The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, then and now.

[Tobywan]

Bobby Witt #53-RHP


Robert Andrew Witt was born on May 11, 1964, in Arlington, Virginia to Bob and Carol Witt, he has a brother Douglas and sister Kari. Before Bobby was kindergarten age the family moved to Canton, Massachusetts. His father started playing catch with him at a young age and later got him into Little League, he threw fast and hard even then. He attended Bergen Catholic High School (Oradell, NJ), then transferred and graduated from Canton High School, where he played baseball and football (defensive end and punter) for the Bulldogs. For three seasons Canton dominated the Hockomock League with 30 wins. After winning the Super Bowl in 1979, they went 9-0-1 in 1980, but due to a MIAA technicality despite being the second-ranked team in their division they were not permitted to play in the SB that spot went to Somerset, the third-ranked team. They game back in 1981 with a perfect 10-0 season, which included a come-from-behind victory over then-undefeated North Attleboro on the road. In that crucial match Witt kept them jammed in their own half of the field with two long punts over 53 yards. They also routed the Black Knights on Thanksgiving Day at home. Ironically, in the stuff that makes a great story, they would face Somerset in the big game and won easily in the middle of a blizzard to win the Super Bowl Championship.



The Canton Bulldogs

Just after graduation he was selected in the 7th round of the 1982 MLB amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds on June 7, 1982, but did not sign. His parents talked him out of it as they wanted him to go on to college. He had his choice between University of Maine or University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK), he went with the Sooners, he tried majoring in Business Communications. He was red-shirted due to grades, but played the summer of 1983 for Chatham in the Cape Cod League went 1-6 with a 5.83 walked 64 in 54 innings.

Bobby was the sole all-time winningest freshman starting pitcher (10 wins in 1984) for the Sooners until Austin Mix tied him in 2000. He was Oklahoma's highest draft pick until Jonathan Gray was taken by the Colorado Rockies in 2013. He was selected as a First Team All-American in 1985. In his two seasons (1984-85) at OU he had 231 strikeouts in 196.2 innings pitched, with a 17-6 record and a 3.76 ERA. On March 16, 1984 he pitched a two-hitter against Pan American University during the Citrus Classic, he struck out 16 batters in the 5-1 victory. That season he led the Big 8 Conference in strikeouts with 113.





Bobby Witt pitching for the Sooners in the Big 8 Tournament 1984


He also played for the 1984 USA Olympic Team which consisted of future names such as Will Clark, Barry Larkin, Norm Charlton, Oddibe McDowell, B.J. Surhoff, John Marzano and Mark McGwire. That year baseball was a "demonstration" sport at the Los Angeles games, it got one game televised, the gold medal game against Japan, which they lost 6-3 taking the silver. Witt didn't get to play a lot during the entire tour leading up and during the games. Many players were torn, even years after about whether it was worth it, including McGwire and Larkin who was very vocal about what he considered to be "politics" of the games. The tour was grueling 35 games, 33 cities in 39 days, many of the "better" players didn't get much time, some felt they were favoring guys who had actually been drafted. Though many did express it was a once in a lifetime experience and they were proud to represent the country.



1984 Topps Dairy Queen Team USA


In 1985 Witt struck out 17 in a game against the Texas Longhorns and a two-hitter in the NCAA Central Region tournament but they lost to UNLV. He finished the season going 10-2 with 109 Ks in 90.2 IP with three complete games and was an All-Big-8 Conference pitcher.

In his junior year he was selected in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1985 MLB amateur draft by the Texas Rangers on June 3, 1985, he signed on June 7th by scouting director Sandy Johnson. He was behind his USA teammates B.J. Surhoff and Will Clark, Larkin was 4th, Barry Bonds was 7th, while Pete Incaviglia (8th) and Rafael Palmeiro (22nd) would also be Rangers. He was sent to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League, he finished out the season making 8 starts (11 games) going 0-6 with 6.43 ERA with 44 walks and 39 Ks in 35 IP. The team managed by Orlando Gomez went 60-76 finishing 4th in the Eastern division.


The Rangers new manager Bobby Valentine wanted a fresh new start for the 1986 season, though Witt hadn't won a minor league and had only 11 under his belt he made the Rangers starting rotation that would be comprised of just one veteran (Charlie Hough) and four rookies (Witt, Kevin Brown, Edwin Correa and Jose Guzman). He was now teammates with a former college rival Pete Incaviglia, the two became close and spent years as roommates on the road mostly plotting pranks on teammates and rookies.



So, on April 10th, he made his ML debut against the Blue Jays, the first batter he faced was Lloyd Moseby and he walked. He would throw a wild pitch and walk two more in the first inning, things weren't starting out very well. The Rangers were up 5-1 when he gave up his first hit in the third inning to Willie Upshaw who later scored. Still ahead 5-3 in the 3rd, he gave up a two run homer to Cecil Fielder. He gave up another run in the inning and was replaced by Ricky Wright with his team now behind 6-5. He gave up 6 runs (one unearned) on 5 hits, walked six and struck out just one, as the Rangers went on to lose 11-10.



He was able to go five innings on April 17th in a bit of a strange game against Milwaukee whose lineup featured future Hall of Famers Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. He struck out 10, walked eight, and threw four wild pitches, allowing two runs without the Brewers recording a hit. It is unusual to pull a pitcher who has a no-hitter going, but he was already over 100 pitches so the decision was to take him out.The Brewers managed five hits and three more runs off the bull pen, but the Rangers held on to win 7-5. He got his first win on April 22nd, a 10-1 rout of the Blue Jays. He had some longer outings where he finished in double digits with strikeouts, though a few ended up losses for the team.

During their last series of the season, some of the Rangers' wives got into a war of words with then Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. One of the owners of a luxury suite at Yankee Stadium was an acquaintance of Dave Valle and Bobby Witt. Several of the wives and friends watched the game from there instead of their reserve seats. They were asked to stop standing as they were obstructing the view of other fans. This prompted Bobby's wife, Laurie to tell Dallas reporters that the box owner was threatened with revoking his suite the next year, according to Steinbrenner that wasn't true and the incident had been resolved.


Witt finished the season going 11-9 with a 5.48 ERA in 31 starts and 157.2 innings. He led the AL in walks his first year with 143 in 157.2 innings pitched, he also led in wild pitches. The Rangers went 87-75 finishing second in the AL West.

He was part of the starting rotation in 1987, but he missed a month when he was sent to the DL on May 21st with a right shoulder strain, he had two rehab games, one with Tulsa and another with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers in the American Association. He gave up a total of 14 runs (8 earned) in 10 innings on 10 hits and eight walks while striking out just four, he was activated on June 20th. On August 2, 1987, he struck out 4 Orioles in one inning. He finished the season going 8-10 with a 4.91 ERA and once again led the AL in walks with 140 in 143 IP. The team went 75-87 on the season finishing in 6th place.


