A Diamond in the rough - OOTP 13 Life as a longshot

[BYU 14]

Instead of the standard GM game I usually play, I am going to chronicle the careers of the last player taken in each years draft.

With development on and using OOTP rating vs real stats I am hoping to find a 'Diamond in the rough' ala Mike Piazza who can have a productive career, despite being the Baseball version of Mr. Irrelevant.

This will use historical players on random debut starting in 1901 with expansion and moves enabled.

Will we find a star buried in the draft or will it be a series of nobodies doomed to wallow in the minors for as long as their careers last?

[BYU 14]

Retired Players


2B Frank Scheibeck 39 yrs old
Drafted: 1900 – 44th round 16th pick (704 overall)
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies

Real Life
Played from 1887 to 1906 with Cleveland(AA & AL), Detroit(NL & AL), Toledo(AA), Pittsburgh(NL) and Washington(NL). He only spent 8 seasons in the majors in that time span and was a reserve all but one year (1890)
RL Career Stats - .235 BA, 2 HR, 148 RBI, 214 RS and 88 SB
Best Season: 1890 played in 134 games, hit .241 and stole 57 bases

Alternate Reality Career
Frank never made the majors, spending the 1901 season with the AAA Tpledo Mudhens before retiring September 9th, 1901 with only 2 hits in 17 at bates for the Mudhens.

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1901


2B Frank Scheibeck 39 yrs old
Drafted: 1900 – 44th round 16th pick (704 overall)
Organization: Philadelphia Phillies

Real Life
Played from 1887 to 1906 with Cleveland(AA & AL), Detroit(NL & AL), Toledo(AA), Pittsburgh(NL) and Washington(NL). He only spent 8 seasons in the majors in that time span and was a reserve all but one year (1890)
RL Career Stats - .235 BA, 2 HR, 148 RBI, 214 RS and 88 SB
Best Season: 1890 played in 134 games, hit .241 and stole 57 bases

1901 Season
At 39 years old he was a long shot and true to form spent the entire season on the bench in AAA with the Toledo Mudhens. Not only did he never get a sniff of the Majors, he barely got a sniff of the field in Toledo, collecting just 2 hits in 17 at bats. Frank retired from professional Baseball on September 9th, 1901.

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1901


3B Alexis Infante 24 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Infante fails to sign with the Sox and will return to next year’s player draft.

We will have no active players for 1902…..

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1902

None – Thank you Alexis Infante

World Series
The Boston Beaneaters defeat the Washington Senators 4 games to 3

Silver Slugger winners
AL – Ed Delahanty Chicago: .352-6-89
NL – Chone Figgins Boston: .365-0-80

Diamond Ace winners
AL – Tommy John Chicago: 26-7, 1.96
NL – Paul Derringer Cincinnati: 22-11, 2.13

ROTY
AL – Cy Seymour Washington: 22-10, 3.02
NL – Don Wilson Boston: 22-12 3.06

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1902


LF George Cisar 25 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th
Organization: Washington Senators – Signs a minor league deal (Fresno) with a $100 bonus.

And, back once again is our non-signee from last season, who we will now follow.

3B Alexis Infante 25 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round, 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Fails to sign a deal
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round. 15th pick (81 overall)
Organization: Boston Beaneaters – Signs a minor league deal (Durham) with a $100 Bonus.

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1903


LF George Cisar 25 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th
Organization: Washington Senators – Signs a minor league deal (Fresno) with a $100 bonus.

Real Life
Cisar had but a fleeting moment in the spotlight, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937 and spending only one season in the majors. Used primarily as defensive replacement and pinch runner, Cisar appeared in 20 games. He hit .207 collecting 6 hits in 29 at bats. He scored 8 runs and drove in 4. Stealing 3 bases and striking out 6 times. He was released at the end of the season, never to get another shot.

1903 Season – Fresno Flyers
Cisar was named the #100 prospect in Baseball to start the season and hit a respectable .271 against Pacific Coast League pitching. He appeared in 79 games before going down with a torn labrum in August that will keep him on shelf past until February 1904, just before spring training starts. He collected 54 hits, drove in 24 runs and scored 30. George also stole 21 bases, but was caught 13 times.

Cisar struggled to make contact at times, striking out 22 times in 199 at bats and was a liability in the outfield committing 16 errors, most coming while playing CF.


3B Alexis Infante 25 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round, 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Fails to sign a deal
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round. 15th pick (81 overall)
Organization: Boston Beaneaters – Signs a minor league deal (Durham) with a $100 Bonus.

