1993 Fleer ProCards AAA All Stars and 1995 Toledo Mud Hens Locker Rooms

Just found out the former home of the AAA Toledo Mud Hens, Ned Skeldon Stadium, has recently been demolished. The small and outdated stadium was last used by the Mud Hens in 2001, before they moved to a new ballpark in downtown Toledo. Without planning on it, I now have a story to tack onto one that I’ve been waiting years to write!

I don't want to write about the current ongoing Spring Training, or anything about the upcoming season. I don't feel like talking about current baseball cards, or even anything recently current. But I do want to talk about prospects. Just not current prospects. Prospects from 30 years ago. But we'll get there...

With Spring Training games fully underway, I’ve been watching all of the extra prospects that are playing in those games, while many of the MLB stars are off representing their country in the World Baseball Classic. 

Like Lars Nootbaar for Team Japan!

Baseball is easily 12 stars in the Tokyo Dome. Horns and clapping that NEVER stop at any point during the game, becomes hypnotizing after awhile. I want to watch more baseball that sounds like that!

And extra special congratulations to Lars Nootbaar.

This Japanese baseball legend is the only American that can celebrate a WBC victory.

Who saw that coming?

Certainly no one back in 1995!

In July 1995, I was on a Jay Buckley Baseball Tour, going from Wisconsin to New York, into Canada and back. 

Which I highly recommend taking if you ever had any interest in a bus ride to different stadiums around the country. Even though this ad from Baseball America references Jay Buckley's 1994 Tours, you get the point. If you're interested, and it's now 2023, you can just click here!

As our tour bus drove from Chicago to Cleveland, we made a stop at a AAA Minor League stadium, for a bonus photo opportunity and ballpark tour.

Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee, OH.

Home of the Toledo Mud Hens, of the AAA International League. Farm team of the Detroit Tigers. Toledo has been affiliated with Detroit since 1986. Previously, they had hosted the AAA team of the Minnesota Twins, from 1978-1986.

Before it's conversion to a baseball park, the former Lucas County Stadium was a racetrack. The third base line stands are original to the track. The seats down the first base line and behind home plate, as well as the pressbox and "Diamond Club" are newer additions to the -now named- Ned Skeldon Stadium. A local politician, who worked to bring minor league baseball back to Toledo, after a 9 year absence, in 1964.

While I did get a few pictures of Ned Skeldon Stadium, that my mom took in 1995, this video is a much better look at the Ned. Shot just a couple of months before it's demolition. It still looked decent, but after 20 years of not getting all of the necessary upkeep, the stadium was unsafe and parts of it were condemned. 

Wish his video could've included the Diamond Club of 2022. 

I bet that area looked pretty sweet!

We had been at a steamy afternoon Cubs game at Wrigley, the day before (July 13, 1995).

And that heat had followed us into Toledo, the next morning.

The Mud Hens were expecting us, and provided a guided tour of the stadium, pressbox and even the player training areas and locker rooms. At the end of the tour, we were dropped off at a conveniently open Ned Skeldon Stadium Souvenir Stand, and given Toledo Mud Hens 1995 pocket schedules.

I do like that great Mud Hens logo.

Reminds me of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

Even though it's not close to that.

However, that "Our Fun is Famous!" logo is just weird. Those fonts aren't fun... That layout is awkward... It's trying so hard, but it just doesn't get it. Just really lame, even by 1995 standards. 

The slogan hints at their biggest claim to fame. Some 50 plus years ago, the writers of the TV show M.A.S.H. threw a dart and it landed on Toledo Mud Hens. That would be the random obscure team that one of the secondary characters would follow, just to add a quirk. I don't know the percentage of current fans that would make the association, but 30-40 years ago, if you mentioned the Toledo Mud Hens, the first thing to pop into anyone's head would be, "Corporal Klinger".

But they can't market that...

I did buy two things from the Ned Skeldon Stadium Souvenir Stand. The first being:

1995 AAA International League Record Book. Featuring the 1994 International League Rookie of the Year, Shawn Green, the Most Valuable Pitcher/ERA Champ, Brad Woodall (don't know why he never made it), and 1994 International League MVP, Jeff Manto, on the cover. 

A book obviously published more for use and reference by teams in the league, and their respective media, given the spiral binding and uncoated paper. All the pages are black and white printed, with layouts designed to allow space for adding notes. This is perfect for my collection.

In addition to buying cards of prospects I liked, I spent just as much energy in reading about and researching the next wave of Major League Stars. This book fit right alongside the collection of Baseball America Magazines. 

Baseball America - April 17, 1994

Montreal Expos outfielder, Cliff Floyd, was named the top prospect in Baseball America's 1994 Top 100. This issue survived years of collection downsizing, due to the Expos factor, combined with the annual Top 100 list. Content like that is good time capsule fodder. When I pulled this out of the Archives, I knew it would be too large to scan, so I'd have to take poor quality digital pictures of anything I wanted to use, and that I'd spend far more time re-reading it than I ever intended.

Yup. That happened.

Earlier this month, I was at a Barnes & Noble bookstore, and saw current copies of Baseball America on their newsstand. Was all prepared to buy it, for inclusion in this story, but I saw that it was already 2 weeks old, and the "on sale through" date was tomorrow. The feature story, dominating close to 40% of the pages, was a preview of the upcoming college baseball season. Excellent content, if that's what you're looking for.

However, the college leagues are a bit too far away for my tastes, and were usually my least favorite issue of Baseball America each year. I'll wait a bit and come back for the next issue, which will probably be more of interest.

Baseball America - March 27, 2023

Hmmm... Something's not right with that cover... Baseball America never airbrushed logos off uniforms before... Compared to other covers they've done that I've seen, this layout was boring and terrible. Whatever, I'm buying it regardless. I flipped through and saw that the inside pages were exactly what I was looking for, no need to worry about anything else. I paid for it, got in the car and was on my way.

Once I got home, and was getting ready to take the picture, I figured out this was a false cover. A wrap-around advertisement for Wilson Athletic Equipment. Well played. I was fooled. Didn't affect my intent to buy, but I thought this was the real cover...

Until I flipped the cover over...

Oh, I get it! 

And as an extra added super bonus awesome thing, this is the 2023 edition of the Top 100 Prospects issue! Even more awesome, there was a half page write up, looking back at the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Top 100 Prospect issues. Including a picture of the 1994 Cliff Floyd cover! So it was fate that I waited for this issue to hit newsstands.

While being overjoyed this is a publication that still hits newsstands.

And that there still are a few newsstands...

Baseball America of 2023, is a very different thing than it was in 1993. The magazine is still oversized, but smaller and easier to handle than it used to be. Cover price is now $9.99 vs $2.99, and it's only 52 pages. The stock is glossy and coated and printed 4 color throughout. 30 years ago we got a mixture of black and white and 4 color (usually just the advertising pages were CMYK), printed on a stock that was slightly thicker than newsprint. Flipping through todays Baseball America, I found barely any advertising at all. 

I know most of their business is done via subscription through their website. But it's nice to get this amount of content in a printed magazine, in this day and age. I'm glad to have something like this, to keep as a future reference. 

Although I miss the full page ads for baseball cards... 

Baseball cards, similar to the ones I purchased at the Ned Skeldon Stadium souvenir stand, for $8, on July 14, 1995... 

1993 Fleer ProCards AAA All Stars Checklist

A story about this card set was planned as soon as I first thought of writing about cards. This set had been sitting prominently on a visible shelf for many years, reminding me often that I still wanted to write about it. Just a few weeks ago it popped into my head again. Out of curiousity, I looked up Ned Skeldon Stadium, and read that it had been demolished between December, 2022 and March, 2023. 