His wide range of wild pitches, walks and Ks led to the nickname of "Witt 'n Wild", a play on the water park near Arlington called "Wet 'n Wild". On April 12th, Witt became the victim of a new enforcement of the balk during the Detroit Tigers' home opener. The balk was called on him four times during the 4-1 loss, it tied the AL mark set by Vic Raschi of the NY Yankees in 1950. He began the season 0-5, then after his loss on May 5th Valentine decided he needed to go to the minors to work on his mechanics. He started 11 games for the 89ers going 4-6 with 4.34 ERA with 47 walks and 70 Ks in 76.2 IP with three complete games. He was recalled on July 10th, pitched 13 complete games (3rd in AL) including a 3-0 shut out against the Brewers on July 17th. He finished the season going 8-10 with a 3.92 ERA in 22 starts with 101 walks (4th in AL) and 148 Ks (3rd in AL strike outs per 9 IP) in 174.1 IP, he led the league again in wild pitches with 16. The Rangers had another dismal season going 70-91, 6th in the division.


The team brought in some help for the starting rotation when they signed Nolan Ryan to anchor the staff following the 1988 season. Witt had a 2-hit complete game against the Boston Red Sox on July 18th in a 8-1 victory. He finished the season going 12-13 with a 5.14 ERA (second highest in club history) in 31 starts. He allowed 114 walks (1st in AL) and struck out 166, he was 4th in the AL in Strikeouts per 9 IP (7.688). The team went 83-79 for 4th in the AL West.

In 1990 Witt set a franchise record with seven consecutive road wins, it was later matched when Scott Feldman did it in 2009. Three of those wins were complete games and in four he posted double digit strikeouts. He was AL Pitcher of the Month for July, during that seven win streak and pitched a 1-0 complete game shutout against Minnesota on August 26th. Through the end of June he was 3-8, but from the 28th until the end of the season he went 14-2 with a 2.40 ERA. Statistically, it was the best season of his career, going 17-10 (in 32 starts) with a 3.36 ERA, the lowest of his career. He was second in the AL in strikeouts with 221 in 222.2 IP and allowed 110 walks (3rd in AL). He was second in Strikeouts per 9 IP with 8.960 and third in complete games with seven. The team finished a disappointing 83-79 in third place.

Before spring camp got under way in 1991, Bobby avoided arbitration by signing a 3-year deal worth $7.3 M. He started the season well, but soon suffered from shoulder soreness, he went on the disabled list on May 27th after having surgery to repair a partial tear in his his rotator cuff. He began playing rehab games for Oklahoma on July 22nd, He made two starts going 1-1 with 1.12 ERA in 8 innings and was activated on August 1st. While he was away the team had traded for embattled Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd, it would be his last season in the majors. Boyd had been bouncing around due to his drug abuse. After his playing days he wrote a very candid book where he credited Witt especially for making him feel welcome and to Witt's wife Laurie and Nolan Ryan's wife, Ruth for helping his wife who was having a difficult time settling in after the move to Texas. There were many that praised Witt as a very amiable guy and always there for his teammates. He was also charitable and never forgot where he came from, his former coach at Canton, Tom Healy spoke often of how Witt regularly helped out his former school athletic program. He would send equipment to the school for the players and one season outfitted the entire team with new cleats. Witt finished the season going 3-7 in 16 starts with a 6.09 ERA with 74 walks and 82 Ks in 88.2 IP. Rangers finished in third again with an 85-77 record.


On May 28, 1992 he collected his 1000th career strikeout in a 4-2 win against the White Sox. It was a difficult season for Witt and the Rangers, even though they had a record above .500, long time manager Bobby Valentine was fired on July 9th and replaced by bench coach Toby Harrah. The team was run by the managing general partner and future President of the United States George W. Bush, his GM was Tom Grieve. They decided to go in another direction making several moves, Witt was 9-13 with a 4.46 ERA when on on August 31st he was traded along with Jeff Russell, Rubén Sierra and cash to the Oakland Athletics for Jose Canseco. Things didn't immediately turn around for the Rangers and they ended up in 4th.


During warm up for a game against the Orioles at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 2, 1992 in Oakland, CA.

He finished the season with the A's, who were managed by Tony La Russa and featured Mark McGwire, Harold Baines, Rickey Henderson Dave Stewart and Dennis Eckersley. With both teams he finished the season going 10-14 with a 4.29 ERA in 31 starts with 114 walks (2nd in AL) and 125 Ks in 193 IP. Oakland finished 96-66 to lead the AL West, they would face Torontoin the ALCS,

He didn't get to pitch until Game 6, Toronto led the series 3-2, so this was a must win for them to stay alive. They were already behind in the game 7-2 before he came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning, He gave up a walk to Pat Borders then a double to Manuel Lee for one run, then a single to Robby Alomar for the second run of the inning for a 9-2 loss and elimination. The Blue Jays went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.


He had a decent season in 1993, he pitched a 6-0 complete game shut out against his former team the Texas Rangers on May 11th and pitched his 200th game on May 22nd in Chicago. He finished the season 14-13 (led the staff) with a 4.21 ERA in 35 games (33 starts) with five complete games, he cut down on his walks to 91 (5th in AL) with 131 strikeouts. A's went 68-94 last place. In fact they would not get back to the post season until their "Moneyball" era that started in the 2000.


He had a really good spring in 1994 pitching 12 scoreless innings in his first few outings, and was given the Opening Day honor to start, the first of his career. The first game was against the Brewers in Milwaukee, but it ended up being a 11-7 loss for the A's. On June 23rd he pitched a one hit CG shutout of the KC Royals, he allowed no walks and struck out 14. He lost the bid for a perfect game on a bad call, in the 6th inning. Royals' Greg Gagne was ruled safe on a bunt by 1B umpire Gary Cederstrom, but the replay showed he was out on the play. He also pitched a two-hit CG shutout on June 28th against the California Angels and earned AL Player of the Week in July. The season was cut short due to the strike, he ended up going 8-10 with 5.04 ERA in 24 starts with 5 CG, 3 shutouts, while giving up 70 walks and striking out 111 in 135.2 IP. He became a free agent on October 26, 1994.


On April 9, 1995 he signed 1-year deal for $1.8 million with the Florida Marlins. Now playing in the National League he had more opportunities to bat, on April 28th he got his first career hit off Mark Leiter in the 3rd inning during a 4-0 loss against the Giants in San Francisco.


Pitching against the San Francisco Giants on April 28, 1995.




Witt tags the foot of Giants' J.R. Phillips during a run down in the fourth inning on April 28, 1995. The Giants defeated the Marlins 4-0 in their home opener at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

His second hit was his first RBI, a double off Greg Swindell in the 2nd that scored Charles Johnson in a 6-5 loss on June 5th against the Astros in Houston.

Florida was under a hurricane watch in the last days of July, due the impending storm, the final game of a series against St. Louis was postponed and the team flew out early for a series in Montreal. This meant a plane full of men worried about their families, checking reports s soon as they landed, calling home from the hotel and even the ball park to get updates. Bobby called Laurie several times to check on her and their three girls living in Weston, just outside of Miami. When Hurricane Erin finally hit land on August 2nd it had swung a bit north closer to Vero Beach, so the Miami area was spared the worst of the storm. Most of the damage sustained was a 2 days earlier in the Bahamas and through central and northern Florida as far west as the panhandle, Mississippi and into Louisiana.