Real Life
Infante appeared in 1 game as a defensive replacement in 1987 for the Toronto Blue Jays and returned as a defensive replacement for 1988 and 1989. In 1990 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but again failed to make an impression, appearing in 20 games and collecting just 1 hit in 28 at bats, earning his release. In 4 seasons in the majors he made Mario Mendoza look like Ty Cobb, hitting just .107 with a grand total of 6 hits. He did score 11 runs, but failed to garner an RBI.

1903 Season – Durham Bulls
Named the #89 prospect in Baseball, Infante appeared in 98 games for the Bulls batting .253 with no home runs and 30 RBI. He scored 28 runs and stole 18 bases, compiling an on base percentage of .297. He appeared at all four infield positions, though he struggled at 1B with a fielding percentage of .913. The highlight of his season at the plate was a 13 game hit streak from June to July.

Infante missed 2 weeks in May with Shoulder tendonitis, but otherwise had an uneventful season in terms of news.

World Series
The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Detroit Tigers 5 games to 2

Silver Slugger winners
AL – Ed Delahanty Chicago: .365-1-68 (His 2nd in a row)
NL – Harry Wolter New York: .374-1-75

Diamond Ace winners
AL – Bob Johnson Washington: 20-9, 2.17
NL – Russ Bauers New York: 23-10, 2.57

ROTY
AL – Matt Kilroy Cleveland: 16-16, 2.39
NL – Russ Bauers New York: 23-10, 2.57

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1903


C Gus Brittain 26 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: Detroit Tigers – Signs a minor league deal (Vernon) with a $117 bonus.

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1904


LF George Cisar 26 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th (82 overall)
Organization: Washington Senators – Signs a minor league deal (Fresno) with a $100 bonus.

Real Life
Cisar had but a fleeting moment in the spotlight, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937 and spending only one season in the majors. Used primarily as defensive replacement and pinch runner, Cisar appeared in 20 games. He hit .207 collecting 6 hits in 29 at bats. He scored 8 runs and drove in 4. Stealing 3 bases and striking out 6 times. He was released at the end of the season, never to get another shot.

1904 Season – Fresno Flyers
Cisar played well enough to garner a spot on the 1904 Pacific Coast League All-Star squad, which faced the Federal Leagues best in a mid season showdown. He ended up playing in 104 games on the season, banging out 103 hits in 396 at bats for a .260 average. Cisar also hit his first professional HR, scored 58 runs and knocked in 41. On the base paths he swiped 41 bags and cut his strikeout ratio down. Fresno played him more in LF (71 games) than CF (97) and he was much better defensively here. Committing just 4 errors in Left compared to 8 in Center (despite almost 100 more chances in LF).

Cisar was plagued by both shoulder and back injuries, missing nearly 5 weeks total between the two, with the shoulder continuing to be a major concern. An even bigger concern is the glut of outfielders on Washington’s roster, with Shad Barry, Orlando Palmeiro, Bob Skinner, Dexter Fowler, Ron Blomberg and Buddy Lewis all firmly entrenched on the big league roster.


3B Alexis Infante 26 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round, 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Fails to sign a deal
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round. 15th pick (81 overall)
Organization: Boston Beaneaters – Signs a minor league deal (Durham) with a $100 Bonus.

Real Life
Infante appeared in 1 game as a defensive replacement in 1987 for the Toronto Blue Jays and returned as a defensive replacement for 1988 and 1989. In 1990 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but again failed to make an impression, appearing in 20 games and collecting just 1 hit in 28 at bats, earning his release. In 4 seasons in the majors he made Mario Mendoza look like Ty Cobb, hitting just .107 with a grand total of 6 hits. He did score 11 runs, but failed to garner an RBI.

1904 Season – Durham Bulls
Infante put together another respectable showing for Durham in the Federal League appearing in 118 games and hitting .260 over 430 at bats. He also hit his first HR as a professional, drove in 45 runs and scored 61 while stealing 40 bases. Boston scouts indicated they saw improvement in his game at the plate and his fielding also improved. Playing primarily 2B (.962) and SS (.957) Infante was involved in 68 double plays.

Infante is in a tough position as it relates to making Boston’s major league roster as the Beaneaters have Jose Reyes (28) and Swede Risberg (26) at SS, while 31 yr old Ray Durham mans 2B and Chone Figgins (30) starts at 3B. One thing working in his favor is the fact that Boston’s other two third sackers, Casey Blake and Pinky Higgins are both 38. Infante missed 3 weeks with a hamstring injury during the 1904 campaign.