Well, that certainly means I have to write about it now.

Under their new company owner, Fleer, ProCards continued printing minor league card team sets, as it had since the late 1970's. They kept their name after the sale, but were marketed as Fleer ProCards, from that point on. The new name did lead to better distribution of their minor league team sets. Fleer was able to get complete team sets into nationwide hobby shops, instead of just mail order and team distribution.

So this would be the Top 54 cards, from complete set of 1993 AAA Baseball All Star Game cards. Purchased in 1995, at a AAA baseball stadium of the Toledo Mud Hens, two years and 1500 miles miles away from where that game was played.

Top 54 1993 Fleer ProCards AAA All Stars Whatever

#54 - Walt Horn

Horn retired in 2016, after 39 years as a trainer in A's  organization.

#53 - Stan Johnston

After 23 years working as a trainer in the Dodgers organization, Johnston moved on to several other ventures, before establishing the "Big Cock Ranch" in July 2022. 

Didn't see that coming...

Advertising from the April 1994 issue of Baseball America - 1994 Fleer

Back in the 1990's Fleer either made some of the best or some of the worst card sets each year. When they were bad, they were REAL bad. 1994 Fleer Baseball was an example of the VERY GOOD side of Fleer. This is one of my all time favorite sets.

#52 - John O'Donoghue

Orioles top prospect made it into 11 games, 1 start, for Baltimore in 1993. Wasn't awful, but had a down year in 1994, then was traded to Dodgers in December. O'Donoghue never made it back to the Majors. After a season in AA, he retired after the 1996 season.

1970 Topps - John O'Donoghue

His father (also named John O'Donoghue) pitched in the Major Leagues from 1963-1971. Including stints with both the Seattle Pilots and Montreal Expos.

#51 - Bill Taylor

Originally a 2nd round draft pick in 1980, Taylor bounced around through several teams before joining the AAA Richmond Braves, for the 1993 season. He signed with Oakland for 1994, and ended up having a decent run as the Athletics closer for about 5 seasons. After a 1999 trade to the New York Mets, he kind of imploded. Injuries and ineffectiveness ended his career in early April, 2001.

#50 - Brian Drahman

Fringe Major League relief pitcher, appearing in 47 total games, between 1991 and 1994. Drahman pitched for the White Sox and Marlins at the major league level. He also spent a lot of time in various AAA bullpens, before ultimately calling it quits in 1997.

#49 - Drew Denson

Atlanta's first round draft pick in 1984, Denson got into 12 games with the Braves in 1989. He resurfaced in 1993, with The Chicago White Sox, but that was all the MLB service time Denson logged before retiring in 1996.

Drew Denson died on February 13, 2014.

#48 - Don Florence

Florence was a relief pitcher in the Red Sox system from 1988-1994, but was never a top prospect. He moved on to the Mets in 1995, and got into 14 games with the Major League team (winning 3 of them). After 36 games in AAA for the Orioles in 1996, Florence retired.

#47 - Rick Reed

Reed was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 26th round of the 1986 MLB Draft. Just over two years later, he made his Major League Debut, tossing 8 shutout innings against a very good New York Mets team. He usually put up decent numbers wherever he pitched, but for whatever reason, he never got an extended shot in the Majors, until landing with the New York Mets in 1997. After 3 and a half decent years as a reliable starting pitcher with the Mets...

2002 Topps Total - Rick Reed

He was traded to the Minnesota Twins, in July 2001. He stayed with the Twins through the 2003 season, before retiring. Going 25-25, 4.47 ERA, in 72 games (65 starts) as a Twiin, providing our young team with some much needed rotation stabilizing.

#46 - Kurt Abbott

Washed out photo of Oakland's 15th round Draft Pick in 1989, Abbott was traded to the Florida Marlins after the 1993 season.

1994 Finest Refractor - Kurt Abbott

After 4 decent seasons with the Fish, Abbott was traded back to the Oakland Athletics for 35 games, before another trade to the Colorado Rockies in 1998. Abbott got into 138 games with the Rockies in 1998 and 1999. I don't remember that at all. And I was following the Rockies very close then. I don't think I've ever seen a Kurt Abbott Rockies card.

Abbott went to the New York Mets for the 2000 season, but his career was on a downward slide. Injuries were piling up, and he was unable to establish himself with the Mets, Braves or Cardinals, over the next few years. 2003 was his last season in professional baseball.

#45 - Todd Williams

Williams didn't get selected until the 54th Round of the 1990 MLB Draft. but he made it to AAA within 2 seasons. Where he largely stayed for rest of his career. After the Dodgers promoted him to pitch in 16 games of the 1995 season, Williams kept going until 2007. Signing with and appearing in games with either AAA, the Major Leagues, or both, for Oakland, Cincinnati, Seattle, New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Texas Rangers, Baltimore, briefly with the Colorado Rockies, and a whole buncha more Baltimore. Williams actually pitched in 177 games for the Orioles over the years,

#44 - J.R. Phillips

The Angels drafted Phillips in 1988, and he progressed slowly through their system, until the San Francisco Giants claimed him off waivers, at the end of the 1992 season. A great 1993 season in AAA boosted Phillips value as a prospect, but his performance in San Francisco didn't cement his future. 

1995 Pinnacle New Blood - J.R. Phillips

After the New Blood dried up, the Giants traded Phillips to the Phillies, in May 1996. With lots of time spent in AAA, he also appeared in the majors for the Houston Astros, and 25 games I absolutely don't remember with the 1999 Colorado Rockies. Those games wrapped up his MLB career, although he logged more minor league time with the Rockies, White Sox, Mariners and Astros, until retiring after the 2005 season.

#43 - Paul Faries

23rd Round Pick (1987) of the San Diego Padres, Faries had brief stints of playing time with San Diego, between 1990 and 1992. Unfortunately he didn't hit in the majors the way he did in AAA. He signed with the Giants for 1993, making the AAA All Star team, and getting into 15 games in San Francisco. Faries fluttered through the farm teams of Oakland, Cleveland, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee and Detroit, before wrapping it up in 1998.

#42 - Rich Rowland

Could this photo have been taken at Ned Skeldon Stadium? Looks like it!

The Tigers picked Rowland in the 17th Round of the 1988 MLB Draft. He played sparingly during parts of five seasons with Detroit, between 1990 and 1993. Playing in only 38 total games in those four years. He caught his big break in 1994, with the Red Sox, getting into 46 games. He slugged 9 home runs in only 133 plate appearances, but that wasn't enough the convince Boston he was the guy behind the plate. They only gave him 14 games in 1995.

Rowland played in AAA for Toronto and San Francisco, in 1996 and 1997, but didn't appear in any Major League games.

The Toledo Mud Hens ran a 1/3 page ad in that 1995 International League Record Book. So if you're a fan of Rowland's Mud Hens cap, you could call that number and tell Stewart L. Forman that his Enterprises needs to send you one! You'll even pay for it, if he tells you how much it is!

Or you could just go to the Ned and buy it yourself!

If it's still 1995 there, you could plan it around one of these home games, as noted in the official Toledo Mud Hens 1995 Schedule. If I remember correctly, there's no April or May on this schedule, because of fallout from the 1994-95 MLB Strike.

Toledo Mud Hens left center field scoreboard. Monochrome, as basic as you can get. But there's something quite awesome about the hand painted letters for the Rite Aid Pharmacy. We don't need no stinking stencils!

Third base grandstands, and the Toledo Mud Hens dugout. They asked us to stay off the grass, so we limited our on field sightseeing to the warning track in front of the dugout. 

