Lou Pote
Encyclopedia
Louis William Pote and living in Sherwood Park Alberta
is an American
professional baseball
player who last played for the Edmonton Capitals
of the North American League
. A pitcher
, Pote played for in Major League Baseball
for the Anaheim Angels
from 1999 to 2002 and the Cleveland Indians
in 2004. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball and the Chinese Professional Baseball League
. 2011 is Pote's 21st year of professional baseball.
in 1990. He began his professional career the following season with the Arizona League Giants, and continued to pitch in the Giants farm system until 1995, when he was traded to the Montreal Expos
. He was released by Montreal near the end of spring training
in 1997, eventually signing with the St. Louis Cardinals
in August. He became a free agent at the end of the season, signing with the Angels.
After pitching for the Midland Angels in 1998, he was promoted to the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers
in 1999. He was called up to the major leagues in August, making his debut on August 11. It was in 2001, while pitching for the Angels, that Pote caused mild-mannered Seattle Mariners DH Edgar Martinez
to charge the mound for the first and only time in his career.
in Japan. He spent one season in NPB before returning to North America.
organization, finishing the season with their top farm club, the Portland Beavers
.
After spending 2005-06 in the Texas Rangers
organization, Pote signed a contract with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats
for the 2007 Northern League season and finished in the top 10 in pitching; he also played for the Atlantic League
's Camden Riversharks
. In 2008, he played for Chinese Professional Baseball League's Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.
In 2009, Pote returned to Edmonton with the Capitals, who at the time played in the Golden Baseball League
. He started the 2010 season with the Dorados de Chihuahua
in the Mexican League, but pitched in just eight games before returning to the Capitals. He retired with the Capitals in 2011 after winning the NABL championship and getting the honors of MVP.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who last played for the Edmonton Capitals
Edmonton Capitals
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
of the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
. A pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, Pote played for in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
from 1999 to 2002 and the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 2004. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball and the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
. 2011 is Pote's 21st year of professional baseball.
Early career
Pote was originally drafted by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1990. He began his professional career the following season with the Arizona League Giants, and continued to pitch in the Giants farm system until 1995, when he was traded to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He was released by Montreal near the end of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1997, eventually signing with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in August. He became a free agent at the end of the season, signing with the Angels.
Anaheim Angels
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
in 1999. He was called up to the major leagues in August, making his debut on August 11. It was in 2001, while pitching for the Angels, that Pote caused mild-mannered Seattle Mariners DH Edgar Martinez
Edgar Martinez
Edgar Martínez , nicknamed "Gar" and "Papi", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and designated hitter. He spent his entire 18-year Major League career with the Seattle Mariners. He is the cousin of Carmelo Martínez.-Seattle Mariners:On December 19, 1982, the Seattle Mariners signed...
to charge the mound for the first and only time in his career.
Japan
Pote was released by the Angels in January 2003, signing with the Hanshin TigersHanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in Japan. He spent one season in NPB before returning to North America.
Later career
Pote returned to the Cardinals prior to the 2004 season, but his contract was sold to the Indians in May. He returned to the major leagues in June, pitching in two games for Cleveland, before being released from his contract. He signed with the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
organization, finishing the season with their top farm club, the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
.
After spending 2005-06 in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization, Pote signed a contract with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats
Edmonton Cracker-Cats
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
for the 2007 Northern League season and finished in the top 10 in pitching; he also played for the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
's Camden Riversharks
Camden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. In 2008, he played for Chinese Professional Baseball League's Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.
In 2009, Pote returned to Edmonton with the Capitals, who at the time played in the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
. He started the 2010 season with the Dorados de Chihuahua
Dorados de Chihuahua
Dorados de Chihuahua were a baseball team from the city of Chihuahua. Recently Tuneros de San Luis moved to Chihuahua and took the Dorados namesake, which also brought the LMB Mexican Baseball League to Chihuahua for the first time since 1982. The Dorados played their home games at Estadio...
in the Mexican League, but pitched in just eight games before returning to the Capitals. He retired with the Capitals in 2011 after winning the NABL championship and getting the honors of MVP.