In 19 starts he was 2-7 with a 3.90 ERA and a WHIP of under 1.40 when on August 8th he was traded to the Texas Rangers for two players to be named later. The Rangers sent Wilson Heredia (August 11) and Scott Podsednik (October 8) to the Marlins to complete the trade. He went 3-4 in 10 starts with Texas, he pitched a combined 5-11 with 4.13 ERA in 29 starts, two complete games giving up 68 walks and striking out 141 in 172 innings. The team finished 74-70, third place in the newly formatted AL West division.

When he returned to Texas not only did he reunite with some old teammates, but his brother Doug had been the bullpen catcher for a few seasons. They had gone through two managerial changes as well, now they were led by skipper Johnny Oates. He became a free agent on November 3rd.





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In the free agent market he was offered $4 million by the Brewers and $3.75 million by the Toronto Blue Jays, but after more than a decade in baseball, he didn't want to either move his family or leave them for the better part of seven months. On December 24th he decided to re-sign with the Rangers for $1.35M with a $2M option for 1997 and a a $150,000 buyout clause. If he started 30 games, the option would be guaranteed. They were trying to work out a deal with Kenny Rogers to come back, but General Manager Doug Melvin decided to sign both starter Ken Hill and reliever Mike Henneman for a little less then they were offering Rogers. So, there would be four veteran starters in Witt, Hill, Roger Pavlik and Kevin Gross, all right-handers.

On May 8, 1996 he collected his 100th career win in a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The offense was boosted by the "three amigos", Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez. On July 5th in 6-3 loss against the Seattle Mariners Bobby tied the club record held by Oil Can Boyd of most hits allowed in a game with 14. The team set a new franchise record for runs with 928, going 90-72 to win the division. Bobby went 16-12 (5th in AL wins) though his ERA was 5.41 in 32 start, he walked 96 (6th in AL), K'd 157 in 199.2 innings. It was the first division title for the Rangers and their first play-off berth, they would face the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The Rangers were down in the series 2-1 when he got to pitch just 3.1 innings in Game 4. He let up three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in a 6-4 loss. They were eliminated 3-1 as the Yankees would go on to defeat the Orioles and then the Braves in the World Series.


When an extension offer didn't come through, he exercised his $2M player option for 1997. On June 30th against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road he hit the only home run of his career off Ismael Valdes in the 6th inning of a 3-2 win. It was the first home run hit by an American League pitcher since Roric Harrison on October 3, 1972 and his bat was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He went 12-12 with a 4.82 ERA in 32 starts with 121 strikeouts in 209 IP. The last time he pitched over 200 innings was in 1993, he gave up 33 home runs the second most on the AL that season. The team fell back to third place with a 77-85 record. He was granted free agency on October 27, 1997.

He re-signed on January 19, 1998 with Texas to a one -year deal worth $3.250M. It was a rough year for Witt, in April his brother and bull pen catcher Doug was suffering from blood clots, he had a rib removed and then had a second operation in May.


Witt confers with catcher Bill Haselman and pitching coach Dick Bosmen during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 7-2 on April 30, 1998.



Witt in action during a game against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Rangers 10-3. May 17, 1998




On June 15th he gave up six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings in an 8-5 loss to the Angels, he was then designated for assignment just as the direction of the club was going another way. Ownership of the Rangers transferred to Tom Hicks during the same week. He was 5-4 with a 7.66 ERA in 13 starts, he had given up 33 walks with 30 strikeouts in 69.1 IP at the time. A trade with a conditional deal was worked out with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23rd. In eleven seasons with the Texas Rangers he finished 104-104 with a 4.85. ERA. He worked with Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan on his mechanics to compensate for losing some velocity.



Cardinals pitcher Bobby Witt fields a ball hit by San Francisco Giants Jeff Kent on July 22, 1998 in San Francisco, CA. Witt grounded the ball and threw out Kent at first base.


He was mainly used as a reliever making just five starts of 17 games. He went 2-5 with a 4.94 ERA, he walked 20 and struck out 28 in 47.1 innings. Texas went on to win their division but lost again in the first round of play-offs, St. Louis finished 83-79 in third place in the NL Central. He became a free agent on October 29, 1998.




He signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 20, 1999. He would be reunited with Larry Rothschild, the two had a good relationship in their brief time with the Marlins.



Tampa Bay Devil Rays Photo Day on February 25, 1999 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida.




Witt pitching in a spring training exhibition against the New York Yankees at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Devil Rays 10-5 on March 19, 1999.

The Devil Rays didn't add him to the roster until just before he was to make his first start with the Devil Rays on April 8th. He went six innings giving up two runs on eight hits, waked one and struck out two for a a 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. He began to have shoulder soreness after a six inning start on April 23rd, he gave up four runs all unearned and five hits, he also walked two and struck out six. He plowed through the pain.

He pitched a 3-hit complete game shutout on June 27 against the Toronto Blue Jays and a 4-hit complete game shutout against the Anaheim Angels on July 26th.On August 12th he pitched his 400th game. His record wasn't great 7-15 (2nd in the AL for losses) with a 5.84 ERA, but even with a bum shoulder he went 180.1 innings (most on the staff) with 96 walks (also second in the AL) with 123 Ks. He pitched the only two shutouts. The DRays finished 69-93 in last place.


He was rewarded for his stability and hard work for the Devil Rays with the same offer he came with, a minor league contract and an invitation the spring training. He was a bit insulted and decided to try the market. He was granted free agency on November 5th. There were talks with the Red Sox and Diamondbacks, but Arizona signed Mike Morgan and Boston went with Jeff Fassero. Cleveland offered a non-roster invitation similar to the Devil Rays as they were pretty well set with starters. On January 19, 2000 he signed with the Indians.


Things didn't work out very well, he was limited by soreness, he made just 2 starts out of seven appearances, a total of 15 innings with a 7.63 ERA. He was released on May 8th. He took the rest of the season off.

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On January 9, 2001 he was offered an invite to spring training by the Arizona Diamondbacks.



Photo Day for the Arizona Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park in Tucson, Arizona, February 2001.



He made the starting rotation, signing a deal on April 4th, joining the duo of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling and a line up featuring long time Cub favorite Mark Grace and Luis Gonzalez under the helm of Bob Brenly. Unfortunately, he suffered an elbow injury in a game on April 8th against St. St Louis leaving in the 5th inning. He had a MRI revealing a right elbow strain, he then suffered a few set backs in rehab and was moved to the 60-day DL on April 25th. The last time he had played in the minors was 1991, but he rehabbed for five games with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League. He was activated on August 11th as the Diamondbacks took first place that night with a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves behind Miguel Batista. They never let it go.