From there, we walked up into the third base stands, then down to the press box. I distinctly remember seeing the current issue of Baseball America, sitting on table inside. It was the same issue I'd brought along to read on the bus. Only mine came from Shinders...

For whatever reason, we didn't get into the Diamond Club, below the pressbox. 

One last look at the Ned Skeldon Stadium outfield, before we continue our tour of the other buildings in the complex. Since the Ned was old and small, most of the team amenities had to be housed in separate buildings on the property. Batting cages and pitching mounds and training facilities were not connected to the stadium, but off beyond first base and right field. 

We weren't going to Boston Market, although they are big time Mud Hens sponsors...

We were going to Cleveland, with another brief stop on our way to Jacobs Field.

The remains of League Park!

These now demolished segment of first base grandstands were a significant piece of Cleveland Indians history. And baseball history. Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run here, in 1929. League Park opened in 1891 and closed in 1946. Most of the ballpark was demolished in 1951.

League Park was the first baseball story I ever posted on 4 Baggers.

Kind of wish I would have held off on it...

From there it was off to Jacob's Field, to watch the Indians play a Doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics.

We had tickets to both games, since the first game was a make up date. 

With the second game not ending before 10:30pm, made July 14, 1995, a very long -yet incredible- baseball day. In 100+ degree and insanely humid weather. After a far too brief night's sleep in a hotel, there was more bus ride to Baltimore! 

Which I already wrote about.

#41 - Keith Lockhart

A former 11th Round Draft Pick (1986) by the Cincinnati Reds. Lockhart was a late bloomer who didn't reach the majors until he was 29, with the San Diego Padres, in April 1994. From there he found a comfortable niche as a role player with the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves, and played in the Majors until he was 38. 

#40 - George Culver

George Culver pitched in parts of 9 seasons, with the Phillies, Astros, Reds, Indians, Cardinals and Dodgers, between 1966 and 1974. With the 1975 season spent in Japan. After retiring as a player, Culver coached and managed for many years in the Phillies and Dodgers organizations.

He retired from baseball in 2010, and is still kicking around today at 79 years old.

#39 - Anthony Manahan

Manahan was a First Round Compensation Draft Pick (38th overall) of the Seattle Mariners, in 1990. He's the first player on this Whatever to have never played in the Major Leagues. Topping out and calling quits, after the 1996 season spent with the Phillies AAA team in Scranton/Wilkes Barre. His numbers weren't bad, but  they didn't stand out or translate into a Major League regular. Not sure why the Mariners didn't give him at least a token call-up. They carried him on the 40-Man, and it's not like the 1993-94 Mariners were setting the world on fire. 

#38 - Kevin Roberson

Power hitting outfielder logged time with the Cubs (1993-1995, where I remember watching him play on WGN) and a season with the New York Mets (1996). Roberson slugged 20 home runs in 345 plate appearances, over those four years. The Cubs took him in the 16th Round of the 1988 MLB Draft, and he stayed with Chicago until 1995. He played a couple more seasons in AAA before taking 1999 off.

Roberson signed with the Minnesota Twins for the 2000 season, but only lasted 36 games at AAA before calling it a career.

#37 - Tripp Cromer

St. Louis's 3rd Round Pick in the 1989 MLB Draft. Cromer was a September call up in 1993, and would go on to an 8 year MLB career, splitting time between the majors and AAA teams of St. Louis, Houston and the Dodgers. Cromer wasn't much of a hitter, but did connect on 12 home runs in 565 career plate appearances.

Which is 12 more than I can hit...

Advertising from the April 1994 issue of Baseball America - 1994 Upper Deck Collectors Choice

Upper Deck's new Collector's Choice brand, would be at a lower $1 per pack price point than regular Upper Deck. Their base set was now increasing to $2 per pack. To promote the launch of this new card brand, they ran a contest with the top prize of appearing with Ken Griffey Jr., on his 1995 card.

1995 Collector's Choice - Ken Griffey Jr.

Looks like the winner was flown to the 1994 All Star Game in Pittsburgh, for this photoshoot. Kind of a cool promotion. 

Surprised Topps never stole it...

#36 - Bill Russell

A 9th Round Pick in the 1966 MLB Draft, Russell first made the Dodgers in 1969. He stayed with the organization as a player for the next 18 seasons. Most of those came as thier starting shortstop, before taking on a utility role over his last few years. 

Tommy Lasorda had been running the Dodgers, dating back to when Russell was his shortstop. Bill Russell was being groomed as Lasorda's replacement when he chose to step down as manager. That came in 1996. Long seen as the Dodgers next long term manager, Russell wasn't given much of a chance by team management, who fired him about half way into the 1998 season.

The Dodgers were in the process of being sold to News Corporation (basically Fox, without the Fox name. The major funding was still coming from Rupert Murdoch). In June 1998, the Dodgers shockingly went into "EVERYTHING MUST GO!!" mode. Trading Mike Piazza to the Marlins and dumping key front office people throughout the organization, all the way down to Bill Russell and his on field staff.

Russell finished his managerial career with a record of 173-149, but he never managed again.

There was a single season coaching with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000, but that didn't go anywhere.

#35 - Mark Smith

Some day I plan on writing about the first round of the 1991 MLB Draft. That class became the one I followed the closest, through the Junk Wax Era. Between Baseball America and USA Today's Baseball Weekly, I was given pretty good coverage of prospects and the minor leagues. Especially in the pre-internet day. I paid special attention to each team's 1st Round Draft Pick from 1991, in any write-up.

Mark Smith went 9th overall, to the Baltimore Orioles. His career was kind of head scratcher to me. He never developed the power that scouts had predicted, coming out of college. Smith didn't get a sustained run to establish himself, either. Logging MLB time with the Orioles, Pirates, Marlins, Expos and Brewers, as well as wrapping things up with the Phillies AAA club in 2004, before retiring.

The most plate appearances Smith ever had in a season, was only 222. Coincidentally the same number with Pittsburgh in 1997, and Montreal in 2001. Over 8 years of sporadic play, he did slug 32 home runs. 

I've never seen a Mark Smith Expos card.

But if there is one, I need it.

#34 - Scott Ullger

That Portland Beavers hat is sweet! Ullger was selected by the Twins in the 18th Round of the 1977 MLB Draft. He finally made 35 game appearance in the majors during the 1983 season, but never returned. Ullger remained a AAA staple, sticking with the Twins top team until after the 1987 season. After which he retired as a player and moved onto coaching in the system.

Ullger did go on to coach for the Major League Twins from 1995-2014. Serving a couple of stints as interrim manager, when Ron Gardenhire was unavailable.

#33 - Allen Watson

Going back to that 1991 MLB Draft again, Watson was the St. Louis Cardinals first round pick (21st overall). Watson would pitch in parts of 8 seasons, with the Cardinals, Giants...

1997 Stadium Club - Allen Watson

Angels (in those HORRIBLE Disney uniforms), Mets Mariners and Yankees. Can you imagine Shohei and Trout wearing these regularly? Ick... Allen Watson pitched in 206 games during that time, with 137 of them coming as the starting pitcher. Unfortunately, he posted only a 51-58 career record, with a pretty high 5.03 ERA, in nearly 900 innings pitched. He tended to give up too many baserunners per inning, without having big time strikeout numbers.

#32 - Tommy Hinzo

Cleveland was really in on Hinzo. Drafting him in the first round (3rd overall) of the 1984 January Draft, out of high school. Hinzo didn't sign and went to college. Cleveland picked him again in the 7th Round of the 1986 MLB Draft. Hinzo signed and was in the Major Leagues by July 1987. He played mostly second base for the 1987 Indians, getting in 65 games. He spent nearly all of 1988 and 1989 in AAA, only appearing in 18 games for the 1989 Indians. He didn't get a base hit in any of them.

