Richard Frank Barker (born October 29, 1972) was a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Barker's major league career consisted of just five games in the 1999 season.
Barker was drafted by the Cubs in the 37th round (1,030th overall) of the 1994 amateur draft out of Quinsigamond Community College. Only three other players drafted in that round made the majors-- Bronson Heflin, Matt Blank, and Mike Lincoln. Barker was one of only four Cubs draftees (out of 75) that year who eventually made the big leagues. The only player drafted later than Barker that year by the Cubs to make the leap was Kyle Farnsworth, a 47th round selection.
Barker made his debut with the Cubs on April 25, 1999, throwing 11⁄3 innings against the New York Mets and allowing one run on three hits. He'd make four more appearances in relief, including his final game on May 5, 1999. Barker's final statistics featured no wins, losses, or saves, an ERA of 7.20, four walks, and three strikeouts. After returning to the AAA Iowa Cubs after his cup of coffee with the parent club, Barker was unable to make it back to the majors. He pitched just 20 games in the minors in 2000 before he then retired from baseball due to an injury and moved to a beautiful suburb of Phoenix, Arizona and got married, only to start a successful small sports business.
Michael Brooks Kieschnick is a former American baseball utility player and pitcher. The only player to win the Dick Howser Trophy twice, he is a College Hall of Fame inductee and he later played six Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons. He played the majority of his career for the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers, and also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies from 1996 to 2004. He batted left-handed but threw right-handed. During the initial part of his major league career, he was exclusively a position player, playing the outfield; for his final two seasons in the big leagues, he served primarily as a relief pitcher who also occasionally doubled as an outfielder and pinch hitter.
Mark James Grudzielanek is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played for six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the manager of the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Ricky Eugene Reuschel is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1972 to 1991, winning 214 games with a career 3.37 ERA. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because of his portly physique. He was known for his deceptive style of pitching, which kept hitters off balance by constantly varying the speeds of his pitches.
Richard David Ruthven is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 14 years (1973-1986) in Major League Baseball (MLB), with the National League Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. His career marks include a win-loss record of 123-127, 4.14 earned run average, and 1145 career strikeouts. While his 1978 Phillies won the National League East title and the 1980 World Series, his Cubs went on to win the 1984 NL East title.
Richard Albert Bordi is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1980 to 1988. He played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Bordi threw and batted right-handed, was 6'7" tall, and weighed 220 pounds. He attended Fresno State University. He is currently a scout for the Cincinnati Reds.
Douglas Craig Dascenzo is an American professional baseball coach. The former Major League Baseball outfielder played for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres, where he began his coaching career. He spent 2014 as a third base coach for the Atlanta Braves, and is currently a coach for the Chicago Cubs affiliate Tennessee Smokies.
Jeffrey Daniel Robinson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played nine seasons for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, California Angels and Chicago Cubs.
Silton Ray Fontenot is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons between 1983 and 1986. He played for three teams in those four years – the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins.
David Theodore Swartzbaugh is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1995 to 1997 for the Chicago Cubs.
Thomas Henry "Tom" Baker was a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs in 1963.
Mark Landon Johnson is a former professional baseball player, a catcher who played with several major league teams, but primarily with the Chicago White Sox. In 2011, he retired as a player and became a minor league manager. He is currently the catching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. He previously managed the Cubs Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies.
Manuel Alex Parra is an American professional baseball player. He has played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds and currently plays for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.
Joseph Wayne Kraemer is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played professionally from 1985 to 1994 and in Major League Baseball in 1989 and 1990.
Derek Wayne Botelho is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs, who is currently the pitching coach for the Class A-Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Detroit Tigers system.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Chicago Cubs system:
Robert Howard Myrick was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was the great-nephew of longtime Washington Senators second baseman Buddy Myer.
Kenneth Douglas Frailing is an American former professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who appeared in 116 Major League games for the Chicago White Sox (1972–1973) and Chicago Cubs (1974–1976).
James Clayton Russell is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He played college baseball at Navarro College and the University of Texas at Austin. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft out of Colleyville Heritage High School and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 5, 2010. He has also played for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
Richard Lee James is an American former professional baseball player. A 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 205 lb (93 kg) right-handed pitcher, James was the Chicago Cubs' first #1 draft pick in the inaugural Major League Baseball Draft of June 1965. Selected after his graduation from Coffee High School, Florence, Alabama, James had a six-season (1965–1970) professional career, but his Major League stay was only three games and 4⅔ innings pitched — a proverbial "cup of coffee" — at the tail end of the 1967 season.
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