Wally Trice

From BR Bullpen

WallyTrice.jpg

Walter Maurice Trice

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Pitcher Wally Trice played in the minor leagues from 1988 to 1993, Taiwan in 1993 and in independent baseball in 1996. Despite being a three-time All-Star in A ball, he never made it past AA.

Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 15th round of the 1988 amateur draft and signed by scout Reggie Waller, Trice began his professional career that year with the Auburn Astros. In 15 games (14 starts), he went 8-4 with six complete games and a 1.90 ERA, while striking out 107 batters and walking only 24 in 104 innings. He also allowed only 83 hits. He was second in the New York-Penn League in strikeouts, behind only Mike Sodders, who had 119. He also tied for 4th in wins and was 5th in ERA (between Woody Williams and Sodders). He was named one of the two NYPL All-Star lefties, along with Chris Hill (Dan Freed and Williams were the righties).

The following season, Trice went 16-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) for the Osceola Astros. He led the Florida State League in victories (2 ahead of runner-ups Bo Kennedy and Curt Hasler), while his three shutouts tied for second in the loop (one behind leader Ron Stephens). He also finished third in innings (182 1/3) and hits allowed (179). He was 7th in ERA, between Mike Miller and Pat Hentgen. He was named one of two All-Star left-handed starters along with Rhéal Cormier (Miller and Stephens were named as righty starters and Jim Poole and Mark Grater as relievers).

In 1990, with the Columbus Mudcats, Trice slipped to 6-7 with a 4.02 ERA in 33 games (22 starts). His 17 home runs allowed were the third-most in the Southern League and his 6 errors tied Kennedy for the most by a SL pitcher.

He became a relief pitcher in 1991, splitting the year between the Burlington Astros (4-2, 18 Sv, 0.99 ERA in 35 G) and Jackson Generals (1-3, Sv, 4.18 in 20 G). In 55 appearances, he went 5-5 with a 2.08 ERA and 19 saves, while striking out 80 batters in 69 1/3 innings. He finished fifth in the Midwest League in saves with 18 despite only spending about half the season in the loop. He was named the MWL All-Star left-handed reliever.

After joining the Cleveland Indians system following the 1991 season, he returned to the starting rotation for part of 1992. In 33 games (14 starts), he went 5-7 with a 4.04 ERA for the Canton-Akron Indians. With Canton-Akron again in 1993, he went 3-2 with a 5.61 ERA in 19 games (three starts). He was 2-3 with a 2.63 ERA for the Mercuries Tigers late that summer after being let go by Cleveland.

He resurfaced with the Amarillo Dillas of the independent Texas-Louisiana League in 1996, going 1-3 with a 6.82 ERA in eight games (five starts).

Overall, Trice went 44-32 with a 3.38 ERA in 189 games (84 starts) in the minors.

Trice only threw in the mid-80s, relying on a screwball.

Sources[edit]