Hinzo continued playing AAA baseball with the Royals, Braves, Orioles, Mariners and Rangers organization, before retiring after the 1995 season.

#31 - Billy Ashley

Billy Ashley was a big time power hitting prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the mid 1990's. Ultimately he ended up being a low average, high on-base, big time power, bigger time strikeout players. Basically, Ashley was about 15 years ahead of his time.

He did get 6 years of auditions with the Dodgers, between 1992 and 1997. In 1998, he attempted a shot with the Boston Red Sox. In 13 games, he did hit 3 home runs! He also struck out in 11 of 26 plate appearances. Boston did re-sign him. Ashley left baseball after 29 games in AAA Toledo, as a member of the Tigers organization. 

A couple of April homestands at the Ned, was his likely breaking point...

1994 Sportflics Artist Proof - Billy Ashley

I don't remember the odds, but I remember the Artist Proof parallels being rather rare. From a set that NO ONE, then or since, was ever collecting. I remember flipping through a small stack of 1994 Sportflics base, at a card show in Minneapolis, in early 1995. Pretty sure this Artist Proof parallel was included here by mistake. Cards were 25 cents each, I found 3 commons I liked and this Billy Ashley Artist Proof parallel that was amongst the commons. Showed them to the dealer with my dollar, he said Thank You and I was on my way. 

#30 - Rob Ducey

Rob Ducey had an interesting career. His first minor league games came in 1984, and his MLB debut came as a 22 year old, with the Toronto Blue Jays, in 1987. He played his last 29 career games in 2001, with the Montreal Expos. In between, Ducey played for the Angels, Rangers, Mariners and Phillies. Only coming near 100 games played between 1998 and 2000. Never a full time starter, more of a sixth outfielder that you keep stashed away on your roster, in case of emergency. 

1991 Score - Rob Ducey

During that time, Ducey posted a career line of .242 / .332 / .396, with 31 home runs over 1478 plate appearances. After his playing days ended, Ducey spent many years coaching. Currently, he's a hitting coch for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

#29 - Ryan Thompson

Picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th Round of the 1987 MLB Draft, Thompson was the New York Mets key return in the July 1992, David Cone trade. He had multiple chances to stick with the Mets, between 1992 and 1995, but didn't hit as expected. Thompson signed with the Cleveland Indians for 1996, but only got into 8 games. Then Thompson disappeared for couple years. He did see time with the Astros, Yankees, Marlins and Brewers, between 1999-2002, but didn't get much playing time with any of those teams. Two more AAA seasons didn't lead to any more MLB games in 2003-2004, he retired after the 2004 season.

1994 Stadium Club - Ryan Thompson

This card rules.

Ryan Thompson finished with a .243 / .301 / .433 line, with 52 home runs across nearly 1400 career plate appearances.

Too bad the red foil is misplaced...

Since their fun is famous, the Toledo Mud Hens provided their scheduled dates for 1995 fun. Simply imagine the majesty at Ned Skeldon, on Friday June 30th, 1995, when the Toledo Symphony Kazoos crash the party! And it sounds like a Banner Day at the Ned, on July 2nd, 1995, when it's Banner Day! 

Although if we were here just 24 hours from... Well, the day we were here... We'd have been right in the middle of the Detroit Tigers/Toledo Tussle & Baseball Card Show.

That would have been cool...

#28 - Tony Longmire

Later that night, the Mud Hens would continue their series with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. AAA team of the Philadelphia Phillies, of which Tony Longmire was still playing with in 1995. 

Longmire was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986, but was traded to the Phillies in 1990. His career was sidetracked by injuries, losing the 1992, 1996 and 1997 seasons to injury. And attempted comeback in the Mexican League, in 1998, didn't lead to anything. Over parts of three seasons with Philadelphia, Longmire put up a .285 / .340 / .391 line. Would have been interesting to see what he could have done if he stayed healthy.

#27 - Troy O'Leary

The Zephyrs used to live in Denver, before moving to New Orleans after the 1992 season. The Zephyrs needed to leave Mile High Stadium, so the expansion Rockies could move in. 

Troy O'Leary was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th Round of the 1987 MLB Draft. He'd debut for the Brewers in 1993, but it wasn't until the Red Sox plucked him off waivers in April 1995, did he become an MLB regular. His 7 year run with the Red Sox saw a .276 / .331 / .459 line, in nearly 1000 games. As fast as his rise was, his fall was nearly as fast.

By the 2002 season, he was darined of his power hitting ability. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but was released in Spring Training. He then signed with Montreal, and put up a decent .286 / .371 / .377 line across 97 games. But hit only 3 home runs all season. 2003 was spent with the Cubs, and went even worse. O'Leary called it quits after the season.

#26 - Marc Bombard

Bombard pitched in the Cincinnati Reds organization, from 1971 to 1977. He was briefly roommates with Randy "Macho Man" Savage in the lower levels of the minor leagues. (I'd love to hear some of those stories!) After his playing career ended, Bombard served a manager in the minor leagues for 28 years, with a few Major League coaching gigs over the years.

#25 - James Mouton

Mouton signed with the Houston Astros out of college, in 1991.

He'd previous been drafted by the Yankees and Twins, but didn't sign. 

1994 Bowman Preview - James Mouton

By 1994, Mouton was already a starting outfielder for the Houston Astros, and he was well on his way to being an outfielder the Astros could count on. Unfortunately by 1997, his hitting fell off a cliff and he had two lost seasons, before a brief rebound with the 1999 Montreal Expos. The following 2 seasons in Milwaukee served to prove that Mouton didn't have much left in his early 30's. He was out of baseball after his age 33 season. Spent in AAA, split between the Diamondbacks and Expos organizations.

#24 - Brian Dorsett

Dorsett was already a 10 year veteran when he made the 1993 AAA All Star team, having been drafted in 1983, by the Oakland Athletics. He would get into 25 games with the Reds in 1993, but had previously played in the Major Leagues (albeit very briefly), with the Indians, Angels, Yankees and Padres, before this. He would have his biggest season in 1994, catching 76 games for the Reds. 

But that was pretty much it. No Major League appearances in 1995, and 17 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1996.

After which, he retired.

#23 - Eduardo Perez

The son of Cincinnati Reds legend and Hall of Famer, Tony Perez, Eduardo was the Angels pick in the first round of that special 1991 MLB Draft, taken 17th overall. Perez advanced through the minors quickly, making his debut with the Angels in July, 1993.

1993 SP - Eduardo Perez

Unfortunately, superstardom never followed for Perez. Perhaps because of multiple injuries over the years, his hitting never caught up with the scouts projections. He lasted in the Major Leagues through the 2006 season, but never had a regular starting role with the Angels, Reds, Cardinals, Devil Rays, Indians or Mariners. 

Since retiring after 2006, Perez has gotten into broadcasting. Including a lenthy run with ESPN, and MLB Network Radio. He has also taken time away to return to coach with the Marlins and Astros, and manage Columbia in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

#22 - Jeff Cox

I just like the yellow and blue Omaha Royals seats!

Cox was a second baseman during his playing days. Getting into 61 games with the Oakland Athletics in 1980-1981. His minor league playing career lasted from 1974 through 1985, before he moved onto coaching and managing. He never managed in the Major Leagues, but he did coach with the Royal, Expos, Marlins, Pirates and White Sox, through 2011.

