Laker spent six seasons in the minor leagues before his breakout 1994 season at Triple-A Ottawa. After batting .309 that year he was summoned by the Expos to back up Darrin Fletcher in 1995. But unable to handle major-league breaking pitches, Laker batted .234 with three homers and would have been sent back down in 1996 if an elbow injury hadn't caused him to miss the entire season.
Laker spent the next four years as a non-roster invitee for various teams, often starting the season in the minors and then visiting big-league clubs to fill in for injured players. In 2001 he played sixteen games with the Cleveland Indians backing up Einar Diaz and Eddie Taubensee. (EPW)
Contribute your recollections of Tim Laker by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»March 29, 1999:
The Pirates acquire catcher Tim Laker from the Dodgers for a player to be named later. Much later -- 26 months. The deal will finally be completed in early July 2001 when LA selects P Jason Ryan from Nashville (AAA). Laker will be gone from the Bucs by then.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