C Gus Brittain 26 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: Detroit Tigers – Signs a minor league deal (Vernon) with a $117 bonus.

Real Life
Nothing to report here as Brittain was never credited with an official Major League appearance and appears to be facing the steepest odds of our current crop of longshots.

1904 Season – Vernon Tigers
With 23 yr old Connie Mack donning the tools of ignorance for Detroit, Brittain remained in Vernon for the entire season, where he could not even crack their lineup. Languishing behind Raul Chavez, Brittain appeared in just 4 games, collecting 1 hit in 10 at bats. He did record 6 assists in his 4 games, but that alone will not keep him a money earner on the diamond.

1904 World Series
The New York Giants bested the Chicago White Sox 4 games to 2

Silver Slugger winners
AL – Ed Delahanty Chicago: .352-4-59 (His 3rd in a row)
NL – Ross Barnes Philadelphia: .335-1-76

Diamond Ace winners
AL – Matt Kilroy Cleveland: 21-12, 2.03
NL – Russ Bauers New York: 22-10, 2.16 (2nd straight)

ROTY
AL – Jon Lieber Boston: 18-16, 3.52
NL – Jimmy Ryan Chicago: .346-2-83

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1904


C Frank Charles 29 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th pick (83 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Signs a minor league deal (Salt Lake City) with an $80 bonus.

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1905


LF George Cisar 28 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th pick (82 overall)
Organization: Washington Senators – Signs a minor league deal (Fresno) with a $100 bonus.

Real Life
Cisar had but a fleeting moment in the spotlight, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937 and spending only one season in the majors. Used primarily as defensive replacement and pinch runner, Cisar appeared in 20 games. He hit .207 collecting 6 hits in 29 at bats. He scored 8 runs and drove in 4. Stealing 3 bases and striking out 6 times. He was released at the end of the season, never to get another shot.

1905 Season – Fresno Flyers
George had an injury free season and only missed 3 days with a virus, but unfortunately he just didn’t hit. Despite career highs in games (129) and at bats (489) he hit a abysmal .198 with 1 home run and 38 RBI. He did score a career high 62 runs, but his stolen base total fell to 35 and he was caught 25 times. He did hit .304 against the Salt Lake Bees, but every other PCL club has his number and this season is definitely a set back.


2B Alexis Infante 27 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round, 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Fails to sign a deal
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round. 15th pick (81 overall)
Organization: Boston Beaneaters – Signs a minor league deal (Durham) with a $100 Bonus.

Real Life
Infante appeared in 1 game as a defensive replacement in 1987 for the Toronto Blue Jays and returned as a defensive replacement for 1988 and 1989. In 1990 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but again failed to make an impression, appearing in 20 games and collecting just 1 hit in 28 at bats, earning his release. In 4 seasons in the majors he made Mario Mendoza look like Ty Cobb, hitting just .107 with a grand total of 6 hits. He did score 11 runs, but failed to garner an RBI.

1905 Season – Durham Bulls
Infante now looks like the best shot of the current group as he wins the Federal League Gold Glove Award at 2B with a .960 fielding pct and 67 double plays. This has become his primary position, though he still sees time at SS and 3B. Alexis also wins the Federal League player of the week award for 09/04/1905, hitting .478, socking a HR and scoring 8 times for the week.

On the season he hit .267 with 2 HR, 55 RBI and 65 runs scored, all career highs. His stolen base total fell to 25, but he also tallied career bests in doubles (16) and triples (9). Jose Reyes has hurt frequently this season and Swede Risberg was traded to the St. Louis Browns before the season began, so there may be a place for Infante on the 40 man roster next season, especially since Pinky Higgins at 3B is showing his age and Chone Figgins hit just .247.


C Gus Brittain 28 years old
Drafted: 1903 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: Detroit Tigers – Signs a minor league deal (Vernon) with a $117 bonus.

Real Life
Nothing to report here as Brittain was never credited with an official Major League appearance and appears to be facing the steepest odds of our current crop of longshots.

1905 Season – Birmingham Barons
It was a nomadic season for Gus as Detroit released him on April 9th and he signed with the White Sox on the same day, being optioned to Salt Lake City. He saw virtually no action in Salt Lake, appearing in just 1 game as a defensive substitute prior to being released on July 8th. He was then scooped up by Pittsburgh and sent to Birmingham in the Federal League where he played in 9 games and hit .200, collecting 6 hits and scoring 5 runs.

