Monday, June 7, 2010

Minor League Monday - Staff, 1986 ProCards.

Ok, so here we are at the end of the 1986 ProCards team set. Just three cards left: the manager, a coach, and a trainer. Going to hit all three in one post.

Dave Oliver was the manager for the Oklahoma City Eighty-Niners for the 1985 and 1986 seasons. They were his fourth and fifth seasons in the minors as a manager. In 2001 he managed in, of all places, Mudville. No word on if he was fired for not pinch-hitting for Casey. Prior to his minor league managerial career he played eight seasons in the minors from 1973 to 1980. In 1977 Dave played in seven games for the Cleveland Indians - his only major league experience.






Up next us coach Rusty Gerhardt. Not sure if Rusty is the hitting coach, pitching coach, bench coach, bullpen coach, third base coach, first base coach, or all of those rolled into one.

What I was able to find out about Gerhardt is that he managed the Eighty-Niners in 1984 before the advent of Dave Oliver. He also pitched for nine seasons in the San Diego Padres farm system from 1972 t0 1981 with a break for the 1980 season. Not sure if the break was caused by an arm injury or what. In 1974 he appeared in 23 games for the Padres. That was the extent of his major league experience. I have no idea where Rusty went when he left OKC.





Last in the set is trainer Greg Campbell. Not sure why Greg got a card in this set when Rusty Gerhardt was the only coach to do so. Perhaps he and Rusty were the only two staff members to show up for the photo shoot.

I wasn't able to find out much on Greg. The fact that all three of these cards have the same date of birth, height, weight, residence and such doesn't make things any easier. I believe that Greg may have played one season of Rookie League ball for the San Francisco Giants in 1982. Beyond that I have no idea where Greg was before he came to the Eighty-Niners or where he went when he left.

Well, that wraps up the 1986 ProCards Eighty-Niners team set. On to 1987 next time.

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