He was limited to 14 games (7 starts) going 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 43.1 IP. The DBacks finished with a 92-70 record to win the NL West division title. The faced the wildcard St Louis Cardinals in the NLDS but Witt was not on the active roster, Arizona won the series 3-2. He was added to the NLCS roster as they would face the Atlanta Braves. Arizona took the first game of the series, Game 2 had Miguel Batista and Tom Glavine taking the mound. Witt entered the game in the middle of the eighth inning replacing Greg Swindell. The Diamondbacks were already behind 3-1 to start the inning, pitchers Mike Morgan and Swindell gave up four runs including a two-run double by Brian Jordan and a two-run homer to B.J. Surhoff. The score now 7-1, Witt let up consecutive singles to Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez and then the one by Rey Sanchez scored Jones for an 8-1 lead, which ended up being the winning score. It was his only appearance in the series., but the DBacks went on to win the next three games all played in Atlanta to take the NL Pennant and head to the World Series to face the New York Yankees. The series held a special place as it came on the heels of the nation trying to recover from the events of September 11th, it was also a team in Arizona that only been in the league for four seasons and already competing for titles a far cry from their sister club the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Arizona took the first two games at home holding the Yanks to just one run in the first and a shut out in the second. The series moved to New York, The Yanks surged back taking all three games in the Big Apple, the last two in extra innings. Game 6 was back at Bank One Ballpark. Randy Johnson on the hill for the DBacks, Andy Pettitte for the Yankees, he was run early as the DBacks got off to a quick 4-0 lead. Jay Witasick took over and the offense exploded for AZ in the third as they put up 8 runs. Witt took over for Johnson starting the 8th with a 15-2 lead, he gave up a lead off walk to Bernie Williams but them got Todd Greene to ground into a double play and then Shane Spencer struck out swinging, the score held and the series was tied. In Game 7 Arizona was down 2-1 heading into the ninth inning, Tony Womack drove in pinch runner Midre Cummings to tie the game, fan favorite Luis Gonzalez singled in pinch hitter Jay Bell as they became the 2001 World Series Champions.





Embracing Curt Schilling after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees to become the 2001 World Series Champions at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona after winning by a score of 3-2.


He became a free agent on November 5th and he retired, partly because he had fulfilled the ultimate dream of every major league player and he wanted to stay close to home with his young family.

He made his last MLB appearance on November 3, 2001 for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He played 16 seasons with seven teams, he spent 11 seasons with the Texas Rangers, he finished with a 142-157 record, 4.83 ERA with 1,375 walks, 1,955 strikeouts, 128 wild pitches, 11 shutouts. He pitched 2,465 innings in 430 games with 47 complete games and never recorded a save in 13 games finished. He had two 15 win seasons, three 200 plus seasons, one 200 strike out season, led the league in walks three times and wild pitches twice and in his last pro season won a World Series ring.

He still holds the longest consecutive win streaks with 12 from June 28-Sept. 6, 1990. He shares the most successive complete games with 9 (July 10-Aug. 24, 1988) along with Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry. He holds the Rangers season records of most bases on balls by RHP with 143 and most wild pitches with 22 in 1986. Single game records, he shares most base on balls with 10, he did it twice on September 1, 1990 at Oakland and on August 15, 1992 against Detroit. He also holds the most balks in a game with four on April 12, 1988 at Detroit and is tied with Oil Can for hits allowed in a game with 14, he did it on July 5, 1996 against Seattle.






After his playing career he baceme a certified agent by the MLBPAhe works for Octagon Baseball out of their office in Colleyville, Texas.Some of Witt's clients have included Ben Zobrist, Scott Baker, Yovani Gallardo and Bill Bray. Bobby's brother Doug also stayed in baseball becoming an amateur and pro scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, he brought in Seth McClung and Ryan Reid. He is currently ans area scout in Brooklyn, Maryland.





Bobby and Laurie Witt with country artist Toby Keith in September 2009.



He still participates in many charity events like the The Boot Campaign, a program that benefits returning troops and their families.


Boots campaign August 2010



Witt with Rusty Greer.





Bobby, Rusty and Jim Sundberg, Texas Rangers Senior Executive Vice President and President, at the 11th Annual Park Place Dealerships – Texas Rangers Triple Play fund raiser May 20, 2013





The Witts September 2013.

On February 7, 2014 he was honored at OU's 11th Annual Diamond Dinner at Memorial Stadium along with another alumni Garrett Richards who was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2009.



Bobby grew close to Texas teammate Jeff Russell, both were traded to Oakland for Jose Canseco and they became lifelong friends. Now the friendship has passed on a generation, as James Russell, Jeff's son is now married to Bobby's daughter Nicole. Jeff currently plays for the Chicago Cubs and Nicole is a hair stylist.


The family celebrates the wedding of Nicole and James Russell in January 2015.




Witt lives in Colleyville, Texas with his wife Laurie (nee Capps), they have four children, Nicole, Kianna, Shaley and Robert Jr., Kianna and Shaley both attended Oklahoma University and Bobby Jr. is a fast shortstop and soon-to-be pitcher on his town’s select team D-Bat.

[Tobywan]

There are a few honorable mentions for the 1999 season.



Rick Eckstein -Bullpen/batting practice catcher



Richard H. Eckstein was born on March 4, 1973 in Sanford, Florida to Whitey and Patricia Eckstein, he also has two brothers, Ken and David as well as two sisters, Susan and Christine, all grew up very close knit and strong in the Catholic faith. He started out playing in the Seminole PONY Baseball leagues as a youngster.

He attended Seminole High School playing baseball (Fighting 'Noles) and golf (his dad Whitey was the instructor) before graduating in 1991. He received a scholarship to Seminole Community College (Raiders), but was a medical red-shirt as a freshman before earning All-State honors in 1994 . He attended and played one year with the Brewton-Parker College (Barons) before finishing up with the University of Florida Gators in 1996. While a Gator, the pitching coach Gary Henderson asked him to throw a bull session to see if he could be any help to his depleted staff, he never did pitch. At one point both Rick and his younger brother David played at UF, sometimes batting back-to-back. In 1996 they went 48-16 (20-10 in conference play) and the brothers ended up in the College World Series along with teammates Mark Ellis and Josh Fogg. They defeated Florida State twice booting them, but lost to Louisiana State being eliminated from the final. LSU went on to defeat Miami for the championship, UF ended up third in the nation.


His career was cut short due to an ankle injury, he graduated with a degree in sports management from the UF College of Health and Human Performance in 1997 but he continued as a volunteer assistant and first base coach for the Gators through 1998 when they returned to the College World Series, they were eliminated in the first round. In 1999 he was the assistant coach to the Oviedo High School Lions where he was also a teacher and the women's bowling coach. During that time he served briefly as a bullpen/batting practice catcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during the summer before being offered the assistant coaching position at Seminole Community College (1990-2000. When head coach Jack Pantelias announced his retirement it was thought that Eckstein would be a shoe in to replace him, but it was made clear that no one from the former staff would be considered.


That rejection led to a job with the Minnesota Twins as their bullpen catcher from June to September 2000, then he was their minor league strength and conditioning coordinator for the 2001 season. He spent the 2002-03 seasons as the assistant coach of the University of Georgia. Bulldogs. He and David were part of the MLB All-Star tour in Japan in the 2002 off season.


