From the Collection: Blake Stein, sp, Oakland Athletics
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Starting Pitcher Blake Stein was never a huge pitching prospect. But organization saw something in him they liked, for sure.
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Stein was a 6th-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994. He put up strong numbers in the minors, especially in 1996, when he went 16–5 with a 2.15 ERA at High-A. That season put him on the prospect radar, and he entered 1997 as one of the Cardinals’ top 10 prospects.
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In July 1997, Stein was involved in the first of two major trades. The Cardinals packaged him with pitchers Eric Ludwick and T.J. Mathews to acquire Mark McGwire from the Athletics.
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Stein didn’t do much in Oakland, and in 1999 he was included in another trade package, this time with pitchers Jeff D’Amico and Brad Rigby, to acquire Kansas City Royals ace Kevin Appier.
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Stein also didn’t do much with Kansas City and bounced around the league until 2002. He retired with a 21–28 record. But he helped facilitate two big trades — and it’s always nice to be wanted.