How far did you make it?

whitesoxmike · February 21, 2008 12:22AM

I know this is not baseball card related, but I was curious. I am sure most of us on these boards played some sort of orgainized baseball growing up. I am wondering how far did you make it? Did you play in highschool and than quit? Maybe college ball? Did you make it to the minors? Any ex pros here??? I will start. I played varsity three years in HighSchool, and a couple years in Junior College. I tried out for the Florida Marlins, via their single A team the Kane County Cougers. Needless to say it did not go very well!!

Leiascards · February 21, 2008 12:26AM

I blew out my knee in my Freshman year in HS. Was out for 7 months and never really got back in the game. So I decided to focus on other things since my hopes got dashed.

clydecoolidge · February 21, 2008 12:29AM

Wow, that's cool you actually tried out for a pro team. I quit after little leauge. I was good at just about every sport, and liked playing them, but ended up skateboarding (which I was also good at) for most of my middle school and high school career (from about 1987 to 1992). I guess I just wasn't into organized sports at the time. I don't regret it much at all, except now my knees and shins hurt.

MeteoriteGuy · February 21, 2008 12:29AM

Pop and snack vendor at the local stadium.

Alfonz24 · February 21, 2008 12:34AM

Made it through Babe Ruth baseball (13 to 15 year old).

I also made it to D3 football for a year. Quit after my freshman year to concentrate on grades.

But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

DavidPuddy · February 21, 2008 12:41AM

<< Pop and snack vendor at the local stadium. >>

Bet you have some cool stories.

I really didn't have much athletic ability, but I worked pretty hard and managed to play 2 years ac JC and then transfer to a Div. 1 school for two more years.
Not bad for a guy who couldn't catch a turtle with Asthma.
Baseball was a great experience for me, and what the heck, it payed for about 50% of college.
I'm currently trying to get cards of all the guys I payed against that made, or are currently in the pros.
Me, about 8 years ago,,,,what a cheeseball

whitesoxmike · February 21, 2008 12:46AM

Tell me about it. I was a pitcher. I can personally thank Kevin Millar for ruining my carrer. That guy hit bomb after bomb off of me in 1994.

SportsItUpCards · February 21, 2008 1:00AM

I remember playing with my friends in Brooklyn in carroll park in carroll gardens, and I remember hitting some many home runs there, and it wasen't a small park, lol. Then when I tried out for high school Baseball, I didn't make the team. I was very nervous, and you only get one shot there

I remember playing in that park in Brooklyn, and a guy holding a few bags in his hands, he had just came from the store and was going home, and made a detour in the park. He dropped his bags and was gona show use how to stand when hitting. He told us he used to play with Joe Torre as a kid, and he played some Baseball in his day but can't remember what level he went up to.

Anyway, he tought us how to bat that old fashioned style, so went I was trying out for the team in HS, I remember the coach congradulated me on a perfect stands, but that was about it. I hit a few good ones, but wasen't good enough. Did pretty good in center field, but wasen't good enough with that too, because ultiatly I didn't make the cut, so I didn't bother the next year.

I remember back in junior hgh, I got a troffe for best player, I still got it. I think that was my highlight of my Baseball carrer, in one of the games, when I almost hit a home run, jst it the top of the gate, lol, but no cigar. But two runs came in anyway, and we won. At that time, nobody hit any home runs, so that was the closes, so I can say thats my highlight

Funny thing is, the first two pitches was strikes without me swining. Then I turned around to the coach and told him, this is for you(I was thnking a home run) so I swung as hard as I could and it almost made it, lol, but I got those two runs in and we one, so it was good enough for me.

Giovanni

sagard · February 21, 2008 1:19AM

Played in college with Kerry Ligtenberg before he transferred to the Gophers. Played amature ball until 32. Unretired at 35 to play with my dad in 35+. Retired again last year to play fastpitch softball with my brother. Currently a free agent.

MeteoriteGuy · February 21, 2008 1:31AM

<< 

<< Pop and snack vendor at the local stadium. >>

Bet you have some cool stories.[/IMG] >>

I would get one ticket for every tray of drinks I sold, then at the end of the night we would all trade out tickets in to the main guy for money. I think one ticket was worth $1 to me...but it might have been $0.50. I would make like $12-20 a night...which wasn't bad 20 years ago when I was a pre-teen/early teen. (That would be close to a box of Topps cards or the like).

The local stadium at the time is were the Wichita Aeros, later Pilots, later Wranglers played so I got to watch a few players such as the Alomar's, Eric Davis, John Tudor played before they made their major league debut. The Reds had a pretty good minor league system for a while there.

No really great stories of course, although I do have one not-so-great and not worth telling story.