He signed on with the transitioning Montreal Expos as an assistant instructor in 2004. In July he was tapped to replace Rob Ducey as hitting coach for the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League, as Ducey went to join Team Canada for the 2004 Olympics. The Senators went 52-90 finishing sixth in the Southern division. He would join the Nationals during their extended spring training and coach with the Vermont Expos in the NYPL in 2005, they went 28-48. It was a busy season as he also was the bullpen catcher for the NL in the All-Star Game in Detroit and joined Team USA for the IBAF Baseball World Cup (Netherlands, 7th place) and CONCEBE Regional Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Phoenix, AZ won gold) serving as Bench/Third base coach.


He served as the bullpen coach for Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. There were All-Star type names in the tournament like Roger Clemens, Al Leiter, Brad Lidge, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, including a few that made stops with Tampa Bay like Dan Wheeler, Johnny Damon and Randy Winn. They were eliminated in the second round (6th place).



Eckstein with catcher Brian Schneider at the World Baseball Classic.

He was also with Team USA through the 2006 Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Cuba) as a Bench/Third base coach, as well as coaching the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. They went 72-71 finishing third in the PCL Southern division.

While Rick was enjoying a career in the game as a coach and advisor, his younger brother David had a 10-year playing career which included a 2002 World Series Championship with the Angels, being the 2006 WS MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals and being a two-time All-Star.


Rick spent 2007 as the hitting coach with the St Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds, they finished 57-87 for fourth place in the PCL Northern division. They finished second to last in team hitting. He was an assistant hitting coach for the Cards when rosters expanded in September and once again coached with Team USA IBAF Baseball World Cup in Taiwan (gold).

He went back to the Nationals in 2008 as the hitting coach for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers of the IL, they went 69-73, finishing third place in the West division with a .264 BA tied for fifth in the league.





2008 Choice Columbus Clippers coaching staff Tim Foli, Steve McCatty, Rick Eckstein and Mike Quinn.

He accompanied the US Team to the Bejing Olympics as the bench coach under manager Davey Johnson. The team featured the like sof Stephen Strasburg, Trevor Cahill, Nate Schierholtz and Mike Hessman, winning a Bronze medal. The team scored the third most runs by any squad in the tournament, they averaged more than eight hits in nine games with a 6-3 record.



Eckstein with Davey Johnson 2008 Team USA

He joined the Nationals when rosters expanded and then coached with the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League they finished 26-12 batting .305.

He was promoted by the Nationals in 2009 to be their hitting coach replacing Lenny Harris, when the team was 26-61 manager Many Acta was fired and Jim Riggleman took over. They finished 59-103, last in the NL East with a .258 team batting average. In 2010 their record was a bit better, 69-93, but still last batting .250.





Eckstein brothers pose before a game on July 7, 2010 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

His personal life was busy, too, he got engaged to Caroline FitzPatrick during the last weekend of the regular season in New York City. They were set up by a mutual friend, Dick Cooke who coached with Rick for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics. They were married in November 2011.

The Eckstein family has been through triumphs and also their share of trials, on his Dad's side there is a kidney disease named glomerulonephritis that has run through the family. Father Whitey, brother Ken and sisters Christine and Susan have all had kidney transplants, so far just Rick and David have been spared. Susan got one kidney from their mother Patricia, but needed a second transplant, Ken was also going to need a second one. On December 8, 2010, Rick who had found out just a week prior that he was a match donated his kidney to his brother Ken.





The Ecksteins pose for a family photo during a family dinner in Sanford, Fla. 2010. Sitting on the floor are Washington Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein and sister, Susan, right. Seated on the couch are sister Christine, left, father, Whitey, second from left, mother, Pat, center, brother, Ken, and brother, David, right.

By spring 2011 he was back in uniform for spring camp in Jupiter, Florida., the team improved slightly, but at 38-37, Riggleman was let go, John McLaren until Davey Johnson was named manager, they finished just under .500 going 80-81 for third place with a team BA of .242.

Under Johnson the team flourished in 2012. They went 98-64, taking the NL East division title. They were ranked second in home runs (194), third in slugging percentage (.428) and doubles (301), fourth in OPS (.750), BA with .261 and hits with 1,468, they were fifth in runs scored (731). The 194 home runs were a new franchise record. During Eckstein's time in DC, Adam LaRoche (2012), Ian Desmond (2012), Stephen Strasburg (2012) and Ryan Zimmerman (2009-2010) win
Silver Slugger awards. From 2009-2012, the Nationals hit 497 home runs, which ranked fifth in the NL during that span.





Eckstein clowns around with Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty as 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman looks on during the Washington Nationals defeat of the St. Louis Cardinals 4 - 3 at Nationals Park in Washington DC September 2, 2012.





Eckstein tries giving Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper a heads up on what to expect from an incoming relief pitcher during the Miami Marlins defeat of the Washington Nationals 9 - 7 at Nationals Park in Washington DC September 7, 2012


They would face the winner of the wild card play-off which were the St. Louis Cardinals, they were eliminated 3-2.




During batting practice prior to Game 3 of the NLDS on October 10, 2012 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park in Washington, DC


The Nats were not performing as well in 2013 and on July 22, Eckstein was fired at the time they were 29th in the Majors in runs per game. manager Davey Johnson was infuritated about the decision and was vocal about it to GM Mie Rizzo. Johnson wasn't consulted about the firing or the replacement with Rick Schu. Rizzo reportedly told Eckstein the door was always open to him. The team ended up 86-76 in second place and out of the play-offs. Johnson himself retired at the end of the season.


When the third-base job became available with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Eckstein interviewed, but the job went to Gary DiSarcina.Angels' GM Jerry Dipoto wanted a couple people to view information on players tendencies full time, so they asked Rick if he's be interested. On November 5th he was hired in a newly created position of "Player Information Coach", the job entailed relaying relaying spray charts, defensive alignments and pitcher-hitter match-ups with the other coaches pre-game, then be an advanced scout during games. They also hired Nick Francona (son of Tony) to be coordinator of major league information and work along side him.





Eckstein with Nick Francona, April 2014.


A few months later his old coach at UF, Gary Henderson, now the head coach at the University of Kentucky approached him about being his assistant when Brian Green was hired by New Mexico State to be their head coach. Eckstein and he jumped at it, taking the job on August 14th, the Angels replaced him with Rico Brogna. Eckstein currently holds the position.





Rick, Caroline and daughter during Rick's introduction as new assistant for UK

Rick and Caroline live in Lexington, Kentucky for now, they have one daughter Isabel (born 2013). Most of the Eckstein clan still reside in or around Sanford, Florida.

[Tobywan]

Scott Cursi #77-Bullpen catcher/ batting practice pitcher



Scott Allen Cursi was born on November 30, 1971 in Columbus, Ohio, he attended Pickerington High School and played football and baseball for the Tigers, he was named second team (football) in 1987 and graduated in 1989. One of Pickerington's rivals was Reynoldsburg High, the had a catcher named Mike Matheny. He served as a bullpen coach for the Columbus Clippers, then moved to Florida attending Seminole Community College, playing baseball with the Raiders for two years. He coached for Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio, under local legend Scott Manahan from 1991-1995.


