BASEBALL
Mobile’s Professional Connection
By Joey Warner

 There are 140 baseball players listed that have represented Mobile on the professional level.  There is no way I can research everyone without knowing the players’ names that I have missed.  If you have information on players that are not listed, please contact Joey Warner at 251-604-7387 or email me at wjtaw@aol.com or joey@sportsreports.biz.  Also, comments or disputes are welcomed to be brought to my attention.

Mobile’s Baseball Greats (14)

Mobile has a tradition in baseball as historical as any City in the United States.  There are so many great players that have lived the dream of making it to the major leagues and the Port City and surrounding area can claim as their own; even though some were not delivered in our local hospitals.  

     Hank and Tommie Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Amos Otis, Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, Ozzie Smith, Satchell Paige, Bernie Carbo, Frank and Milt Bolling, Jim Mason and Dave Stapleton can be listed as SportsReports All-Stars.

Jaguar Major Leaguers (9)

Eddie Stanky, Pat Putnam, Glenn Borgmann, Mike O’ Berry, Pete Coachman, Mike Maksudian, Mike Mordecai, Jay Gainer and Steve Falteisak are players that spent time in the major leagues and all represent the University of South Alabama  Jaguars’ Alumni.

Boxscore Favorites (9)

Many more Jags have done wonders in the big leagues and will always be remembered and some are still making the big bucks on major league rosters.  Luis Gonzalez, Lance Johnson, Jon Leiber, Turner Ward, Marlon Anderson, Adam Lind, Juan Pierre are legends that strengthen Mobile’s Major League connection while P. J. Walters and David Freese made their debuts at the ‘big show’ this season

Best of the Rest (32)

J.C. Romero-P- (32-28) in 10 major league seasons with the Twins, Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Phillies.

Andy Merchant-C- (.270, 22 homers) in 8 seasons (5 in AAA) with the Red Sox (1972-79). Made it to the Majors in 1975 and 76.

Sap Randall- (.290) in 8 minor seasons with California and Chicago White Sox. Made it to the majors with White Sox in 1988.  

Danny Thomas- (.275, 61 homers) with Milwaukee minors (1972-78).  Made it to majors with Brewers in 1976-77.

Mark Johnston- (.243 with 49 homers) in six minor seasons with Yankees and Brewers (1978-84).

Alex Pastore- played with St. Louis minors in 1974-75.

Steve Sparks-P- Pitched with Pittsburgh, San Francisco, St. Louis,(1998-2005). Made it to the Majors with the Pirates in 2000.

Steve Kittrell- Played with the Boston Red Sox minors in 1971.

Norwood Hill-P- (13-13) with Boston Red Sox minors (1969-71).

Ricky Patterson–C- Played four seasons in NY Mets minors.  Managed seven seasons in minors. (494-397). Chicago White Sox, Mets and AAA Iowa for the Cubs in 1994.

Allen Battle- (.296, 139 stolen bases) in St. Louis minors (1991-99).  AAA for six seasons. Made it to the majors with St. Louis and Oakland.

Warren Hughes-P- Pitched with St. Louis minors in 1985.

Bob Filotei- Played with Cincinnati Reds minors (1990-91).  Scouts for San Diego.

Tony Neal–P- (10-19, 4.03 ERA) in four minor seasons with Baltimore.

Greg “Boomer” Wells- Major Leagues with Toronto and Minnesota (1981-82). Hit .308, 118 homers, 975 hits in seven seasons in minors (76’-83’). Hit .317 with 277 homers, 901 RBIs in Japan, including winning Triple Crown (.355, 37, 130) with Hankyu Braves in 1983.

Scotti Madison-C- (.282, 128 homers, 983 hits) in 10 minor seasons (7 in AAA) with Twins, Dodgers, Tigers, Royals, Reds (1980-89). 

Nathan Chapman-  (.284, 995 hits, 42 homers) in 8 seasons with the Yankees minors (1975-82).

Kyle Towner- 106 stolen bases with Seattle minors. (1993-98)

Eddie Pearson- (.287, 130 homers) with Chicago White Sox minors for 13 seasons (1993-2006).

Stan Galle- (.289, 1,147 hits) in 8 minor league seasons with Cleveland, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis (1937-51). Made it to majors with Washington in 1942.

Pete Milne–  (.233) in 60 Major League at bats with New York Giants (1948-50).

Lou Vickery-P- (59-50, 3.45 ERA) in 9 seasons in Yankees, White Sox, Cincinnati and St. Louis minors (1959-67).  Hit .268 with 154 hits.

Eugene “Shorty” Dearman- Two minor seasons with Brooklyn and Cleveland (54’ and 57’)

Chris Kitsos– Played 13 years (47’ to 59’) in the minors with Brooklyn, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland. 1,358 Hits and 60 homers.

Jake Floyd-P– (11-11) in two minor seasons with Cleveland in 46’ and 48’.

Joel Gardner- Played Independent ball for two seasons in 49’ and 54’.

