Mike Campbell, a University of Hawaii baseball standout and the highest-drafted player in program history, died Monday in Kirkland, Wash.He was 61 years old.
Rainbow Warrior to the Majors
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Campbell’s journey from Honolulu to the big leagues was marked by both promise and the challenges of persistent injuries.
- Campbell was drafted seventh overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1985.
- He pitched six seasons in Major League Baseball for Seattle, Montreal, and Chicago.
- Shoulder injuries ultimately hampered his career.
- Campbell also spent a season playing professional baseball in Japan.
The right-handed pitcher was selected in the first round of the 1985 MLB Draft by his hometown Seattle Mariners, taken seventh overall. Campbell quickly established himself as a dominant force at Hawaii, leading the Rainbows in innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts, and wins during both the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
Dominance in Honolulu
Campbell’s collegiate stats were impressive. He boasted a 2.77 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 1984, followed by a 3.93 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 1985. He secured 10 wins in both seasons, consistently proving himself as the team’s ace and opening-day starter. He was named All-Western Athletic Conference in both 1984 and 1985, and earned a spot on the Baseball America third team in 1985.
After being drafted, Campbell rapidly ascended through the Mariners’ minor league system, earning a promotion to the majors in July 1987.As a rookie, he went 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA in nine starts.He followed that up with 20 starts for Seattle in 1988,posting a 6-10 record and a 5.89 ERA.
A Blockbuster Trade
In July 1989, Campbell became a key piece in a significant trade, sent to the Montreal Expos as the player to be named later in the deal that brought Mark Langston to Montreal in exchange for Randy Johnson, Brian Holman, and Gene Harris.He continued his MLB career with the Expos, ultimately pitching a total of six seasons in the majors.
Campbell’s career was regrettably affected by a series of injuries to his throwing shoulder. He finished his professional baseball career pitching one season for the Yokohama Bay Stars in Japan in 1997. He threw his final MLB pitch for the Chicago Cubs in 1996.
What was the impact of Campbell’s shoulder injuries? Campbell’s promising career was significantly curtailed by recurring shoulder problems, preventing him from reaching his full potential.