He went back to Seminole Community as an assistant baseball coach for two years, during his time there he was asked by the Orlando Cubs (later became the Rays) about a summer job. He served as the bullpen catcher/BP pitcher for the minor league team from 1996 and through their transition to the Orlando Rays until 1998. The manager of the Orlando Cubs was Bruce Kimm who went on to be the bullpen coach for the Florida Marlins with Larry Rothschild, when Larry went to manage Tampa Bay he was given the word about Cursi. Scott was offered a a full-time job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998 by Rothschild, but wasn't ready and turned it down as he promised his father he would get a degree. He received one in physical education at the University of Central Florida. After finishing he called the team and started catching bull pen sessions on Easter Sunday in 1999 for the Devil Rays, he started part-time catching homestands. Later in the season it became full time with the departure of Rick Eckstein.


On Cursi's first day of work, Devil Rays closer Roberto Hernandez told the equipment manager to give Cursi a jersey with his name on the back and the number 77. Cursi proudly wears his jersey. but openly on just a few occasions like Opening Day, Jackie Robinson Day when players wear No. 42, and the first game of playoffs. Cursi usually hides the jersey under his Rays windbreaker during games so as to remain anonymous and keep himself separated from the players and coaches.



Cursi even had his own little fan club in the early days.



Cursi and Brook Fordyce 2002




On the night of September 20, 2008, the Rays clinched their first play-off berth, as the entire team celebrated with a on field pile up, Cursi joined in, he had never done it before. This was different, he was one of the few on field uniformed personnel left from the old "Devil Rays" era, he deserved it.


Cursi at Citi Field June 2009.

By virtue of the Rays winning the American League Pennant in 2008, he went along with manager Joe Maddon and his staff to the 2009 All-Star game festivities at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. He would have the same duties as he does with Tampa Bay he also caught two rounds of the Home Run Derby. Prior to the ASG held on July 14th, the staffs of both the AL and NL had been warned not to throw until after President Barrack Obama had served up the ceremonial first pitch. Cursi was in the outfield observing as the AL starter Roy Halladay was doing his stretching, when Doc stopped, picked up his glove, motioned to Cursi and said "Are you ready?" The President hadn't tossed yet, but Scott didn't think it was his place to tell the Blue Jays ace he had to wait. So, he threw a ball to Roy, thinking he may not have a job afterwards. If anyone noticed or had a problem he didn't hear about it, he warmed up every AL pitcher that night.



Scott with Bobby Ramos spring training camp in Charlotte 2010

Maddon made sure Cursi's jersey was packed when the team traveled to Durham at the end of spring training in 2010. Maddon wanted Cursi to catch the final inning of the exhibition game with the Triple-A Bulls. To reward him for all his years of hard work Maddon wanted to give him a tiny taste of actually catching in a pro game.

After years of throwing around 400 pitches a game in 2013 he started cutting back a bit not throwing batting practice as often. There is never a negative word about him, it appears that many think of him more as a teammate than someone that works for them.



The Rays "Grunge" road tip to Seattle in June 2011.


Cursi gives props to a ball boy that save him from getting hit by a foul ball during the 2012 season.

He had worked 2,326 consecutive games before having to miss work due to jury duty on June 18, 2014. He has lasted through four managerial changes, is now 44 years old and has only suffered one bad injury, a pulled oblique.

Cursi has a lot of memories as many of the long time fans, Boggs 3,000th, the 2008 pennant, Game 162 as well as a lot of baseball moments by opposing teams, Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit against the Rays. He ranks the Oakland Coliseum as the toughest ballpark due to how the sun hits but that it is the friendliest as far as opposing fans. He has also become a sort of goodwill ambassador when players aren't available, doling out baseballs to kids encouraging them to play with it not just hold it as a keepsake.



Cursi leaves the clubhouse at the Rays spring training complex in Charlotte March 2015.


The Cursis are excited for Opening Day 2015.




Scott continues to make new friends May 2015.


2015 marks his 17th season as the Rays bullpen catcher, his 19th in professional baseball.

Cursi umpires in the offseason for Northwest Little League in Pinellas County, Florida. He and his wife, Stephanie (nee Renica) reside in St. Petersburg they have one son, Noah Scott (born 2011). Stephanie is a jewelry designer.

[Tobywan]

Tom Whaley- Director of Corporate Sales


Thomas Whaley was born on June 10, 1963 in St. Louis , Missouri. He attended Missouri Christian Brothers College High School (1977-1981) where he was named to the National Honor Society. He went on to St. Mary's University Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (1981-1985) earning a B.A. in History and Political Science, he was also pledged with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He then went on to the Saint Louis University School of Law from 1985–1988. After graduating the fledgling attorney was urged by his brother to join him back in St. Paul, Minnesota. His brother settled there after he also attended St. Mary's. Tom spent the late 80's trying to start a law practice and playing drums with his brother in a local band.

He was staying busy, drumming, developing clients, he married and started a family. One day, Tom was home with a sick child and listening to the radio. Former owner of the Durham Bulls and publisher of Baseball America, Miles Wolff was proposing a minor league team for St, Paul. He called Wolff who put him in touch with Mike Veeck and wrote him a letter. Veeck was getting a lot of requests from lawyers, but thought Whaley was different, he played drums and they both had the same drum kit, a 1960s Ludwig with a butcher block finish.

From 1993-98, he was the Director of Operations and Assistant General Manager for the St. Paul Saints (Minnesota) of the independent Northern League. He also handled a variety of legal matters for the Saints and other minor league clubs in the areas of contract, intellectual property, immigration and litigation and a part owner. From 1995 through 1999, he was part-owner of the Butte (Montana) Copper Kings of the Pioneer Baseball League.

In February 1999 Whaley joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the director of corporate sales, he would be reunited with sales/marketing VP Mike Veeck who was his boss in St. Paul. He was with the Devil Rays through December 2000. Like many of the employees of that era, he was frustrated by Naimoli's tight fist where money was concerned, his defiance of taking steps into the internet age and his insistence on reading and signing off on every document.




He joined the Goldklang Group in January 2001 and was the main force during the start-up of the Can-Am League's Brockton Rox. He was instrumental in building a new baseball stadium and conference center in the Boston suburb in 2002 and was in attendance when they won the league championship in 2003. He returned to the Saints in 2002 becoming the Executive Vice-President of Business Affairs, he is responsible for business development.

In June 2002, Major League Baseball and the Players Association were reaching a stalemate in negotiations on a new bargaining agreement, there was even threat of a strike. With Whaley's approval the Saints held a promotion giving away seat cushions with the image of commissioner Bud Selig one one side and union executive director Donald Fehr on the other.



Tom Whaley was named New Chair of the Midway Chamber of Commerce in June 2009, then in October 2011 became a member of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also been Director of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation since November 2009.


Whaley in the locker room of Midway Stadium in February 2011.




2012 Midway Stadium


Celebrating 50th birthday at Midway Stadium June 10, 2013.



With Mike Veeck 2014.




2014

In May of 2015 the St. Paul Saints moved into new digs at CHS Field and there never seems to be a dull moment. Two weeks ago 5,000 feet of solar wire was stolen from behind the field, they are in middle of a project of installing solar panels. This past week they broke the World Record for the most people involved in a pillow fight. The frivolity of minor league baseball is alive and well.

