BleacherCoaches.com

A few post back I read on the players who continued their careers in the majors. Some of them very successful. I would like for you to post/view your thoughts on players WHO didn't make it to the bigs, but were very successful in the AAABA/Junior League, high-school, college levels. I can name plenty, but I want to see what homework you come up with first. This can get pretty interesting.

Play Ball!

Your asking for talented players who did not sign a pro contract. Mike Gresik (Bishop McCort/Ramada Inn)comes to mind. He actually held the record for homers at one time. Glenn Illig is another terrific player who never signed, he played for Central Cambria and Coca Cola. I would think, but not without argument, that Glenn Illig fits this category best!! He was a dang good player. Scott Lucas (Blacklick Valley/Mercyhurst/Hilltop Boys Club). Let me continue to think and I will return with a few more.

John Rocco comes to mind for me. Charleston Southern hall of famer, and AAABA league star. He was a slick SS. Matt Kamalsky from Somerset was highly touted in the late 90's, went to school and I think had arm problems. Don't know what all criteria you are going for.

I forget if he played for Dr. Walker's or who around those years ( 80's), but Jim Mock of Johnstown's west end hit a grand slam off Baltimore's Kevin Brown at the Point. His brother Walt was good too.

I believe Jim Ronan from the Ashville area hit over 200 career home runs in a long and prosperous career in the Greater Altoona City League...

Never got a chance to play professional baseball.

Lefty hitter John Whitmore from somewhere in Bedford Co., I think. Had a go around in the former ? Frontier ? League that the Johnstown Johnnies played in. Believe he was with some team out in Ohio, not sure. Boy, could he go yard.

After I posted, I realized Whit wasn't in either the Jr. League or AAABA, I don't think, but he still was a force, and did play that semi-pro ball. Played a little softball with he and a couple of the Bedford boys in the early 90's. Just about an automatic "bump" every time up. If the other team pitched to him.

Couple ideas from more of a recent time as it relates to this post.


Joe Pichler and Casey Long were both great hitters, that never got a shot in proball.


Bryan Hagerich and Brandon Bowser both patrolled Delwelds outfield, and neither played pro ball, mainly because both were great showcase guys, but never could play in games, past college.

Jimmy Mayer was a great AAABA guy, that never made it in proball. Jimmy always thought he was alot better than what he was, but still, it helps when ur dads a scout.


Nick Wendall from Delweld was a great catcher, that never got a shot, he deserved it.

MJ. Parsons as well, when both of these guys were 18, they were the best players on the field.

Darren Horton from Central Martinsburg, was a beast, then he got mixed up with the wrong crowd...game over.


Derek Mechling and Doug Mcnulty from the Grays were both amazing AAABA players and only Mcnulty got a shot. Mechling was A-10 player of the year his senior year and didn't play, Mcnulty was with the Mets for two years....imagine facing those two 3-4 for two years in a row...ouch.

Matt Petrowsky from the Grays as well, didn't get a shot...he was very, very, very, good.



Let's go ppl,,, come on/111

So what criteria qualifies someone who "never got a shot but deserved it?"

What about all the guys who were offered pro contracts in the 40s 50s and 60s who didn't sign because they made more money by working in the mines and the mills. I think those stories put this all in perspective. Either you played pro ball or you didn't. If you want to make yourself feel better by saying you should have gotten a shot, go ahead.

The bottom line is that you have to be VERY VERY VERY GOOD to even play Independent ball, let alone affiliated pro ball. The younger the better, if you graduate college at 23 you are already over the hill. Unless you were tearing it up at a top notch D1, then you just weren't good enough. At some point, you have to accept that you are who you are. There is nothing wrong with just being a really good college or AAABA player.