#21 - Steve Pegues

Detroit's first round pick (21st overall) in the 1987 MLB Draft. The San Diego Padres claimed him off waivers, in March 1992. The Padres stashed him at AAA, but didn't promote him to the Major Leagues, before letting him go in April 1994. Pegues hooked on with Reds in 1994, finally making the major leagues. For 11 games. The Pirates gave him 89 games in 1994 and 1995, but Pegues didn't establish himself. 1996-1998 was spent attempting a comebacks with the Braves, Expos, Cubs and Rockies organizations. None of which paid off. 

Something clicked in the 1990's, suddenly, minor league baseball teams were re-branding with new wacky identities and logos. The more creative the team name, the more merch it sold. I bought in. I had my favorite minor league team, and I bought hats for several more. In 1993, the best place to find minor league baseball caps, was the old Holliday Village superstore. If you were on the north side of Minneapolis, that is... For whatever reason, they had a MASSIVE selection of minor league baseball caps.

In 1993, my favorite AAA team was the Ottawa Lynx. Not only because they were the top farm team of the Montreal Expos. Just look at the cute silver and black kitty! How can you not love that? He/she even has a silver tongue. If they can spring for the third color of red for the maple leaf and baseball stitches, then they missed the kitties tongue. Or it should really be silver.

Larry Walker, Marquiss Grissom and Gary Carter. Shown here on a promotional visit to Ottawa, promoting the Lynx upcoming 1992 season. Ottawa's first season as the AAA affiliate of the Montreal Expos. Carter (on the right) played with the Expos from 1973-1984 and 1992. Larry Walker (left), an Expo from 1990-1994 (and Colorado Rockie from 1995-2004) and Marquiss Grissom (center), an Expo from 1989-1994. Both Carter and Walker ended up in the Hall of Fame, while Grissom played a respectable 17 years in the Major Leagues.

Gary Carter tweeted this picture out years back, and it's one I had never seen before. 

And it all sorts of rules!

For much of 1993, I wore my Ottawa Lynx hat with pride.

Then it was all taken away... By my very own sidekick!

201 Proof Television - March 24, 1994.

(Name Redacted) Star, caught red handed, live on NCTV cable access television, wearing an Ottawa Lynx hat!

From WQ43-45: "The 201 Proof Television Zine Trilogy" (February 2000): 

"The one thing that (Name Redacted) Star did that really pissed me off, was steal my favorite hat. Well, he didn’t actually steal it, he bought his own. But it was the exact same hat as mine. Let me explain. In 1993, I bought an Ottawa Lynx hat. It was my favorite hat for a while and I wore it all the time. (Name Redacted) Star decided that he too liked the hat, and he bought himself one. Now there is a problem. Two people that hang out a lot should NOT have matching hats. It just looks weird. Since (Name Redacted) Star was now wearing the Ottawa Lynx hat all the time, I had to retire mine and buy a new one."

So I bought a Fort Wayne Wizards hat. 

I enjoyed wearing that hat for a few months, until Doktor John took it from my car when we were hanging out one night at 99 Spillihp. He said he needed a hat. Thanks Googles for providing an image of the Fort Wayne Wizards hat. I would have taken one myself, but I couldn't because Doktor John stole it in late 1994.

You know, you could have at least picked me up a Lansing Lugnuts cap, when Sergeant Sweet Ass dragged you through Michigan, some 20 years ago now! 

#20 - Scott Ruskin

Ruskin came seemingly out of nowhere to become a lights out, lefty relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, in 1990. Looking to capitalize, in the middle of his hot rookie campaign, they traded him (as part of a package) to the Montreal Expos for Zane Smith, a starting pitcher the Pirates needed for their post-season push. 

1991 Score - Scott Ruskin

Moises Alou was also in that trade, and he became the Expos left fielder through the 1996 season. Ruskin's 1991 season was a step back from his brilliant 1990, so Montreal flipped him to the Cincinnati Reds, in December of 1991. Ruskin pitched well below average for the Reds in 1992. 1993 was even worse, as he only threw 1 inning total, across 4 appearances, in the Majors.

He signed with the Kansas City Royals for the 1994 season, but retired before Spring Training ended.

Oh yeah, the Expos got a pitcher named John Wetteland, from the Reds for Ruskin. He pitched pretty well for Montreal, if I remember correctly. While his time in baseball wasn't overly long, Scott Ruskin was definitely an important figure in rebuilding the early 1990's Montreal Expos.

#19 - Karl Rhodes

Third round pick of the Houston Astros in 1986, Rhodes made the Majors in August 1990. He stuck with the Houston Astros until going 0-2 in early April 1993. Rhodes cleared waivers and signed with the Kansas City Royals on April 27, 1993. I don't think Rhodes has many cards featuring him as a member of the Royals, given his just over 3 month stay.

Rhodes had a massive AAA season in 1993, posting a .991 OPS with 30 home runs and 16 stolen bases. His stock was boosted so much that the Royals were able to trade him to the Cubs for Major League bullpen help. He didn't reward the Cubs until Opening Day 1994, when he hit 3 home runs in the season's first game. It wasn't the launching pad one would've hoped for. 1995 was lost to injury, save for 15 games with the Cubs and another 15 with the Red Sox. That was it for Karl Rhodes in the Major Leagues.

In 1996, Rhodes signed a contract with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan, and continued playing in Japan for the next 13 seasons (1996-2009). Blasting 464 home runs over that time. 

So yeah, Tuffy turned out okay.

#18 - Javier Lopez

Lopez had a 15 year Major League career, including an extended run as the Braves starting catcher, from 1994-2003. After that, he played a few seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, and a few weeks with the 2006 Boston Red Sox. He signed a contract for 2007, with the Colorado Rockies. I was interested to see how that would work out. However, once it became apparent that he wouldn't make the team, Lopez chose to retire.

1995 Fleer Rookie Sensation - Javier Lopez

His legacy is solid as the starting catcher for the Atlanta Braves dominant run of the 1990's and early 2000's. Lopez finished his career with a line of .287 / .337 / .491, with 260 home runs, in just over 1500 games. For a catcher, I think those are close to Hall of Fame numbers. The argument could easily be made that Javier Lopez was one of the more underrated catchers of the last 30 years.

#17 - Ryan Klesko

Lopez's former teammate was drafted in the 5th Round of the 1989 MLB Draft. Klesko reached Atlanta as a September (1992) call-up. After a few years of part time duty, he eventually becoming a steady presence in left field, for those same Braves teams that Lopez was a key piece behind the plate.

Until December 1999, when the Braves and San Diego Padres got together on a multiple veteran player swap. Klesko went to the the Padres with Bret Boone and a minor league prospect. Wally Joyner, Reggie Sanders and Quilvio Veras were going back to the Braves. It was the type of straight up veteran trade you really don't see that often anymore.

1994 SP Holoview - Ryan Klesko

Klesko would stay in San Diego through the 2006 season, play one final year with the San Francisco Giants, then bow out of the game gracefully. Over 16 MLB seasons, Klesko posted a .279 / .370 / .500 line. Slugging 278 home runs in just over 6500 plate appearances.

#16 - Wally Ritchie 

Philadelphia's 4th Round pick in the 1985 MLB Draft, Ritchie was up with the Phillies by May 1987, getting into 49 games by the end of the year. The Phillies then tried to convert him to a starting pitcher in AAA, after 19 more games out of the bullpen in 1988. He didn't appear in the Majors again, until 1991, when the starting experiment had ended. Ritchie pitched in another 40 games for the 1992 Phillies, but that wrapped up his Major League career, at 26 years of age. 