Tom resides in Lino Lakes, Minnesota with his wife Kathleen, they have three children Ruth, Tom and Jack (who currently serves as batboy for the Saints).

[Tobywan]

Eulides Nunez -Play-by-play announcer for Tampa Bay Devil Rays Spanish broadcasts

In 1999 Devil Rays broadcasts were picked up by Spanish radio station , WBDN-FM, Eulides Nunez was the play-by-play announcer for just the 1999 season.


Not a lot of info on Nunez.


------------------------------------

Enrique Oliu -Color analyst for Spanish broadcasts of Tampa Bay Devil Rays


Enrique Oliu was born on March 12, 1962 in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. His family moved to St. Augustine, Florida when he was about 10 enrolling him in the Florida School for the Blind and Deaf. Enrique was born blind, though he can see very bright lights but not clearly. There were no schools devoted to the blind in his native country. He grew up enjoying sports, he and his father would listen to radio broadcasts, he would memorize game and make believe he was the announcer recalling the action. While at the school he learned about baseball and learned how to play by a combination of baseball, tee-ball and kickball. He also became a member of the school's wrestling team and graduated n 1980.


His dream began to come true when while attending the small 500 student Florida College he got a job as the public address announcer for their baseball games. He then transferred to attend the University of South Florida earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1989. After graduation he got a job as the color man for the Jacksonville Expos minor league team, then a commentator for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball League.


When the Rays were picked up by WBDN-FM for the 1999 season he was hired to provide the color commentary. The radio affiliates have changed but Enrique also called Henry has been in the booth ever since. He met Debbie (nee Perry), an Air Force sergeant, on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. Their first date was a Tampa Bay Lightning game and they married in 2000. She got a job with the Devil Rays in the ticket department but her main job is helping Oliu with his broadcasts and guiding him around the field for one on one interviews with Tampa Bay or opposing players and coaches. She reads him statistics, player biographies and newspaper and magazine articles, media guides and sits with him in the booth as his eyes on the action. He has an uncanny memory and is able to incorporate much of the information he gathers into his broadcasts.

He also appeared as a regular contributor on Solamente Pelota ("Only Baseball") on SiriusXM, has hosted his own show on WQBN 1300 AM and has been a guest analyst on USF Spanish broadcasts and on baseball broadcasts and talk shows in Managua, Nicaragua. He has also called action for the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League (2003-05) and served as the Spanish voice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002-03.







Enrique and Debbie at the Tampa Bay Rays home opener 2008.



Enrique Oliu talks to Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan before Game 2 of the 2008 World Series at Tropicana Field.



Enrique and Joe Maddon June 2009




Ricky Taveras and Oliu in August 2009

In February 2009, Enrique was inducted into the Florida College Sports Hall of Fame for his impact on the college and in life. A documentary of his life called “Henry O” has been shown at a number of film festivals, including ReelAbilities: Houston Disabilities Film Festival (2013 and 2014), ReelAbilities New York Disabilities Film Festival (2010), and the Gasparilla International Film Festival.

According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Oliu is the second blind announcer to call a game in the majors. In the mid 90's, minor league announcer Don Wardlow was invited by the Florida Marlins to do three innings of a game against the Chicago Cubs. Oliu lists covering Wade Boggs' 3,000th hit and working NFL games among the biggest thrills of his life. Another was making trips to Mexico and Venezuela with the Devil Rays for exhibition games.

In 2014, he delivered the keynote address at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind's 100th commencement. 2015 marked his 17th season as color analyst on the Rays Spanish broadcast currently provided by Mega Classica 820 radio, WMGG, the strongest Hispanic station in Florida's Tampa Bay Market.

Oliu has worked as an interviewer/alternate interpreter for the office of the Public Defender of Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida, since 1992, that is still his current day job. Debbie still works for the Rays as a benefits coordinator, they currently reside in St. Petersburg.

[Tobywan]

Honorable mention.......


Mike Fontenot-1999 Draft Pick

Michael Eugene Fontenot was on born June 9, 1980 in Slidell, Louisiana, the oldest son of Michael E. Fontenot Sr. and his wife Lisa. Mike doesn't officially use the Jr. He has two younger brothers, Christopher and Seth, and a younger sister, Jennifer. He was a star at Salmen High School and was selected in the 21st round (625th overall) of the 1999 MLB amateur draft on June 3rd by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He didn't sign choosing to attend Louisiana State University on a baseball scholarship. As LSU's starting second baseman he garnered the 2000 Sporting News National Freshman of the Year honor as he batted .353 with 13 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, 64 RBI and 93 runs. He was the third Tiger to win the award after Todd Walker (1992) and pitcher Brett Laxton (1993). His 17 homers set a new record for freshmen passing Blair Barbier in 1997.

He had a very successful collegiate career, named Summer League First-Team All-American, Freshman First Team All-America, NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team College World Series All-Tournament Team, Collegiate Baseball National Co-Freshman of the Year, Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American, Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year all in 2000 and helped lead LSU to win the 2000 College World Series when they defeated Stanford.. He was the 2001 Pre-Season Southeastern Conference All-Star. Two of his teammates were pitcher Brian Wilson and infielder Ryan Theriot.




Mike in action with the LSU Tigers 2001



On June 5, 2001 he was selected in the 1st round (19th pick) of the MLB amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles, he signed on September 5th for a $1.3 M bonus. He was assigned to the Advanced A Frederick Keys of the Carolina League for the 2002 season. He batted .264 with 127 hits, eight home runs, and 53 RBI in 122 games. He spent 2003 with the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and was an All-Star. He played 126 games batting .325 (finishing second to Alex Rios with .325) with 146 hits (ninth), 12 home runs, and 66 RBI and was named the Baltimore Orioles Minor League Player of the Year.


Spring training with the Baltimore Orioles.

In 2004, he was promoted to the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx of the International League. He batted .279 with 146 hits, eight home runs, 49 RBI, and 10 triples (tied for second in the league with John Rodriguez and Pete Orr behind Mark Budzinski's 15). By 2005 he was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the Orioles' organization by Baseball America.


On February 3, 2005 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Dave Crouthers for Sammy Sosa. He began the season with the Triple-A iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League but was soon called up and made his MLB debut on April 13th. Cubs were playing the San Diego Padres at Wrigley, Jake Peavy and Kerry Wood had started the game. Mike came in to pinch in the bottom of the ninth for Aramis Ramirez, Cubs down 8-2, he scored on a Derrek Lee groundout, but that would be it, they lost 8-3.

His first stint was short just seven games, he went 0-2 with two walks and 4 runs scored. He spent all of 2006 in Iowa and started there in 2007 until he was recalled on May 15th taking the roster spot of Rocky Cherry. He was named the PCL Player of the Week at the time of his promotion. In his first game back he led off the 8th inning as a pinch hitter for Aramis Ramirez and collected his first hit, a double off Ambiorix Burgos (he later scored) in a 10-1 victory over the Mets in NY.