Red Rollings- (.316, 1,260 hits, 47 homers) 14 minor league seasons (1924-41). Played 184 games in the majors with Boston 1927, 28 and 30.

Bama Rowell- (.290, 1,119 hits, 75 homers) in 9 seasons with Cincinnati, Brooklyn, New York Giants minors (1937-54). Six seasons in majors with Boston and Philadelphia.

Walter Sessi- (.304, 1,900 hits, 253 homers) in 14 minor league seasons (1937-55).  Made it to the Majors with St. Louis in 1941 and 1946.

Pete Wojey– P– Minor Leagues with Detroit and Brooklyn in 54,56,57.

High Schools (76)

Mary Montgomery (6)

Terry Adams-P- (51-62, 4.17 ERA) in 11 major league seasons with Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox.  9 seasons in minors (1991-2006).

Jimmy Sexton- (.282, 275 stolen bases) 13 seasons with Pirates, Mariners, Astros, A’s, Cardinals minors (1979-84). 6 seasons in Majors (1977-83).

Mickey McKinnion-P-  (7-18, 4.79 ERA) with Chicago White Sox minors (1992-94).

Tommy Davis-C-  (.274, 102 homers, 968 hits) in nine minor seasons with Orioles, Dodgers, Indians, Cardinals and Reds (1994-2002). Made it to majors with Orioles in 1996.

Josh Touchstone-  (.277, 65 hits) with Tampa Bay minors in 2004.

Melvin Pierce-OF- New York Yankees minor organization in the eighties.

Davidson (8)

Wade Taylor-P- (36-39) in 8 minor seasons (4 years in AAA) with the New York Yankees and Seattle (1987-95). Was 7-12 with the Big league Yankees in 1991.

Keith Mohler- Played with Los Angeles Dodgers minors (1979-80).

Dana Williams- (.291, 1,033 hits, 38 homers) with Boston Red Sox minors. (10 years, 5 years in AAA), (1983-93). Made it to the Majors in 1989. Coached with Seattle minors.

Mike Goff- 2B- (.248, 25 homers) with Red Sox minors (1984-88). Manager or coach with Seattle, Cincinnati minors (17 years). Coach in Majors with Mariners (2005-07).

Wayne Able-  Played with Montreal minors in 1987.

Albert Likely- Played with Chicago White Sox minors in 1979-80.

Michael Davitt-P-  (6-12,4.90 ERA) Los Angeles Angels minors (2007-2008).

Bryan Gainey- (.233,157 homers) in 10 seasons with the New York Mets minors. (1994-2003).

Vigor (4)

Pat Howell-OF- Spent 14 seasons (87’-2004’) with Mets minor organization. Hit .248 with 292 stolen bases.  Made it to the Majors in 1992.

Todd Englett-C- Played with the Pittsburgh Pirates minors (1987-88.)

Leon Williams- Played with New York Mets minors (1981-82.)

Louis Crane–P– Pitched in the minors with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis in (1958-59).

UMS-Wright (2)

Brad Hildreth-IF-  (.232) with Baltimore minor organization (1989-90).

Phillip Willingham-  (.296, 25 homers, 116 RBI) in 2002-03 with Seattle minors.

Satsuma (10)

Turner Ward-OF- 12 major league and 14 seasons in minors (1985-2001) with Yankees, Indians, Blue Jays, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Phillies. Minor League coach.

Lance Ward- Independent baseball (1994-96), including Mobile Bay Sharks.

Wade Ward- Independent Ball in 1995.

Randy McGillberry-P- (24-24) in five seasons (4 in AAA) with the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets (1976-80). Made it to the Majors with Royals in 1977 and 78.

Scot Sealy-C-  Played 8 seasons with Seattle Mariners minors (1992-99).

Daniel Head-P-  (17-16, 4.08 ERA) with Seattle Mariners minors (2000-03).

Ronald Sims- Atlanta Braves minors in 1988. Career ended when he was hit in eye in his first game.

Randy Vaughn-P-  (12-16, 3.84 ERA) with Kansas City minors (1988-90).

Jimmy Bryant-P- (20-11, 3.72 ERA) with Seattle minors (1983-86).

Kevin Farmer –C– San Diego Padres minor organization. (1987-89.) 

Shaw (5)

Mark Higgins-1B-  (.282 with 104 homers) in seven seasons (1984-90) with Cleveland and Milwaukee. Made it to the majors with the Indians in 1989.

Price Thomas-  (.296, 13 homers) with Milwaukee minors (1970-73).

Geoff Doggett-OF- Stole 66 bases with Chicago Cubs and New York Mets minors (1982-85).

Tommy Little-P- (4-1, 1.15 ERA) in 35 games with Toronto minors in 1986-87.

Mark Tapia-P-  (6-4 3.06 ERA) with Pittsburgh Pirates minors in 1975-76.

St. Paul’s (8)

Jake Peavy-P- (86-62, 3.25 ERA, 1, 256 strikeouts) 7 major league seasons with San Diego.

