Pretty much every facet of American life and culture was impacted in some way by the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. There were five former minor-league baseball players who were killed at the World Trade Center. This post is in memory of those whose lives were lost on 9-11-01.
Marty Boryczewski was born on August 17, 1972 was a catcher who was a standout at Morris Catholic High School and then St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. He first played pro ball for the Lethbridge Mounties of the Pioneer League in 1994. He batted .207 in 38 games that season and then played for two more years in the low minors for the Tigers and Pirates organizations. He said that he would give himself four years to make it in baseball, and when it didn’t pan out, he went into financial trading. Boryczewski eventually went to work for Cantor Fitzgerald as a trader. He was 29 years old.
Mark Hindy was born on July 20, 1973. He played baseball at Vanderbilt University and, after graduation, pitched for the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League in 1995. He pitched in 24 games, with 6 starts, going 2-3 with 1 save and a 4.73 ERA. Hindy joined Cantor Fitzgerald the following year and became a trader on the Listed Equities Desk. He was 28 years old. “Mark could electrify a room with his laughter,” said his friend, Drew Donahue, at his memorial service.
Brent Woodall was born on July 20, 1970. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 17th round of the 1992 Amateur Draft after playing at UC-Berkley. He had a 2-1 record with a 1.30 ERA in 23 relief outings for the Geneva Cubs in 1993 but an 0-1 record and 7.78 ERA for the Peoria Chiefs in 1994. A shoulder injury that affected his ’94 season eventually forced him out of baseball. Woodall became an equities trader and worked for Keefe, Bruyette and Woods. He was 31 years old.
Mike Weinberg was born on January 19, 1967. He helped lead the St. Johns University baseball team to the 1988 Big East Conference Tournament Championship and then the NCAA Tournament. He homered in the championship game against Villanova in the Big East tournament and was named the MVP of the tournament. He went on to play outfield in the Tigers organization for two seasons. Weinberg batted .238 in 1990 for the Niagara Falls Rapids and .217 for the Fayetteville Generals in 1991. He hit 2 home runs and stole 6 bases that season. Weinberg became a firefighter, like his father, and was stationed at Engine 1, Ladder 24 in lower Manhattan. He had the day off on September 11 and was golfing, but he rushed to the World Trade Center because his sister worked in Tower 2. She survived. He was struck by falling debris. He was 34 years old.
Raphael “Ralph” Scorca was born in Nutley, N.J. on July 31, 1940. He was a star pitcher at Nutley High School and was signed by the Yankees after his 1958 graduation. Making his debut in pro ball in 1959 for the Kearney Yankees of the Nebraska State League, he struggled with control problems early on. He went 4-11 with Modesto in 1960, striking out 115 batters in 135 innings. He pitched professionally until 1962, ending his career with a 12-23 record. He worked for AT&T and Liz Clairborne before coming to work for Marsh & McLennan Cos. He was assistant vice president for facilities and management, and his office was on the 93rd floor of Tower One. He was 61 years old.
RIP Baseball 