For his career, Ritchie went 6-5 with a 3.14 ERA, in 147 relief appearances, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. With as sought after as decent left-handed relief pitching has always been, I can't believe he never got another shot.

1994 Classic Best Gold - Wally Ritchie

Wally Ritchie has TWO Toledo Mud Hens cards in my collection. The second one is a tad puzzling. Classic Best Gold was their attempt at a "high end" Minor league Card set. This was to be Classic's minor league version of Stadium Club. At this point, Wally Ritchie was a 27 year old relief pitcher, and veteran of 4 Major league seasons. Not exactly the type of prospect these sets are filled with. Ritchie wasn't even with Toledo or Detroit for the 1994 season, he was in AAA Indianapolis, with the Cincinnati Reds organization.

This card stood out as such an oddball, I've always kept it with my Detroit Tigers cards, since the day I got it in a pack. 

Plus that photo was clearly taken at Ned Skeldon Stadium.

I may have once stood on that same patch of grass that Wally is standing on.

#15 - Terry Shumpert

Kansas City's Second Round Draft Pick in 1987, Shumpert made the Major Leagues in May 1990. He shuttled between AAA Omaha and Kansas City, periodically until a December 1994 trade to the Boston Red Sox. Injuries and ineffectiveness caused Shumpert to drift from the Red Sox to the Cubs to the Padres, before ending up with the Colorado Rockies, in August 1997. Besides several stints with AAA Colorado Springs, Shumpert found a home in Denver through the 2002 season. Covering much of my first run in the city, with the Rockies as my new hometown team.

1990 Upper Deck - Terry Shumpert (TTM Autograph)

Terry Shumpert was one of 10 Major League Baseball players that I attempted Through The Mail autograph requests. Back in the winter of 1990, I sent out cards to 10 different players (no stars) through the publicly provided team address, as printed in the Becketts. 

Shumpert returned his card to me very quickly, if I remember correctly. Think I eventually got 8 players to send them back signed. One player's card was returned by the New York Yankees since they didn't hold player mail during the offseason. But they sent my card back, along with a Yankees bumper sticker and 1991 pocket schedule.

My main goal of doing it was to acquire an autograph from this guy, and I did!

#14 - Charlie Manuel

Manuel signed with the Minnesota Twins at the age of 19, as a pre-draft era free agent, in 1963. First making the Major Leagues in 1969, at the age of 25. He got several chances with the Twins, before they let him go after the 1972 season. He then latched on with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but didn't fare any better with them in 1974-1975. It wasn't until he moved over to Japan to play, did Manuel's career take off. Suddenly, He tapped into a raw powerful swing and was hitting massive home runs for the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Yakult Swallows. Slugging an impressive 189 home runs, between 1976-1981. 

Injuries cut off his run in Japan, so Manuel returned to the United States and took a scouting job for the Minnesota Twins, in 1982. Working his way up to coaching and managing in the Twins farm system, before leaving after 1987. Quickly latching on with the Cleveland organization in 1988, he worked his way up the Indians ladder, and was managing the Major League team from 2000-2002. Manuel then moved on to the Philadelphia Phillies. Managing them from 2005-2013, and winning the 2008 World Series, over Tampa Bay.

1971 Topps - Charlie Manuel

High number short print in reasonably not awful shape... I bought this card in Delaware!

Chuck Manuel played in 222 games with the Twins, between 1969 and 1972. Though he made only 432 total plate appearances. Manuel showed virtually no power at the plate. Hitting only 4 home runs in that span. He also showed no particular batting skills and didn't take a great deal of walks. Those 432 plate appearances produced a meager .199 / .276 / .265 line. 

His 19 games with the Dodgers looked even worse.

Zero indication he'd slug the way he did in Japan, just one season later.

#13 - Larry Jones

Interestingly enough, there are only 2 Hall of Fame players that were selected to the 1993 AAA All Star Game.

I would have expected more, to be honest.

The first of which is Larry. I wrote all I care to about Larry, in my Todd Van Poppel story, a couple months ago. So go read that. I'm not going to write anything else about him now. 

1999 Bowman - Larry Jones

Yeah, Larry was pretty good...

We get it...

Meanwhile... At the Ned...

I found this picture of the Press Box and Diamond Club, on the Googles, while researching this story. I'm not sure what year it's from, but given it's condition, it couldn't have been too long before it was demolished. The banners on the third level are for World Championships of whatever semi-pro league was playing here, in 2007 and 2012. The second level has a sun bleached American Flag. One would have to assume the rolling batting cage on the field was left behind by the Mud Hens, when they moved out in 2002.

Looking at this picture makes me wish I could have seen what the old locker rooms looked like in 2022.

Here's what they looked like in 1995!

First, the visiting team, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons! 

This particular pod housed relief pitcher, Paul Fletcher and infielder Shawn Gilbert. 

Fletcher pitched briefly in the Majors for Philadelphia and Oakland, between 1993 and 1996. But only for 15 innings over 12 total games. Gilbert was a 12th Round Draft pick of the Twins in 1987. They lost him on waivers after the 1992 season. He bounced around AAA before finally debuting with the New York Mets, in 1997. 

In July 1995, Jim Deshaies was in the last few months of his career. Shortly after this series in Toledo, he would return to the Major Leagues and appear in his last two major league games, with the Phillies. He didn't pitch well, they sent him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he finished the 1995 season. Then he started working on his broadcast career. 

1993 Flair - Jim Deshaies

The 1993 Minnesota Twins thought they had a chance at competing, and signed Deshaies to fill out their rotation. He was coming off a lengthy run as a number 3 starter on some decent Astros and Padres teams, so it seemed like a good move. Through 27 starts in the 1993 season, Deshaies posted average numbers, but the Twins were going nowhere. He was moved to the San Francisco Giants at the August 1993 deadline, for a package of 3 prospects. 

Deshaies signed back with Minnesota for the 1994 season, and he was awful. Posting a 6-12 record, off a 7.39 ERA, over 130 innings over 25 starts. The 1994 Twins were even worse than Jim Deshaies that year. They simply had no other options for someone to throw the ball every fifth day. 

Jim Deshaies 1994 season was one of the scariest things in baseball.

One case where the season ending strike was a good thing.

The Phillies top catching prospect, Mike Lieberthal, had his name misspelled "Lieberthul" on the hand-written locker name plate. 

2019 Topps Archives Purple Autograph - Mike Lieberthal 

Lieberthal caught for 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, 13 of which with the Phillies. 

#12 - David Weathers

Always thought it was kind of unfair that the Rockies AAA team was located just 45 miles to the south, in Colorado Springs. Yet, their brothers in 1993 Expansion, the Florida Marlins, had their AAA team in Edmonton... Alberta... Canada... Several galaxies away from Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Weathers was Toronto's 3rd Round pick in the 1988 MLB Draft, but went to the Marlins with the 29th pick in the Expansion Draft. He would go on to pitch in 964 Major League games over 19 seasons. Spending time with the Blue Jays, Marlins, Reds, Brewers, Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Indians and Astros, before retiring after the 2009 season.

His son, Ryan, currently pitches for the San Diego Padres.

#11 - Billy Masse

The New York Yankees 7th Round pick in the 1988 MLB Draft, Masse is the second 1993 AAA All Star to never play in the major leagues. He toiled away for AAA Columbus, through the 1995 season, and never made it out of the minor leagues. He retired as a player after that season, and began coaching. in 1999 and 2000, he was managing in the Montreal Expos farm system, before returning to Yankees, to manage in their system in 2002.

Advertising from the April 1994 issue of Baseball America - 1994 Topps

That's a much better picture than the one actually used on Mike Piazza's 1994 Topps card.

Even though it's very posed. 

