Saturday, November 7, 2015

Phillies Missing Links of the 1980s - #15 Salome Barojas

#31
Salome (Romero) Barojas
Relief Pitcher

You are a true Phillies fan and you immediately gain my respect if you recall any of Salome Barojas' six games with the club in September 1988.  In between 16 seasons pitching in the Mexican League, Barojas enjoyed brief stints with the White Sox, Mariners and Phillies.  As Steve F. points out in a post featuring Barojas from a few years ago, the veteran pitcher was once on the cover of Baseball Digest in July 1982.

As a testament to how thin the Phillies pitching was in 1988, Barojas was purchased from the Mexico City Reds in late July and he was added to the expanded active roster in September.  His final stats with the club aren't great (see below), but he did hold opponents scoreless over his final three appearances.  The Phils released Barojas immediately following the season and he'd go back to the Mexican League, pitching in parts of seven more seasons until retiring at the age of 39.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'9"  Weight:  160
Born:  June 16, 1957, Veracruz, Mexico
Signed:  Purchased by the Chicago White Sox from the Mexico City Reds, April 1, 1982
Major League Teams:  Chicago White Sox 1982-1984; Seattle Mariners 1984-1985; Phillies 1988
Professional Affiliations:  Cordoba Cafeteros 1976-1979; Reynosa Broncos 1980; Mexico City Reds 1981; Chicago White Sox 1982-1984; Seattle Mariners 1984-1985; Mexico City Reds 1986-1988; Phillies 1988; Mexico City Reds 1989-1994, 1996

Phillies Career
6 games, 0-0, 8.31 ERA over 8 2/3 innings pitched
Acquired:  Purchased from the Mexico City Reds, July 28, 1988
Debut:  September 5, 1988 - Relieved Bob Sebra (also making his Phillies debut) in the third inning of an eventual blow-out game against the Cubs.  Barojas would only retire one batter in the inning.
Final Game:  September 26, 1988
Departed:  Released on September 29, 1988 and re-signed with the Mexico City Reds prior to the 1989 season

1983 Donruss #67
1984 Donruss #570
1985 Donruss #605
1985 Fleer #482
0 Barojas Baseball Card in My Collection
First Card:  N/A
Last Card:  N/A

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  1983 Donruss #67
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  1985 Fleer #482
Other Notable Cards:  1983 Fleer #230, 1984 Donruss #570, 1984 Fleer #53, 1985 Donruss #605

My first attempt at a Barojas Phillies baseball card used his photo from his 1985 Donruss card and the 1988 Topps design.

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  I will make my way through the decade of the 1980s first and then work my way forward.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

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