Ed Vosberg---1994
Of the countless number of Little
Leaguers who have gone on to play
college baseball and the handful that
proceeded to play in the major
leagues… Ed Vosberg and Jason
Varitek are the only two who have
played in the World Series of each of
the three levels along the way.
Since everyone knows Varitek, let's
look at Vosberg.
The lefty grew up in Tucson, AZ and
helped lead his team to the 1973
Little League World Series. He
tossed a 1-hitter in the semi-final
contest for his team to earn the
opportunity to lose to the Taiwan
team in the championship game.
(That’s okay Ed, the USA entry
always lost to Taiwan back then.)
"I remember thinking that we were the
best team in the United States," said
Vosberg to the press in 1999 (USA
Today, 8/30/99). "It also made me
realize baseball was something I
wanted to do for a career. I
remember a coach coming up to me
and telling me I had a chance to go
along way in the game. It made me
think about the future. I watched
major league games as a kid, and
that's what I wanted to do someday.
God willing, if things go well, that
could me playing in Fenway Park or
Yankee Stadium.
"It was definitely a stepping stone. I
remember a lot from the Little
League World Series. Each world
series I played in was special and
different."
He then went on to pitch in high
school for Salpointe Catholic, before
taking his pitching talents to the
University of Arizona. There he was a
member of the Wildcat squad that
won the 1980 NCAA World Series,
behind the bat of college-phenom
Terry Francona.
The southpaw would go on to be a
third-round pick of the Padres, where
he proceeded to enjoy a 10-year
major league career.
Looking for left-handed relief help for
the playoff stretch, the Marlins traded
Rick Helling to the Rangers for
Vosberg on August 12, 1997. The
pride of Tucson responded by going
1-1-1, 3.75 in 17 outings for the Fish.
Vosberg would log 2-2/3 shutout
innings versus Atlanta in the NLCS,
but would allow two runs during three
innings of work during the Marlins
Game 4 loss to the Cleveland
Indians in the World Series. The
Marlins would win the ’97 series in
seven games, as Vosberg helped
hoist a World Series trophy for a
second time in his career.
Vosberg would close out his major
league career in 2002 with a 10-15,
4.32 mark in 266 career outings.
So… was Vosberg an opportunist or
a true champion? You decide…
(8/16-17/08)
Leaguers who have gone on to play
college baseball and the handful that
proceeded to play in the major
leagues… Ed Vosberg and Jason
Varitek are the only two who have
played in the World Series of each of
the three levels along the way.
Since everyone knows Varitek, let's
look at Vosberg.
The lefty grew up in Tucson, AZ and
helped lead his team to the 1973
Little League World Series. He
tossed a 1-hitter in the semi-final
contest for his team to earn the
opportunity to lose to the Taiwan
team in the championship game.
(That’s okay Ed, the USA entry
always lost to Taiwan back then.)
"I remember thinking that we were the
best team in the United States," said
Vosberg to the press in 1999 (USA
Today, 8/30/99). "It also made me
realize baseball was something I
wanted to do for a career. I
remember a coach coming up to me
and telling me I had a chance to go
along way in the game. It made me
think about the future. I watched
major league games as a kid, and
that's what I wanted to do someday.
God willing, if things go well, that
could me playing in Fenway Park or
Yankee Stadium.
"It was definitely a stepping stone. I
remember a lot from the Little
League World Series. Each world
series I played in was special and
different."
He then went on to pitch in high
school for Salpointe Catholic, before
taking his pitching talents to the
University of Arizona. There he was a
member of the Wildcat squad that
won the 1980 NCAA World Series,
behind the bat of college-phenom
Terry Francona.
The southpaw would go on to be a
third-round pick of the Padres, where
he proceeded to enjoy a 10-year
major league career.
Looking for left-handed relief help for
the playoff stretch, the Marlins traded
Rick Helling to the Rangers for
Vosberg on August 12, 1997. The
pride of Tucson responded by going
1-1-1, 3.75 in 17 outings for the Fish.
Vosberg would log 2-2/3 shutout
innings versus Atlanta in the NLCS,
but would allow two runs during three
innings of work during the Marlins
Game 4 loss to the Cleveland
Indians in the World Series. The
Marlins would win the ’97 series in
seven games, as Vosberg helped
hoist a World Series trophy for a
second time in his career.
Vosberg would close out his major
league career in 2002 with a 10-15,
4.32 mark in 266 career outings.
So… was Vosberg an opportunist or
a true champion? You decide…
(8/16-17/08)