Besides every team in the league, you know who could have really used Mike Piazza behind the plate? Minnesota. After Tim Laudner and Brian Harper moved on, the Twins were really lacking in catching options. Free agent journeymen and trades for the likes of Matt Wallbeck didn't work out. 

Not to mention drafting, but failing to sign, Jason Varitek in 1993.

#10 - Derek Parks

Minnesota used their 1986 First Round pick (10th overall) on Derek Parks, a high school catcher out of California. He progressed slowly through the system, finally making a 7 game cameo with the Twins in 1992. Then another 7 games in 1993. Minnesota gave him 31 games in 1994, and he responded with his only home run. After the players strike ended the 1994 season, Parks ended his baseball career. He never played again, despite being only 25 years old. 

1993 Pinnacle - Derek Parks

He likely never would have become a superstar, but he showed that he could at least play in some capacity at the big league level. Seems like Minnesota could've used his help in getting to the Terry Steinbach bridge to A.J. Pierzynski on the ferry to Joe Mauer.

#9 - Bernardo Brito

Brito originally signed with Cleveland in 1981, as a 17 year old amateur free agent. Brito made it to AA in 1987, but was released in Spring Training 1988, and signed with the Twins. The organization he finished his career with.

1993 Score - Bernardo Brito

He played in Minnesota's farm system through 1992, before finally getting the call to the Major Leagues, at 28 years old. He got into 8 games in 1992, 27 in 1993, but none in 1994. After 5 Twins games and another 50 in AAA in 1995, Brito was released by the Twins and ended his baseball career at 31 years old.

#8 - Lee Stevens

The Angels 1st Round pick (22nd overall) in the 1986 MLB Draft. Stevens got several shots with the Angels, then his transaction wire started to look very strange… In January 1993, The Angels worked out a trade to send Stevens to the Montreal Expos, for minor leaguer, Jeff Tuss. For whatever reason, Tuss refused to report to the Angles. The trade was held up for several days, while the league ruled on how it should be compensated. Ultimately, the Expos had to send another player over, to complete the trade. All of this was rather pointless since the Expos immediately released Tuss (ending his playing career in the process), then released Stevens at the end of March, just before the 1993 season started.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed him and assigned him to AAA Syracuse, which is the uniform he wearing on this card. After the 1993 season, Stevens signed back with the Angels. Less than a month later, his contract was sold to the Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Japan Pacific League, where he played for 2 seasons. In April 1996, Stevens returned to the Major Leagues with the Texas Rangers. His first full season back came in 1997.

2000 Skybox Impact - Lee Stevens

In March of 2000, the Rangers, Expos and Blue Jays matched up on a rare three team trade in the middle of Spring Training. Each team traded their starting first baseman to another team. Not sure why this made sense to any of the three teams involved. So the Rangers sent Stevens back to the Expos (where they kept him this time), The Expos sent Brad Fullmer to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Blue Jays sent former Expo David Segui, to the Texas Rangers.

Then in June 2002, the Expos (now without an OWNER) traded Stevens to the Cleveland Indians, along with three of Montreal’s top prospects (Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore), for Bartolo Colon! A trade which blew my mind at the time, but was ultimately meaningless, as the Expos immediately fell out of the race. At least this gave me a decent selection of Bartolo Colon Expos cards!

Perhaps if this next guy panned out, the Expos could’ve changed their fortunes?

#7 - Todd Haney

Seattle’s 38th Round pick in the 1987 MLB Draft, Haney was traded to the Detroit Tigers in January 1991, and released in March 1991. The Expos picked him up and he spent the 1993 season with AAA Ottawa, then 7 games with the Expos to wrap up the 1993 season. Haney became a bit player for the Cubs over the next few seasons, then finished up with the New York Mets in 1998.

1993 Donruss - Todd Haney

At least those 7 games gave Donruss enough reason to print a Todd Haney Expos card. 

Thanks for that!

#6 - Darryl Scott 

Hey Darryl, we’re going to need you to move over a little more to your left. I know this picture is for your AAA All Star baseball card, but we need to include as much of those cement stairs in the picture as we can!

Scott signed with the Angels as an undrafted free agent, in 1991. He moved quickly through their system, and had an excellent 1993 in relief. That same season, he made his Major League debut, getting into 16 games with the Angles, but wasn’t great. They released him after the season. 1994 was spent somewhere, doing something. (I couldn’t find any records for him. Oh, Japan...) 1995 saw him return to professional baseball, signing a AAA contract with the Colorado Rockies. But he never made it back to the majors. He kept trying through the 2000 season, but never found the success of 1993 again.

Perhaps it was due to the depressing atmosphere of some AAA ballparks, like Ned Skeldon's home locker room. 

Locker belonging to former Detroit Tiger, Milt Cuyler. Was it Milt that is asking the guy using the locker to his left, to get him a commemorative Elvis plate from the Franklin Fucking Mint? Well, the guy to his right has already moved out. 

1994 Pinnacle Museum Collection - Milt Cuyler

Cuyler was a light hitting speedy outfielder, who played with Detroit (and AAA Toledo) between 1990 and 1995. He had ample opportunity but his hitting never translated to the Major Leagues.

Jeff Tackett's locker. The Mud Hens starting catcher for the 1995 and 1996 season.

Note that I did not take any of these pictures. 

1992 Score Rookie & Traded - Jeff Tackett

Tackett played for the Baltimore Orioles organization, from 1984 to 1994, including runs in the Major leagues from 1991-1994. Tackett didn't make it back to the majors during his 2 years with Toledo or a 1997 season spent in AAA with the Texas Rangers.

If you are looking to attend any Toledo Mud Hens home games in 1995, in the near future. This is all the information you'll need to know. Those are some cheap tickets!

The concept of the internet has been pretty concrete in what it is, for about 25 years now. But it's always interested me to see how certain entities handled the new technology. In this case, it's a AAA baseball team's first website. Being hosted by a local college. At least for 1995, their email was AOL, instead of Prodigy...

As our tour group made our way through the Mud Hens locker room, we encountered an actual Mud Hen! 

Outfielder, Justin Mashore had arrived at the Ned early, to get some extra work in before that night's game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He talked to my mom and posed for this picture before we were on our way.

1992 Upper Deck Minor Leagues - Justin Mashore

Mashore plugged away in the minor leagues until 2001, but never played a game in the Majors. He got into coaching after retiring as a player. First with the Blue Jays, then in the Texas Rangers organization. This culminated in Mashore's three year run (2016-2018) as the Texas Rangers assistant hitting coach. He moved on to serve as batting coach for the AAA New Orleans Baby Cakes in 2019. He had signed on to the hitting coach for the AA Wichita (Kansas) Wind Surge, in the Twins organization, for 2020. But Covid wiped out the minor league season. 

Couldn't find anything about him after that.

#5 - Eddie Zambrano

This card wouldn't be ranked nearly as high if it weren't for that Firstar Banks sign, over Zambrano's shoulder.

I liked Firstar Bank.

Zambrano signed with the Boston Red Sox, as an International Free Agent, out of Venezuela, in 1984. After 5 seasons at A and AA, Zambrano was drafted by the Indians, in the 1989 Minor League Draft. Cleveland released him in July 1990, so he signed with Pittsburgh, and played there for 2 seasons. In November 1992, Zambrano signed a AAA contract with the Chicago Cubs, for the 1993 season. After hitting 32 home runs for AAA Iowa, Zambrano was a September call-up and got into 8 games. He made it into 67 games in 1994, and hit pretty well. 

Unfortunately, he never played in the Majors after his 1994 Cubs run. Injuries took away his 1995 and 1996 season, as he attempted to come back with the Boston Red Sox.

