12-4 record in 27 starts with a 2.44 ERA in 158.1 innings. He would continue with Greenville for most of 1994, was promoted to the Triple-A Richmond Braves of the IL who were named the champions in the strike shortened season. Another productive year, he went 11-5 in 25 starts with a 3.61 ERA in 129.2 innings pitched. He would also play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Saguaros, they were defeated in the championship game by the Peoria Javelinas.

He would spend the 1995 season exclusively with Richmond, but he struggled a bit going 10-9 with a 4.56 ERA in 23 starts and 142 IP. He would get a September call up as the Braves were heading to their third division title in a row. Terrell would make his debut on September 12th during a game against the Colorado Rockies. He was called upon to start the 5th inning after starter Steve Avery had given up seven runs on 8 hits and a walk while only striking out one. He was relieved by Tom Thobe who pitched a scoreless 4th. The first batter Wade faced was Vinny Castilla who launched a bomb to the deep left field line for a solo home run, he retired the next three batters and all three in the 6th before giving way to Darrell May in the 7th. May would get tagged for 4 more runs in the 8th and the Braves were routed 12-2. He would get two more appearances, but would not join the team as they made their way through the post season. The Braves eliminated the NL Wildcard winner the Colorado Rockies 3-1 in the division series. Then swept the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 to face the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, taking the Championship 4-2. Terrell would receive a ring even though he had only pitched 4 innings. He once again went to the AFL this time pitching for the Sun Cities Solar Sox they lost the championship to the Mesa Saguaros.










He would make the 1996 Opening Day roster as a member of the bullpen, but in late June he was in the starting rotation.






Atlana Braves VS San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 8-0. April 25, 1996

He made 44 appearances with 8 starts going 5-0 with one save and a 3.97 ERA in 69.2 IP. He recorded his first ML win on May 26th against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the first and only save of his career on June 11 against the New York Mets.





Atlanta Braves VS St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri on July 24, 1996 The Braves defeated the Cardinals 4-1.



The starting rotation core of Maddux Smoltz and Glavine along with heavy hitters like Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones and Ryan Klesko once again led the Braves to another division title and the play-offs. Terrell was left off the NLDS roster as the Braves would sweep the NL Wildcard Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0. He was added to the roster for the conference series against the St Louis Cardinals but only made one appearance in Game 5. He wouldn't really get tested as he came into the 9th inning with the Braves leading 14-0, he faced only John Mabry who struck out looking. They squeaked by the Cards to win the series 4-3 moving on to face the New York Yankees in the World Series. Terrell would also be named to the roster making 2 appearances, he got into Game 1 once again with a huge lead in the 9th inning. Ahead 12-1 he got Charlie Hayes to pop out to right and then Luis Sojo to ground out before being lifted, the Braves winning by the same score. He made an early appearance in Game 4 relieving Danny Neagle in the 6th inning with the Braves ahead 6-3, he faced only Darryl Strawberry who walked. He was replaced by Mike Bielecki who gave up no runs but the Yankees would come back and win the game 8-6. The Yankees would take the rings after a 13 year World Series drought winning the series 4-2.



Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY on October 20, 1996. The Braves won 12-1.



It would be the last season the Braves would play at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium playing the last game on October 24th. They would begin the 1997 season at Turner Field. The new stadium was retrofitted from the Olympic Stadium used for the 1996 Atlanta Summer games. AFC Stadium was imploded on August 2, 1997 and the site serves as the parking lot of Turner Field.





Spring training game VS the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets won the game 5-2. March 6, 1997.

Terrell was used mainly out of the pen during spring exhibition games in 1997, so it was a bit of a surprised when the 24 year old was slotted into the fifth spot in the starting rotation joining Glavine, Maddox, Smoltz and Danny Neagle who arrived late in the previous season. Due to an early day off they went with a four man rotation until mid- April he would get 9 starts (12 appearances) going 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA. He was having some soreness though by the end of May and was placed on the disabled list on June 6th. After 8 rehab games with Greenville and not much progress he was reevaluated and an MRI revealed a tear in the flexor muscle. He had arthroscopic surgery on August 21st ending his season.

