Originally Posted by KbatMO

As for box scores - 1980 Anderson Braves, "A" team - his pitching was so-so. The 1981 Durham Bulls were another Braves "A" team - and he pitched 9-0 (won 9, lost 0). That's fantastic! So in mid 1981 season they moved him up to the Savannah Braves ("AA" team). It's nearly impossible to find S-Braves sports memorabilia because the team was dissolved a long time ago. His pitching in Savannah was only so-so, but he was in a tougher league. The Braves org. obviously liked him because in 1982 they promoted him again to the Richmond Braves ("AAA" team). AAA = the highest level in Minor League baseball. But he only played 2 games (record = 1 win, 1 loss) when they traded him to the Yankees "AAA" team, the Columbus Clippers.

Btw 1982 and 85 he jumped around between Yankees' "AA" and "AAA" teams - that is - except in 1983, when he was on the Yankees major league roster. He was supposed to pitch during the Mayor's Trophy game (Yankees vs. Mets). Maybe he wasn't pitching well that day - or the Yankees 'done him wrong' - or it was a strategic decision ... but at the last minute, they decided not to let him pitch. He must have been crushed - but he can say he was on the roster!

Then - beg. of 1986 - weird deal btw Yanks and Texas Rangers during spring practice. The Rangers had 10 potential pitchers - had to pick 5 by the start of the season in May. If he'd been among the 5, he'd have been traded to the Rangers officially, and would've been sent to their "AAA" team in Oklahoma City. It would've been great for him. He would've gotten the right amount of attention and probably would've made it into the majors - he was close. Unfortunately he wasn't picked as one of the 5. At this point, the Yankees could've let him stay with the Rangers anyway. The Yanks had more great pitchers than they could ever use - which was basically why he was stuck for so long. Instead, for a $25K profit, they made him come back. He played part of '86 with Columbus ("AAA") and part with the Albany-Colonie Yankees ("AA"; where he'd played most of 85.) The Yankees really dashed his hopes. At the end of the '86 season, he became a free agent and signed with the L.A. Dodgers.

I know from an interview (Craig Claiborne - late night) that - huge irony - his all-time favorite hero since childhood - pitching great Sandy Koufax (now helping to coach the Dodgers AAA team, the Albuquerque Dukes) advised SP to quit if he no longer loved the game. Told him to go into show biz!!! It must have been obvious even then that with his looks, personality, etc. - he'd go far!

What I don't know is - when that happened; whether or how long he might have played with the Dukes (or another Dodgers farm team) before that happened. Can't find any cards or newspaper clippings about it. Some of his bios say he did play with the Dodgers, but I've never found a card. I also wonder whether he felt the experience with Koufax was positive or negative - at the time. (Hindsight- it was great advice.)