Mike Fontennot avoids the sliding Jose Guillen of the Seattle Mariners while during a double play as Ryan Theriot watches.


His first RBI came on June 9th in Atlanta during a 9-5 loss, he had a good game the next night, with a start at second base, he hit a triple to score Mark DeRosa putting the Cubs on the board and then scored in the same inning to tie the game in the 5th. In the seventh he led off the inning with his first career home run off Buddy Carlyle giving the Cubs a 4-2 lead, but Braves rallied and took a 5-4 loss. He went 5-for-5 on June 25th against the Rockies.

He took over Mark Grace's number 17, something that angered many Cubs fans. He played well coming in second for NL Rookie of the Month in June and by 2009 was the starting second baseman, but by mid-season he was splitting time with Jeff Baker.

During his time with the Cubs Fontenot played himself in the TBS comedy My Boys in the fourth season finale "Spring Training." The episode featured Fontenot along with other Cubs and the main cast during pre-season at their venue Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona (now home to the Oakland A's) airing on May 26, 2009.


Fontenot with actor Reid Scott.


Fontenot hit his first career grand slam on May 7, 2010 against the Cincinnati Reds off Carlos Fisher as a pinch hitter in a 14-7 win , it was his first home run of the season. On August 11th he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Evan Crawford (minors). He went from the last place NL East to a second place NL West team and they would finish 92-70 to win the division title.

They knocked off the Wild card Atlanta Braves and the NL East winning Philadelphia Phillies, he had three hits including a triple and a run scored but was not in any of the stating line ups through the World Series. He made an appearance but never played. In Game 2 he was announced as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning when the Giants were leading the Rangers 6-0. Texas made a pitching change and Fontenot was replaced by Aaron Rowand who tripled. He still won a ring as San Francisco went on to become the 2010 World Series champions defeating Texas 4-1.



Fontenot (behind Pat Burrell) heads to mound with other San Francisco teammates after winning the World Series.



Mike married Ashley (nee Fife) a month after the World Series on November 26th, his long time friend and teammate at LSU and Chicago Cubs was among the bridal party.







Mike shows off his World Series rings after presentation April 9, 2011.


He played in his 500th game on July 27, 2011, a 2-1 win in Philadelphia.He was released by the Giants on March 30, 2012, among some of the last cuts of spring training. He signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on April 13th and assigned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, he was batting .308/.368/.481 in 16 games when he was called up in May.


Batting with the Phillies on June 10, 2012.

He was 289/.343/.340 and went 1-for-15 against lefties before he was designated for assignment, he was then released on August 5th.


Mike and Ashley welcomed a son, Bowen on January 10, 2012.


On November 29, 2012 he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays playing the entire 2013 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.


Running to first after hitting a single in the sixth inning of a spring exhibition game on March 12, 2013 at Port Charlotte Park in Florida against the New York Yankees.

He became a free agent on November 5th, then signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on January 9, 2014. He batted just .105 in spring training and was released on March 26th. two days later he went back to the Rays. He was named to the Bulls Opening Day roster.



Mike and Bowen sharing a moment before a Durham Bulls game in May 2014.

He was named the International League Player of the Week on August 18th. He never received a call-up and became a free agent on November 4, 2014.

He was a non-roster invitee at the Nationals camp in 2015, but is not currently signed to any organization and has not officially retired.


His last MLB appearance was July 29, 2012 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

He has played for three teams in seven Major League seasons he holds a .265 BA with 374 hits, 27 home runs and 163 RBIs.

His off field hobbies include hunting and fishing.
Mike resides in Baton Rouge Louisiana with his wife, they have one son, Bowen.

[Tobywan]

The Devil Rays last game of the season was on October 3rd, they finished with a 69-93 record and once again finishing last in the American League East.

Any hope of truly contending dwindled as early as mid-May, another injury riddled season along with many not living up to their potential. They reached last place on July 21st, had a one day reprieve on August 31st and rode the rest of the season firmly planted in 5th. They finished 29 games back of first in the AL East, their final series was again versus the NY Yankees, they lost 2 of 3 winning the last game 6-2. The Yankees repeated as the division winner going 98-64 and repeated as World Series champions with a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

The biggest highlight of the season was Wade Boggs reaching the 3,000 milestone on August 7th by hitting a home run. There is a seat in section 144 that is yellow to mark the occasion.


Points to the sky in honor of his late mother.



Wade embraces his father moments after his 3,000th hit.



Mike Hogan of Tampa shows off the Wade Boggs 3,000th hit ball that he caught in the right field bleachers. He received a Wade Boggs signed jersey and bat.




Later in the season the Devil Rays honored Boggs with a special presentation and the gift of a customized fishing boat in honor of his historic milestone.





The seat Mike Hogan was sitting in when he caught the ball is marked by the specially colored seat.




They signed a 35 year old rookie, Jim Morris, who's experience became a popular and inspirational Disney feature. The low-light other than the record was on August 14th in Kansas City when the teams wore futuristic jerseys, they were so ugly the promotion didn't last.




On June 2nd, they made two significant draft selections Josh Hamilton (signed June 3rd) and Carl Crawford (signed June 14th), their paths went in completely different directions.

They upped their division prowess with winning records against the Orioles and Red Sox, once again barely edged the Tigers and clobbered the Royals. Attendance dropped to 1,562,827, 10th in the American League.

They used 24 different pitchers including an appearance by Wade Boggs on the hill and a total of 46 different players.

Down on the farm....
Class AAA Durham Bulls of the International League (Durham, North Carolina) went 83-60 finishing first in the IL South division, they made it to the finals again, but lost to the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox).
Class AA Orlando Rays of the Southern League went 70-68 finishing 3rd in the SOUL East division, they took the championship defeating the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Chicago Cubs).
Class A St. Petersburg Devil Rays of the Florida State League went 74-63 ending up in 4th place in the West division.
Class A Charleston RiverDogs (Charleston South Carolina) of the South Atlantic League went 65-77 for 5th place in the Central.
Short-Season A Hudson Valley Renegades ( Wappingers Falls, New York) of the NYPL went 42-34, finishing in first and taking championship with a defeat of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians).
Rookie Princeton Devil Rays (Princeton, West Virginia) of the Appalachian League went 25-45, 4th in the North division.


On September 7, they extend the contract of Chuck LaMar, senior vice president for baseball operations and general manager, through 2004.

On September 14, they extended the contract of manager Larry Rothschild through 2001.

On November 11, Wade Boggs announced his retirement during a press conference at Tropicana Field, ending his sure to be Hall-of-Fame career.


With the pressure of two dismal seasons especially with the 100-62 NL West division title of their expansion mates the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Devil Rays opened the wallet and made some big signings in the off season. On December 13, 1999 traded pitcher Rolando Arrojo and infielder Aaron Ledesma to the Colorado Rockies for All-Star third baseman Vinny Castilla and 7-1/2 hours later sign free agent slugger Greg Vaughn.

Roberto Hernandez was named the 1999 team MVP by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Ryan Rupe was the top rookie and John Flaherty was given the Champion Award for professionalism on and off the field.


That takes care of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1999 season.