Clear Skies,
Mark

TomGshotput · February 21, 2008 1:31AM

Hit about .100 in Little League

AUPT · February 21, 2008 1:34AM

I never played organized baseball, but was part-owner of the Class A (Midwest League) Wausau Timbers (Seattle Mariners) circa 1982-85.

mreuter · February 21, 2008 1:41AM

Church league slow pitch softball, the only real sport there is, if you strike out (I never did) you had to buy a case of beer for the next game.

BobaFett72 · February 21, 2008 1:43AM

2 years of little league,
tried out for highschool didnt make it.

started playing softball about 10 years ago, still play ever weekend from april till october.

whitesoxmike · February 21, 2008 1:45AM

<< 2 years of little league,
tried out for highschool didnt make it.

started playing softball about 10 years ago, still play ever weekend from april till october. >>

Slowpitch softball is the best!!! Anyone know of a legal ASA softball bat that is real good? I know the Miken Freak 98 bats are good.

HighChopper · February 21, 2008 2:09AM

Three years high school.

Two years junior college.

Two years NAIA.

Open tryout with Mets in St. Paul, MN.

Still waiting for a phone call.

Coached Legion/high school ball for several years.

Played amateur ball, as well.

Now fat and lazy with a shredded shoulder.

DavidPuddy · February 21, 2008 2:13AM

<< Now fat and lazy with a shredded shoulder >>

You and me both. I get up in the morning and my shoulder hurts.

prscott933 · February 21, 2008 3:35AM

i didn't make the HS team. and rightfully so, i sucked.

HighChopper · February 21, 2008 3:40AM

i didn't make the HS team. and rightfully so, i sucked.

I admire your honesty.

I had the same experience with hockey!

But I still think I'm Bobby Orr.

Ironmanfan · February 21, 2008 3:44AM

Played American Legion ball with a guy by the name of Kevin Ward, who had a cup of coffee in the show with San Diego (thats as far as I got)

Stone193 · February 21, 2008 3:50AM

Played thru HS - Steve Garvey was on our team.

Got drafted since I didn't go to college - when I decided to attend college, a rotator cuff injury from an auto accident prevented me from trying out. I did play softball in the Army for about 15 yrs.

mike

Wondo · February 21, 2008 3:53AM

I was a scrub on my legion team.

Also, I was discriminated against by the pros because I couldn't field, hit or run; but that was before the PC days.

70chip · February 21, 2008 4:00AM

Played into my freshman year in college on a partial scholarship and then decided that experiencing the college life (AHEM) was more important than taking baseball seriously (I am an idiot). Now I enjoy the good life of slow pitch softball. If I only knew then what I know now.......

JTB · February 21, 2008 4:04AM

I stopped playing baseball when the coaches stopped pitching and the opposing players began. No way was I standing at the plate with those 9 year olds pitching.

Went on to fame and misfortune in the church softball league. Nothing better.

TheVon · February 21, 2008 4:11AM

I played through tryouts in my junior year of high school. As a freshmen I played for the freshmen team. Sophomore year I played for JV. I thought I'd make the leap to being a bench player on the Varsity team my junior year but then I tore my rotator cuff while practicing crow hopping in left field. I now play softball but I still can't throw because of the shoulder. I can drink beers afterwards with the best of them though.

rugbymarine · February 21, 2008 4:16AM

Played liitle league/travel from age 3 to 15. Went to a high school with a top notch baseball program/reputation (6 state champs in 9 years). Got cut freshman year and went on to be an all-state punter for the football team. I did get to see Gavin Floyd (6.30 ERA, 8-10 in 29 career starts) and Mark Teixeira play. Their school was in the same league as my school.

Teixeira was a skinny shortstop in HS. He's a lot bigger now.

Ian

WinPitcher · February 21, 2008 4:30AM

I peaked at 17.

lol

Steve

MooseDog · February 21, 2008 4:44AM

In High School I was All-City First Team Pitcher in the Oakland Athletic League in the late 1970s.

One of my teammates was Lloyd Moseby who was the first high school player picked (#2 in the draft, Bob Horner from AZ State was #1 I think). Back then we never got a chance to play for state championships or anything like that so winning the city was all we could hope for. Too bad as one of the other players in the league (at another school) was Rickey Henderson.

I did OK but needless to say, there were much better players in the league than me. I benefitted mostly from a very, very good team behind me and one of the smartest catchers I have every played with. He told me what to throw and where to throw it and I did it.

In my three years of HS ball, 12 guys from the league got drafted/signed pro ball. Only Moseby and Henderson made the show.

The summer after I graduated I hurt my shoulder and no one could really figure out what the problem was until about 2 years later. By that time I lost all muscle in the area and couldn't raise my arm over my head without pain. I was done. I think were it not for that I might have done OK in college as I was improving rapidly and getting stronger until I got hurt. I didn't throw hard but I had pinpoint control and a big, big curve. I think I might have been able to put a little more zip on my fastball had I been able to stay healthy and get some college experience but that's all hindsight.

