Early last July, just as the Crawdads were beginning the second half of the 2007 Sally League season, I had a long and pleasant interview with Hickory's third-string catcher, John Walk.
At the time, even though the season was more than half over, Walk had been in exactly two games, batted a grand total of five times, and had yet to record his first base hit of the season.
Yet, as we talked, there was a sparkle in his eyes and confidence in his voice as he told me that he knew he had what it took to be a successful back-up catcher in the big leagues -- strong defensive skills, a good knowledge of the game, and a great attitude.
Less than three weeks later, still without having recorded a hit or played in another game, Walk accepted reality, announced he was going back to college, and walked away from the game.
His story exemplifies what is both inspiring and heart-breaking about watching and covering minor league baseball -- sooner or later more than 90 percent of the young men who pass through Hickory will have to do exactly what Walk did -- accept the reality that they are never going to make it to the majors and walk away from the game.
The flip side of the John Walk story is the tale of the young men who do make it to "The Show," sometimes in remarkably quick fashion.
Just three years ago, in the spring of 2005, Matt Capps was the Crawdads' closer, trying to rebound from a disastrous 2004 campaign in which he had failed completely as a member of the Hickory starting rotation.
Today, he is the closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the man who is turned to when the game is on the line and the pressure is turned up high.
Just two years ago, in the spring of 2006, Brent Lillibridge was the starting shortstop for the Crawdads, less than a year removed from his collegiate playing days at the University of Oregon.
As May began, thanks mainly to a strong spring training that saw him knock in 12 runs and make dazzling defensive plays, Lillibridge was a back-up infielder for the Atlanta Braves, who acquired him in a trade in February 2007.
Other names, other heroes who played in Hickory during this decade are still pursuing the dream of making it in the majors.
J.R. House, one of the most popular players in the history of the Hickory franchise, batted a league-leading .348 in 2000 with 23 home runs and 90 RBIs. Stardom seemed just around the corner for the big catcher from West Virginia.
Eight years later, House is still in the minor leagues, having endured a shoulder injury that slowed his progress and having bounced from the Pirate organization, to the Houston farm system, to Baltimore, and now back to the Houston system.
A player who rivaled House in production and popularity was slugger Brad Eldred, who held down first base for the Crawdads back in 2003, a year in which he slugged 28 home runs and knocked in 80 runs.
Eldred made it to Pittsburgh for most of the 2005 season, hitting 12 home runs in limited playing time. Like House, however, he was hampered by a serious injury, played little in 2006, returned to the minors in 2007, and is now playing for the Charlotte Knights in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Pedro Powell, a gregarious youngster who dazzled defensively in centerfield and who stole 44 bases for the Crawdads in 2005, has yet to rise higher than the Double A level and is currently playing at Altoona.
The jury is still out on a couple of the Pirates' first-round draft choices who played their first full seasons of professional baseball in Hickory -- catcher Neil Walker in 2005 and outfielder Andrew McCutchen in 2006.
Both young men are at the Pirates' Triple A farm team in Indianapolis this season and both are still highly ranked in the Pittsburgh organization's catalogue of prospects. Walker batted .301 with 12 homes and 68 RBIs during his year at Hickory, while McCutchen was a .291 hitter with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs.
Also at Indianapolis this year is power-hitting first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce who won a job with the Pirates late last summer, but has now been returned to Triple A for further seasoning.
Managers, coaches, scouts, and media members will all agree it takes three things for a minor leaguer to make it to the majors -- talent, dedication and a positive attitude.
Most will agree, however, that a fourth factor plays a large role as well -- being in the right place, with the right skills, at the right time.
I learned a while back that it's practically impossible to predict who's going to make it and who isn't. But it sure is fun to try. IN MY OPINION CRAWDAD NOTES: Hickory is enjoying a rare Sunday off today before beginning a road trip that will see them travel to Columbus, Ga., Monday through Thursday and then head to Rome, Ga., for a Friday through Monday series...The offensive leaders through the early going were shortstop Jose De Los Santos, who was batting .347, and first baseman Miles Durham who was hitting .309 with four home runs and 20 RBIs...The 'Dads return home on May 20, with a reverse of the current road trip, meaning four games at home against Columbus followed by four against Rome. Bill
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