2003 Topps Total, Mike Crudale

#276 Mike Crudale

Here is a card that was sent to me by Paul, of Paul's Random Stuff, last December. It features former Cardinal and Brewer, Mike Crudale.

Mike pitched in the big leagues for parts of two seasons in 2002 and 2003. In that brief time-span, he threw 73.1 innings and posted an ERA of 2.09. I know that ERA isn't exactly the best reference point of how well a pitcher does, especially a reliever. But, it is what it is and I would think that there were some teams out there that would want a guy in their pen with a 2.09 career ERA.

That was not the case for Mike. In 2004, Mike pitched in the Giants and Pirates systems and spent a majority of the time at AA. In 2005, he was off to the Atlantic League and he would spend three years there before calling it quits. It's a crazy game these guys play.