Birmingham won the International League Championship, defeating PCL pennant winner Salt Lake 3 games to 1, our first “Diamond in the rough” to win a championship. Pittsburgh’s major league catchers both hit under.200, but it is doubtful the Pirates see Brittain as the answer.


C Frank Charles 30 years old
Drafted: 1904 – 5th round, 16th pick (83 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Signs a minor league deal (Salt Lake City) with an $80 bonus.

Real Life
After 9 seasons in the minors, Charles made it to the big leagues for a cup of coffee with the Astros in 2000. While there he went 3 for 7 (.429) in 4 games but was not invited back and wrapped up his career after 14 minor league seasons.

1905 Season – Newark Eagles
After being drafted by the White Sox he was released after they acquired Brittain and sent him to Salt Lake on 04/24/1905. From there he was picked up by Brooklyn and sent to Homestead. He played in 17 games for the Grays and hit .190 (all singles) prompting his release on 07/26/1905. He was then signed by Cincinnati and assigned to Newark where he spent the rest of the season hitting .252 in 32 games and driving in 23 runs.

Terry Humphrey holds down the Reds starting Catcher spot and is younger than Charles, but Frank is hoping to catch on as a backup for 1906.

Around the Majors – 1905
World Series
In a rematch of 1904, the White Sox came back and defeated the Giants 4 games to 2

Silver Slugger winners
AL – Ed Delahanty Chicago: .300-2-60 (they should name it after him)
NL – Jimmy Ryan Chicago: .310-7-67

Diamond Ace winners
AL – Matt Kilroy Cleveland: 22-15, 2.06 (his 2nd)
NL – Dave McNally Pittsburgh: 27-12, 1.81

ROTY
AL – Steve Klein Boston: 20-8, 1.96
NL – John Malarky St Louis: 19-17, 1.99

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1905


3B Wayne Graham 25 years old
Drafted: 1905 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: New York Giants – Signs a minor league deal (St. Paul) with an $157 bonus.

[BYU 14]

Active Players 1906


LF George Cisar 29 years old
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round, 16th pick (82 overall)
Organization: Washington Senators – Signs a minor league deal (Fresno) with a $100 bonus.

Real Life
Cisar had but a fleeting moment in the spotlight, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937 and spending only one season in the majors. Used primarily as defensive replacement and pinch runner, Cisar appeared in 20 games. He hit .207 collecting 6 hits in 29 at bats. He scored 8 runs and drove in 4. Stealing 3 bases and striking out 6 times. He was released at the end of the season, never to get another shot.

1906 Season – Fresno Flyers
Better than 1905 but still mediocre, Cisar hits .224 for the Flyers appearing in 125 games. He is caught stealing 32 times and successful only 29, the worst season of his career on the base paths. He drives in 38 runs and scores 55 and appears to be just hanging on to a roster spot. For the first time in his career Fresno keeps him out of CF and he has a decent year with the glove in LF, fielding at .962 and gunning down 9 base runners.

He is starting to get a reputation for a dour disposition and is noted to have trouble keeping up with others. He does stay injury free, but with the Senators outfield consisting of Dan Murphy (.288), Charlie Frisbee (.307) and Bob Nieman (.262) it appears his window of opportunity has closed.


2B Alexis Infante 28 years old
Drafted: 1901 – 5th round, 16th pick (80 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Fails to sign a deal
Drafted: 1902 – 5th round. 15th pick (81 overall)
Organization: Boston Beaneaters – Signs a minor league deal (Durham) with a $100 Bonus.

Real Life
Infante appeared in 1 game as a defensive replacement in 1987 for the Toronto Blue Jays and returned as a defensive replacement for 1988 and 1989. In 1990 he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but again failed to make an impression, appearing in 20 games and collecting just 1 hit in 28 at bats, earning his release. In 4 seasons in the majors he made Mario Mendoza look like Ty Cobb, hitting just .107 with a grand total of 6 hits. He did score 11 runs, but failed to garner an RBI.

1906 Season – Durham Bulls
Infante is gaining a reputation as someone who knows the game pretty well, but he is still stuck in AAA which does not make him happy. His offense falls off in 1906 as he only hits .238, though he does tie a career high with 65 runs scored. Alexis collects 27 steals, 51 RBI and playing mostly at 2B again fields the position at a .959 clip with 29 errors in 701 chances.

