Rusty Tillman (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Kerry Jerome "Rusty" Tillman (born August 29, 1960 in Jacksonville, Florida
) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
who played in 1982 for the New York Mets
, in 1986 for the Oakland Athletics
and in 1988 for the San Francisco Giants
in 1988.
Tillman was drafted by the Mets in the 10th round of the 1979 amateur draft out of Florida Community College, and he began his professional career that year. He played for the Grays Harbor Loggers and Little Falls Mets
, hitting a combined .297 with 23 stolen bases in 66 games. In 1980, he played for the Lynchburg Mets, hitting .316 with 11 triples and 43 stolen bases. With the Jackson Mets
in 1981, he hit .278 with 29 stolen bases.
He began the 1982 season with the Tidewater Tides, hitting .322 with 26 stolen bases in 108 games. On June 6, he made his big league debut, appearing as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Craig Swan
. He singled in his first big league at-bat. In 13 at-bats in 1982, he hit .154 with a double and a stolen base.
Back in the minors in 1983, Tillman played for the Tides, hitting .255 with 23 stolen bases in 126 games. He began the 1984 season with the Tides, hitting only .219 in 44 games with them. He ended up in the Chicago White Sox
organization, and with the Denver Zephyrs he hit .306. Overall, Tillman hit .273 with 12 home runs in 119 games in 1984.
He ended up back in the Mets organization following the 1984 season, and on March 31, 1985, he was traded to the San Diego Padres
for Rick Lancellotti
. He played for the Las Vegas Stars
in 1985, hitting .337 with 12 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 115 games.
Tillman started 1986 in the Padres organization, playing for the Stars, but on April 18, 1986, he was traded to the Athletics for Bob Stoddard
and minor leaguer Kevin Russ. He played for the Tacoma Tigers in the A's organization after being traded. He also played 22 games in the big leagues, hitting .256 in 39 at-bats. On September 23, he hit the first home run of his career - off of Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton
. In the minors that year, he hit .314 in 74 games.
On March 20, 1987, the Athletics released Tillman, and on April 26 the San Francisco Giants
signed him. He played for the Phoenix Firebirds
that year, hitting .316 with 10 home runs in 94 games. In 1988, he played for the Firebirds again, hitting .295 with 12 home runs. With the Giants in 1988, he appeared in four games, collecting one hit in four at-bats. His lone hit of 1988 - and the final hit of his career - was a home run, a three-run shot off of Cincinnati Reds
pitcher Tim Birtsas
. On June 18, he played in his final big league game, and on October 15, he was granted free-agency by the Giants.
He stuck around in the minors until 1989. That year, he played in the Giants, Houston Astros
and Texas Rangers
farm systems, hitting a combined .279 with six home runs for the Firebirds, Tucson Toros
and Tulsa Drillers
.
Overall, he hit .232 with two home runs and three stolen bases in 38 big league games. In the minors, he hit .297 with 82 home runs and 209 stolen bases in 1,146 games.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
) is a former right-handed 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...
who played in 1982 for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, in 1986 for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and in 1988 for the San Francisco Giants
San 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 1988.
Tillman was drafted by the Mets in the 10th round of the 1979 amateur draft out of Florida Community College, and he began his professional career that year. He played for the Grays Harbor Loggers and Little Falls Mets
Little Falls Mets
The Little Falls Mets were a minor league baseball team located in Little Falls, New York. The team played in the New York - Penn League, and were affiliated with the New York Mets. Their home stadium was Little Falls Veterans Memorial Park...
, hitting a combined .297 with 23 stolen bases in 66 games. In 1980, he played for the Lynchburg Mets, hitting .316 with 11 triples and 43 stolen bases. With the Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
in 1981, he hit .278 with 29 stolen bases.
He began the 1982 season with the Tidewater Tides, hitting .322 with 26 stolen bases in 108 games. On June 6, he made his big league debut, appearing as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Craig Swan
Craig Swan
Craig Steven Swan was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1973 to 1984 for the New York Mets and California Angels. Swan's best season came in when he posted a 9-6 win–loss record and led the National League with an earned run average of 2.43. This was significant as the Mets were in the...
. He singled in his first big league at-bat. In 13 at-bats in 1982, he hit .154 with a double and a stolen base.
Back in the minors in 1983, Tillman played for the Tides, hitting .255 with 23 stolen bases in 126 games. He began the 1984 season with the Tides, hitting only .219 in 44 games with them. He ended up in the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
organization, and with the Denver Zephyrs he hit .306. Overall, Tillman hit .273 with 12 home runs in 119 games in 1984.
He ended up back in the Mets organization following the 1984 season, and on March 31, 1985, he was traded to the San Diego Padres
San 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...
for Rick Lancellotti
Rick Lancellotti
Richard Anthony Lancellotti is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres , San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox...
. He played for the Las Vegas Stars
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
in 1985, hitting .337 with 12 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 115 games.
Tillman started 1986 in the Padres organization, playing for the Stars, but on April 18, 1986, he was traded to the Athletics for Bob Stoddard
Bob Stoddard
Robert Lyle Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals. Stoddard attended Fresno State University and he threw and batted right-handed.Stoddard, who was 6'1" and 200 pounds, was drafted four times...
and minor leaguer Kevin Russ. He played for the Tacoma Tigers in the A's organization after being traded. He also played 22 games in the big leagues, hitting .256 in 39 at-bats. On September 23, he hit the first home run of his career - off of Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
. In the minors that year, he hit .314 in 74 games.
On March 20, 1987, the Athletics released Tillman, and on April 26 the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
signed him. He played for the Phoenix Firebirds
Phoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
that year, hitting .316 with 10 home runs in 94 games. In 1988, he played for the Firebirds again, hitting .295 with 12 home runs. With the Giants in 1988, he appeared in four games, collecting one hit in four at-bats. His lone hit of 1988 - and the final hit of his career - was a home run, a three-run shot off of Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcher Tim Birtsas
Tim Birtsas
Timothy Dean Birtsas , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1985–1986 and from 1988–1990...
. On June 18, he played in his final big league game, and on October 15, he was granted free-agency by the Giants.
He stuck around in the minors until 1989. That year, he played in the Giants, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and 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...
farm systems, hitting a combined .279 with six home runs for the Firebirds, Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
and Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
.
Overall, he hit .232 with two home runs and three stolen bases in 38 big league games. In the minors, he hit .297 with 82 home runs and 209 stolen bases in 1,146 games.