After getting a new stadium for the regular season the Braves would be moving their spring training home from Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach , Florida to occupy the beautiful Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL starting in 1998. Terrell however, would not be joining the team as he was selected as the 60th pick (3rd round) in the November 18th expansion draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Even though he was still rehabbing from the surgery both he and the DRays were optimistic he could ready ready by the start of the inaugural season or not long after. Unfortunately, his speed and stamina was not where it should be and he was placed on the 60 day disabled list. He wouldn't be ready to start rehab games until late July first with the A+ St. Petersburg Devil Rays of the Florida State League then with the Triple-A Durham Bulls in the IL. He went 1-2 in 7 starts between the two with a 4.15 ERA in 34.2 IP. He was finally ready to join the team on September 17th, to make room for him on the 40-man roster they transferred Dave Martinez to the 60 day DL ending his season with a lingering hamstring injury. Wade made his Devil Rays debut on September 21st starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He pitched 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits including a 2-run homer to Mo Vaughn in the first. He was supported mostly by Bubba Trammell who collected 5 RBIs including a 3 run homer in the 7th giving the Devil Rays an 8-4 victory and Terrell Wade his one and only win for the team. He made just one more start pitching a total of 10.2 innings posting a 5.06 ERA and a 1-1 record.




He would re-sign a year deal for $250,000 on January 19, 1999. The team was open to giving him a viable shot to make the Opening Day roster but he just didn't pitch well enough for a spot. He would start the season in Durham instead, but struggled, going 1-7 with 19 starts (34 appearances) with a 9.49 ERA in 98.2 IP for the Bulls. He had gotten his velocity back but had trouble with control, he was never recalled. When the D-Rays called up Steve Cox from Durham and activated Corey Lidle from the 60-day DL they designated several players on September 20th, including Wade, he was released and granted free agency.


He signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on November 29th, but didn't make the team out of spring. He was assigned to their Double-A affiliate the Chattanooga Lookouts of the SOUL very early during the exhibition season. He spent most of the year there going 0-5 in 28 appearances, he got just one start with a 4.08 ERA in 39.2 innings. He would make 2 starts for the Triple-A Louisville RiverBats in the IL going 0-2 with a 12.15 ERA in 6.2 IP. He never made it up to pitch for the Reds and was released after the season. It is unclear if he didn't pitch in 2001 due to no interest from clubs or health issues.



On March 12, 2002 he signed with the Berkshire Black Bears who play at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in the independent Northern League for their inaugural season which began on May 24th. He was their Opening Day pitcher. He was released on October 9th.

In May 2003, Terrell signed on with the newly formed Macon Peaches of the floundering Southeastern League. He made 10 starts going 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA and pitching one complete game and released after the season.

In 2004 he started the season as a member of the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League posting a 2.45 ERA in 69 IP. Then played for a month with the Pennsylvania Road Warriors from July 11-August 11 going 2-1 in 4 starts (6 games) with a 5.09 ERA in 23 IP. He then signed with the Atlantic City Surf in the same league on pitching from August 17-September 17, going 1-1 in 7 games (4 starts) with a 5.46 ERA in 31.1 IP.

On March 2, 2006 he signed with the independent Nashua Pride in their first season as a member of the Canadian-American Association out of Nashua, New Hampshire playing in Holman Stadium. They had previously been in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, winning the 2000 Atlantic League championship. He went 1-1 in 3 starts for the Pride, his ERA exploding to 12.34 in 11.2 innings. He was released on June 14th.

Now at 33, that appears to be the end of the line for Wade. He made his last MLB appearance September 26, 1998 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 25 years old.

In parts of four major league seasons he went 8-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 19 starts and 61 appearances, one save and 125 strike outs in 126.1 IP. He spent 12 seasons in the minors and independent ball going 45-46 with a 4.89 ERA, pitching 3 complete games with one shut out and 780 strikeouts in 821.2 IP.


Terrell's last address is listed in Marietta, GA, while his wife Crystal (or maybe now an ex) still resides in Rembert, S.C., they have a daughter and son.