Infante was also injury free and appeared in a career high 126 games for the Bulls in 1906. Looking at Boston’s roster 2B was split between Chone figgins (.295) and Ray Durham (.223). Heinie Groh came over from the St. Louis Browns in a trade and hit .359 in part time duty, which will ensure he gets more a look at both 2B and 3B in 1907. Jose Reyes was back at SS but hit only .232, while Randy Moore hit .293 getting most of the reps at 3B for the big club. Based on his 1906 season, Infante’s window might also have closed.


C Gus Brittain 28 years old
Drafted: 1903 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: Detroit Tigers – Signs a minor league deal (Vernon) with a $117 bonus.

Real Life
Nothing to report here as Brittain was never credited with an official Major League appearance and appears to be facing the steepest odds of our current crop of longshots.

1906 Season – Tacoma Giants / Hollywood Stars
Another season on the rails for Brittain, who was released by the Pirates after spring training. He then hooked up with the St. Louis Browns, but hit .071 for Tacoma in limited duty and was released 07/06/1906. The Boston Americans gave him a shot and he was sent to Hollywood in the PCL, where he garnered a career high 46 at bats, but could only muster a .196 average. Boston released him on 10/03/1906 and at this point he is unclaimed, which will likely signal the end of his career.


C Frank Charles 31 years old
Drafted: 1904 – 5th round, 16th pick (83 overall)
Organization: Chicago White Sox – Signs a minor league deal (Salt Lake City) with an $80 bonus.

Real Life
After 9 seasons in the minors, Charles made it to the big leagues for a cup of coffee with the Astros in 2000. While there he went 3 for 7 (.429) in 4 games but was not invited back and wrapped up his career after 14 minor league seasons.

1906 Season – Newark Eagles / Portland Beavers
Charles began his second season in Newark full of hope but after hitting an anemic .161 on 34 games he was given his walking papers by the Reds organization in July and hooked up with the Philadelphia Athletics AAA affiliate in Portland. The change of coasts served him well as he hit .284 for the Beavers in 40 games, driving in 19 runs and scoring 17.

The Athletics have weak hitting Duffy Dyer on the big club and the other 2 minor league catchers (Jeff Torborg and Charlie Moran) are both older than Charles and did not hit as well. Still, Frank seems to have little chance of a promotion as the A’s are rumored to be looking at drafting a catcher.


3B Wayne Graham 26 years old
Drafted: 1905 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: New York Giants – Signs a minor league deal (St. Paul) with an $157 bonus.

Real Life
Graham spent short stints with the Phillies in 1963 and 1964, but never figured out major league pitching, collecting just 7 hits in 55 career at bats (.127). He then returned briefly to the minors, before giving up the game for good shortly thereafter.

1906 Season – St. Paul Saints
Graham’s first season of pro ball got off to a shaky start as he fractured a finger on April 20th and missed 5 weeks. When he returned he was limited to late inning/pinch hitting duty, getting just 47 at bats in 48 games. He did stroke the ball at an impressive .362 clip and drove in 10 runs, but fielded at an unimpressive .920 clip at the hot corner.

Doug Bernier (.278) was the Saints regular 3B and the position was manned by several players for the parent Giants, with Bernie Friberg (.260-1-28) performing the best.

Around the Majors – 1906
World Series
The Detroit Tigers dispatch the Cincinnati Reds 4 games to 2

Silver Slugger winners
AL – Al Zarilla New York: .299-3-69 (Delahanty’s run is over)
NL – Oyster Burns Pittsburgh: .314-3-57

Diamond Ace winners
AL – Don Drysdale New York: 27-9, 1.93
NL – Red Ehret St Louis 29-8, 1.80

ROTY
AL – Don Drysdale New York: 27-9, 1.93 (#1 pick in the 1905 draft lives up to the hype)
NL – Brett Myers St Louis: 22-16, 1.90 (Cards still finished 5 games out)

Amateur Draft – November 1st 1906


1B Jake Jones 20 years old
Drafted: 1906 – 5th round, 16th pick (85 overall)
Organization: Cincinnati Reds – Signs a minor league deal (Newark) with a $280 bonus.

Jake could prove to be an interesting study. He was originally drafted in 1905 by the New Giants with the 17th pick (34 overall) of the 2nd round and failed to sign. Given his age he will have more time to develop than the others to date. Could he be our first long shot to make it?