Not being able to play, and inspired by my high school coach who encouraged lifelong learning, I immediately started managing/coaching, first Little League age, then kept the team basically together through high school age. We won two championships and then I stayed with the 16-18 age group for a few more years. Since I had the only "travelling" summmer team in Oakland I was able to get some of the best players in the city. In 9 years I had 8 players drafted, five signed, and two made it to the majors (Steve Hosey with the Giants in 1993 and Brian Johnson who is still playing somewhere, I think).

My last year of coaching I had a team that was probably good enough to win the Senior Babe Ruth World Series, but I made a critical mismanagement of the pitching staff in the Regionals and let to us losing to a team we shouldn't have, then we got eliminated when the pitcher from the next best team in the tournament basically did a Josh Beckett on us (shut us down and beat us 1-0) and that was that. I still feel bad to this day I let those guys down. At least the winning team picked up two of my players and that team that beat us went on to lose the championship game of that years BRWS.

Those were great times. Now I play very low level adult ice hockey which is a lot more fun than softball.

baseballfan · February 21, 2008 4:47AM

i played college baseball at a small div 3 school

that's it!!!!

ryaneversole · February 21, 2008 5:06AM

haha college intramural SOFTBALL. I smoked cigarettes in the outfield. We were the runners up of the whole league... we were something like 10-0 and then were completely annihilated in the championship game 30ish - 15ish

123Slider · February 21, 2008 5:31AM

I was lucky enough to be drafted in the 12th round of the 1992 draft by the Red Sox. So you can google my career highs and lows with that info. Got to AA in 1995. I still love baseball and coach high school ball.

Played with Nomar and some other great players, some of which never got to the big leagues though.

whitesoxmike · February 21, 2008 5:43AM

<< I was lucky enough to be drafted in the 12th round of the 1992 draft by the Red Sox. So you can google my career highs and lows with that info. Got to AA in 1995. I still love baseball and coach high school ball.

Played with Nomar and some other great players, some of which never got to the big leagues though. >>

I think your the winner so far!

F1ferrari · February 21, 2008 6:32AM

Yep he's got me beat. I was a 4 year starter in HS, but we didn't have a team worth mentioning. Baseball was the black sheep sport in my area, so we just went to have fun. We played my Soph, Jr and Sr seasons at a local college's baseball field, because the field we played on my freshman year was a softball field. I hit about .380 for 4 years with exactly 1 home run. I'm blessed with catcher's speed, but I usually finished second or 3rd on the team in stolen bases. I figured out that you stole second on the pitcher's legs, not yours.

And a funny story, I joined a men's church league softball team a few years back and we had some -good- players (a few had played minor league ball). I was a little uncertain in my batting prowess, so I went to a local putt-putt course that had batting cages. One was a slow pitch machine. I payed, got my helmet and bat and headed off to be the next Babe Ruth. I was so bad, the cute woman running the pitching machines was laughing as I returned the bat. I asked for a baseball bat and another round of pitches. She told me she hoped I was better at baseball than at softball. I told her to follow me and watch. I got in the 85-90 mph cage and hit the first 3 pitches back into the opening the machine throws them at you through. She had to reset it every time, and she told me I needed to stick to baseball.

Leiascards · February 21, 2008 6:37AM

<< 

<< I was lucky enough to be drafted in the 12th round of the 1992 draft by the Red Sox. So you can google my career highs and lows with that info. Got to AA in 1995. I still love baseball and coach high school ball.

Played with Nomar and some other great players, some of which never got to the big leagues though. >>

I think your the winner so far! >>

But did he stay at the Holiday Inn last night? If not, I am quitting the hobby..

rube26105 · February 21, 2008 7:06AM

none- i went to school for the chicks and to fight lol- made it to 8th grade, we played stuff in gym when i wast getting paddled or skipping school-wasnt my thing

sagard · February 21, 2008 7:07AM

<< ...and some other great players, some of which never got to the big leagues though... >>

It's amazing how good some guys are who can never get a sniff of big league ball.

onefasttalon · February 21, 2008 7:10AM

I played all through HS, and legion for two years. I was never a flame thrower, but I had a curve ball that would make even Barry Zito blush.
I broke the school record for pick-offs... being left-handed helped. All state my senior year... and pitched a 4-hitter on state-wide television... that was the hightlight of my career.
Even though my fast-ball wasn't... uhh... "Fast"... I threw as hard as I could. I can't tell ya how many times I wasn't able to lift my left arm up to my head after a game.

Just beer-league slow pitch softball for me these days.... ahh, the good'ol days.