Eddie Zambrano finished his Major league career with a line of .263 / .351 / .451, with 6 home runs in 151 plate appearances.

#4 - Lance Painter

Lance Painter was the Colorado Rockies 1993 AAA All Star representative, pitching for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Originally signed by the San Diego Padres in 1990, as a 25th Round Draft Pick. Painter became a Colorado Rockie, thanks to the 34th pick in the Expansion Draft, in November 1992. 

The Rockies called Painter up in May 1993, and he was blasted by the Padres in his debut. Colorado tried him as a starting pitcher in his first two seasons with the club, but there was little success. His record was only 6-8, but with a terrible 6.08 ERA. Of course with the Rockies offense of that era, you could still win some games while giving up an unreasonable number of runs. After shifting to the bullpen in 1995-1996, Painter found better luck as a reliever. 

Then Colorado lost him to the St. Louis Cardinals on a December 1996 waiver claim.  From there, Painter had a productive career. He wasn't especially great, but he held a big league job through 2003. Most of those years were spent with the Cardinals, but the also pitched for the Blue Jays and Brewers.

I do wish this photo was cropped better. And not so dark.

Even Topps had to look at this and issue Painter's 1993 Bowman card with this photo:

1993 Bowman - Lance Painter

Yeah, gotta go with Bowman here...

#3 - Jerry DiPoto

A 3rd Round pick in the 1989 MLB Draft, DiPoto first broke in with the Indians in May 1993. He pitched in 46 games with Cleveland and racked up 11 saves. 1994 was shortened by injury and strike. In November 1994, DiPoto was traded to the New York Mets with a package of pitching prospects for Jeremy Burnitz. Surprisingly, even though there was a players strike going on, transactions were not frozen. DiPoto pitched well for the Mets in 1995 and 1996, but was traded to the Colorado Rockies, on November 27th, 1996.

1999 Fleer Tradition - Jerry DiPoto

At the time, I had just moved to Colorado, about 5 weeks earlier. I remember this trade taking place. At the time I didn't like it. The Rockies gave up promising starting pitcher, Armando Reynoso, in the trade. My belief was that a good starting pitcher is worth more than a good relief pitcher. However, in this case, DiPoto pitched well enough that I agreed this was a good move for Colorado.

A sudden injury caused DiPoto to retire in Spring Training 2001, but it began his new career. Immediately after retiring, he became an assistant to then-Rockies General Manager Dan O'Dowd. From there he moved into scouting with the Red Sox, then returning to the Rockies to become their director of scouting. By 2010, he became the interim General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he didn't get the full time job and left the organization. In October 2011, he was named GM of the Los Angeles Angels. That wasn't working so well, and DiPoto resigned from his job with the Angels, and was hired to be the Seattle Mariners General Manager, less than 3 months later. A job he held until the Mariners promoted him to Vice President of Baseball Operations, in 2021.

Putting this story together lead me to discover this is my only Jerry DiPoto Colorado Rockies card. Which speaks to the state of the hobby in the late 1990's. Sets were getting smaller and smaller, with the number of manufacturers shrinking as well. Relief pitchers on bad teams, along with fifth outfielders and 3rd string shortstops, just weren't getting cards anymore. Even if they appeared in 60 or so games a year.

#2 - Jim Thome

Jim Thome would be only the second Hall of Famer, amongst the 1993 AAA All Star Team. A former 13th Round Draft Pick (1989), Thome rocketed through the minors, and debut with Cleveland in September 1991. After several stop/start pushes, Thome was finally the Indians everyday (third, then) first baseman. A position he held through the 2002 season, after which he signed with Philadelphia. He continued slugging 40+ home runs every year, even after he was traded to the White Sox, just weeks after they won the 2005 World Series. Thome played in the Major Leagues through the 2012 season, finishing an incredible career with 612 home runs.

2011 Topps - Minnesota Twins - Jim Thome 600th Home Run

I remember reading about Thome back in 1992. Cleveland was supa-jazzed about his power potential. Never could've imagined that 19 years later, there would be a card featuring Thome, after hitting his 600th career home run, as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

So what have we learned? 

For one thing, the AAA All Star Team had more veterans on the downside than Top Prospects on their way up. But that's nothing new. Going on a deep dive into this card set shows just how few of the hyped prospects actually become stars. There's a few here. Probably a lot more in a AA All Star team set.

Whatevering a Minor League All Star Team set, with the setting of a doomed minor league stadium, from nearly 30 years ago is a bit above and beyond the Junk Wax Prospector idea. Revisiting this stuff now was like my own personal Junk Wax Prospector Convention! Featuring the names and opinions of the Junk Wax Prospector days!

Oh, and how I would have loved to seen televised games of all that current day's top prospects, like the daily feast of rerunning games from Spring Training today. In the early 1990's, you got a handful of your hometown team's Spring training games, and sometimes whatever WGN and TBS were going to show. Maybe ESPN, if they were feeling generous...

A lot of these players had rookie cards in the Junk Wax Era. This look back at how some of them ended up their careers, with the context of history was a fun little project. I'm sure there are no shocking revelations anywhere here, just a little tip of the (Ottawa Lynx) cap to the 1993 AAA All Star Team.

Hope I covered your favorite All Star!

It's (finally) time for the #1 1993 ProCards AAA All Star Team card!

#1 - Roy Smith

Smith was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 3rd Round of the 1979 MLB Draft. The Phillies traded him to the Indians, in September 1982, and they traded him to the Minnesota Twins, in January 1986. Smith stayed in Minnesota (or AAA Portland) through the 1990 season. A 1991 season with the Baltimore Orioles didn't go too well, and he sat out 1992. A comeback attempt with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization led to 15-11 record and AAA All Star berth, but no call-up to the big league team.

After the 1993 season, Smith retired and took a scouting job with the Pirates. He would go on to scout and work in varying positions in the the front offices of the Pirates, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Mets over the years. The goal was to become a General Manager of a Major League team, which to date, hasn't happened. 

Roy Smith spent 5 seasons with the Twins, but the first three of those years were spent mainly with AAA. However, Smith took regular turns in the starting rotation in 1989 and 1990. He wasn’t a lights out dominant starter, but was serviceable at a time when the Twins needed someone they could rely on. 

1990 Score - Roy Smith In Person Metrodome Post Game Autograph

To me, Roy Smith was right up there with the team MVP’s when it came to being a good guy to root for. I received more postgame Metrodome autographs from Smith, than any other player during my postgame autograph collecting days. Which would have been 1989-1992. Smith was always friendly and took the time to sign for every kid or person waiting out behind the stadium. Him being one of the good guys was something I’ll always remember from those days. 

Not that I have any interest in trying, but I wonder if there’s anything similar with the current Twins players leaving Target Field. Somehow I doubt kids today would be able to do the same things we did at the HHH Metrodome, 35 years ago.

So there’s your 1993 AAA All Star Team. 

With a whole lot of distraction sidebars and stories you probably could’ve lived without...

But hopefully you enjoyed anyway. 

Or if you got bored with this and left hundreds of paragraphs before reaching this point.

That’s fine too!

You won’t have read this and I won’t have cared!

Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee, Ohio, was demolished between December 2022 and March 2023.

The Toledo Mud Hens left the stadium in 2001, but it still was the home to a lot of baseball in the years since. It’s also nice to know that even though the (later condemned) grandstands have been removed from the field, it will continue to hold amateur and semi-pro baseball for years to come.

Maybe even some future Detroit Tigers with have played at the new Ned Skeldon Field?

All right... Hit the showers!