The Wolfpacker

50 ■ THE WOLFPACKER WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ter, showed it to anyone and everyone, and still has it in his personal papers. "I just told him how much I appreciated what he did for me during the time I played for him," Strange said. "He did more to pre- pare me for playing Major League Baseball than anything else I ever experienced in the game. I wanted him to know that. I meant every word of it." The Detroit Tigers selected Strange in the seventh round of the 1985 MLB Draft, and he shot through their farm system, reaching Triple-A in 1987 and making his major league debut in 1989. He bounced around the big leagues for parts of the next 10 seasons, playing with the Tigers, Chi- cago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mari- ners, Montreal Expos and Pittsburgh Pi- rates. He was a regular with the Rangers in 1993 and the Expos in 1997. Strange made his lone playoff appear- ance with the Mariners in 1995, and had his second "most memorable moment in baseball" that year in the penultimate game of the American League Division Series versus the Yankees. Trailing 4-3 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth against right-hander David Cone, Mariners skipper Lou Piniella sent Strange to the plate to pinch hit. After working the count full, Strange walked on a breaking ball in the dirt, forcing in the tying run. Seattle went on to win 6-5 in 11 innings. A walk. That's what most people remem- ber of Strange's big league career. Unlike the error, at least this one led to winning a game. "Again, the story of my life," Strange said. "An error and a walk. It's all anyone ever remembers." Two years later, Strange's wife, Holly, gave birth to quadruplets. Doug was play- ing for Montreal and enjoying his best sea- son, but he went for the money in 1998, signing a two-year contract with the Pi- rates. It proved to be his last contract. He suffered the first of a succession of what proved to be career-ending injuries and retired in 1999. After three years as a scout with the Marlins, Strange went back to Pittsburgh, first as a professional scout and then as a member of the front office. He has served in numerous capacities since then — from scouting to player development to player personnel — and even survived a regime change in 2007. Home life is a little quieter nowadays. The quadruplets are freshmen in college. Jackson, a shortstop, and Joseph, a catcher, play baseball at Anderson University in Anderson, S.C. Logan plays women's soc- cer at Arkansas-Little Rock. The fourth quadruplet, Jake, is attending a technical college in the Pittsburgh area. There is a fifth child, Lauren, currently in the eighth grade. "The time has just flown by," Strange said. "I turned 51 this year. It's just crazy. I still remember playing at NC State like it was yesterday." ■ Are you happy with your medical plan benefits? Is your deductible too high? Do you pay too much for health insurance? Do you receive a refund at the end of the year? Would you like to write your own plan – your benefits your way? Would you like a known fixed premium to pay each month? Would you like a refund at the end of the year? Do you have 50 or more employees? If so, please call Danielle Dennis Grady, 1-866-390-1871, for a personal analysis of your benefits program – Let us show you how Benefits Are Delivered. 1-866-390-1871 www.dennisinsurancegroup.com Strange currently works in the front office of the Pittsburgh Pirates and serves as the spe- cial assistant to the general manager. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH PIRATES

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