Leiascards · February 21, 2008 7:11AM

<< 

<< ...and some other great players, some of which never got to the big leagues though... >>

It's amazing how good some guys are who can never get a sniff of big league ball. >>

Then you have some that make it that you have to wonder how they ever made it. When I played for the freshamn team we had a pitcher who was also a freshman, but played for the varsity team who had a 96MPH fastball in 7th grade. He had the talent but he was too injury prone to make it.

HighChopper · February 21, 2008 7:17AM

It's amazing how good some guys are who can never get a sniff of big league ball.

Three guys in my neighborhood were drafted ... thought they'd all be spectacular.

One made it as far as AA.

123Slider · February 21, 2008 7:36AM

There are all kinds of reasons that a guy doesn't make it. Injuries are at the top of that list. I saw some unbelieveable pitchers that got hurt and that was it. I have zero doubt that many of these guys would have played a long time in the majors if not injured.

Some of it is just plain luck. Except for a handful of guys, there really isn't as big a seperation in talent as you would think. Does the player have someone in front of him blocking his way? Was he a 47th round pick instead of a 2nd? Becuase the 2nd rounder is going to get a chance to move up regardless. The 47th round guy has to out perform, not just stay even with the bonus baby. Many times you need someone in the organization to "take a liking to you" to push for your movement up to the next level.

I've also seen some freak things such as family issues and illness put baseball in perspective for a guy and quit the game just like that. Not because he wanted to, but because as a man and a husband, knew it was the right thing to do.

Regardless, it was a blast! I choose to keep all of my cards unslabbed though.

perkdog · February 21, 2008 7:54AM

Played little league until about 12 then tried out for the "travelling team" and didnt make it- that was it, I never played organized ball again until I was 21 and got into the mens softball league and still play. I got three championships under my belt and hit 51hr's in 2004 (fences are .280) when everyone discovered the "EDGE" you get with composite Mikan bats!!!

bobbybakeriv · February 21, 2008 7:58AM

<< When I played for the freshamn team we had a pitcher who was also a freshman, but played for the varsity team who had a 96MPH fastball in 7th grade. He had the talent but he was too injury prone to make it. >>

Are you sure about that?

I made it as far as a small-time college. It was fun every step of the way though.

Goot · February 21, 2008 8:16AM

I hit .274 with 6 RBI's in limited actoin lat year for my high school last year as a sophomore on JV. I started about 1/3 of the games (but saw at least a few innings in almost all of them), splitting time between 2nd and 3rd base and platooning in the outfield.

However, I'm not playing this year because: 1) The varsity team has something like 8 seniors on it and is going to be amazing this year, and 2) I'm focusing on school because this is the last semester I have untill I start to apply to colleges next year. I'm doing track, but that doesn't take nearly as much time as baseball. The varsity team got out at 12 today to play 2 hours away. I've been going to the batting cages though, and I plan on playing next year.

Edited to say: For those of you keeping tabs, that's 2 years of JV basketball, 1 year of varsity football, 1 year of JV baseball and 1 year of Varsity Track. The funny thing is, I'm not amazingly great at any of them but somehow I'm always good enough to make the teams. Oh well, it works for me

thenavarro · February 21, 2008 8:43AM

Played in high school but got cut by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. My 79-80 MPH fastball couldn't cut it.

Got bitter and didn't pick up a ball for over 10 years, now play softball occasionally. We had an ex Yankee in our softball league a couple years ago, Buddy Groom (He could throw and field the heck out of the softball, played first base in softball, pitched in the majors)

Mike

zep33 · February 21, 2008 8:54AM

Cool thread.

My baseball story:

Started in what we called "farm league" around 9 or 10 years old as a pitcher / 3rd base. Ended up getting pretty good. Always made the all-star teams from little league through Babe Ruth. Made the JV team as a freshman in HS but due to family circumstances, ended up moving to Madrid Spain in my sophmore year and didn't play again until I tried out for a league that I can't remember the name of when I was about 25. It was a league that ran here on Cape Cod that was kind of a sister league to the Cape Cod league for mostly players that weren't drafted into the actual Cape Cod League. It had mostly college players. Actually made the team as a pitcher and was quite proud to be able to compete with those guys. Just played that one season, had a couple starts and couple relief appearances. Didn't do great but it was a lot of fun. Our team really sucked. I think we came in last place if I remember right. After that it was the Sunday beer softball league. Completely blew out my arm at some point and can now barely reach home plate. I really miss those days

AlmostPerfect · February 21, 2008 8:54AM

I played ball with Jeff Hammonds, he was in the majors for a long time.

storm888 · February 21, 2008 9:31AM

BB: H.S. Jr. ........ I was a better watcher than a player.

FB: H.S. Soph. ....... I didn't want to get killed.

How far did you make it?

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