David Francia- (.276, 870 hits, 165 stolen bases) 9 seasons with Phillies minors. (4 seasons in AAA).

Destin Hood- Hit .256 in 25 games with Washington Nationals minors in 2008.   

Jason Norton-P-  (22-18, 3.31 ERA) with Red Sox minors (1998-2001).

Chase Christianson-P- (10-16, 5.08 ERA, 171 K’s) in 90 games with Arizona Minors (2007-08).

Brett Parker- (.257, 5 homers) with Cleveland minors (2003-2004).

Tyler Boulo-C- (.260, 3 homers) with San Diego minors in 1996.

Bunky Kateon- (.291, 2 homers) with Chicago White Sox minors in 2008.

Daphne (1)

Dan Williford- Played 75 games with Arizona minors in 2000.

Fairhope (4)

Eric Yelding-SS,OF– Five seasons in Major Leagues with Houston and Chicago Cubs. Stole 89 bases, including 64 with Houston in 1990.  In 11 minor league seasons, hit .270 with Toronto, Astros, Cubs, White Sox, Cleveland and Seattle.

Courtney Duncan-P-  (45-43, 3.55 ERA, 735 K’s, 51 saves) in 10 seasons with Chicago White Sox minors (1996-2005).

Kerry Valrie-  (.246, 50 homers, 118 Stolen Bases) in 8 minor seasons with Chicago White Sox (1990-97).

Dan Jennings-P- New York Yankees minor organization in the eighties. Vice President of Player Personnel with Florida Marlins.

Murphy (4)

Jim Mason-SS- Played nine major league seasons with Washington Senators, Yankees, Rangers, Blue Jays and Expos.

Dewayne Jones- played with Oakland A’s minors in 1988.

Clark Girardeau-P- (17-26, 5.35 ERA) in San Diego minors (2004-2006).

Ryan Hannaman-P-  (18-18, 3.54 ERA, 367 K’s) in San Francisco and Baltimore minors.

Faith Academy (4)

Josh Donaldson-C-  (.287, 24 homers 97 RBIs) with Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s minors (2007-08).

P. J. Walters-P- Major league debut (7 K’s in 4 innings) with St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cubs in 2009. 24-13, 3.55 ERA with 334 K’s in 340 innings in minors (2006-08).

Steven Upchurch-P-  (2-2, 3.26 ERA, 28 K’s in 30 innings) with Chicago White Sox minors in 2008.

Kevin Nabors-P-  (3-2,4.01 ERA, 34 K’s in 29 innings) with Los Angles Angels minors in 2008.

McGill (10)

Frank Bolling-2B- (.254, 1,415 hits, 106 homers) in 12 major league seasons with Detroit, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (1954-66)

Milt Bolling-SS- (.241, 19 homers) in 7 major league seasons with Boston, Washington and Detroit.

Jack Bolling –1B-  Major Leagues. 1939 with Philadelphia. 1944 with Brooklyn. (.313, 25 doubles and just 14 K’s in 342 At Bats). Hit .305 in 9 seasons in minors.

Leo Smith-1B– Seven seasons in minors with Detroit (1957-63). Hit .288 with 78 homers in 2,954 at bats. .

Pat Guy-3B- played with St. Louis Cardinals minors in 1958.

John Duffy-P- (15-24) with Detroit Tigers minors (1984-89).  Pitching Coach in minors with Marlins, Yankees, Cubs and Devil Rays.  

Mike Machen-P- (8-3, 5.02 ERA,86 K’s) with Atlanta and Baltimore minors (2000-2002).

Tyler Jones-  (.271, 10 homers, 174 hits, 36 stolen bases) with Arizona minors (2007-08).

Blake Stein–P- (21-28 with 369 K’s) in five Major League seasons with KC Royals and Oakland A’s (1998-2002). 59-33 3.85 ERA,804 K’s in 10 minor seasons (1994-2004.)

David Weems- (.287) in Independent ball in 1995-96.

Baker (1)

Joey Doan-P- (1-4 7.34 ERA) in the Independent Frontier League in 2008.

B.C. Rain (4)

Johnny Adams-P-  (35-32, 4.24 ERA) in St. Louis minors (1981-85).

Ike Golden-C-  played for Chicago White Sox minors in 1981.

Gary Blackwell – IF – Made it to Triple A and hit .244 with 300 hits in five minor seasons with St. Louis (72’ – 76’).

Orval "Glen" Vickery – P- (13-16) from (69’ to 72’) with Montreal minor organization.

Grand Bay (2)

Bob Henley-C-  Major leagues (.304 35-for-115, 3 homers) for Montreal in 1998. (.275, 51 homers) in Montreal minors (1993-2002).

Tony Pritchett-  played with Oakland and Chicago White Sox minors (1990-92).

Theodore (3)

Greg Conner- (.248, 30 homers) with San Francisco minors (1986-89).

Tommy Hearn- Played all nine positions with Miami Marlins minors in 1986.

Keith Murray- Played with Texas Rangers minors in 1990 and 1991.