1/1: 1995 Topps Future Star
Address: Home (East Moriches, NY) from SportsCollectors.Net
I don’t have the best baseball-card memory, but I remember pulling the above card from a Topps pack from our Little League’s concession stand (yes, our LL concession stand sold packs). He offered me every All-Star in his pack and I refused. I don’t remember the could-have-been return, but I remember declining. This was going to be a good one.
Bill Pulsipher debuted in June of 1995 as a 21-year-old and pitched to a 5-7 record and a 3.98 ERA. Then the injuries began. He was shut down with three weeks left in the season with elbow pain. At the end of ’96 Spring Training, still experiencing the pain, he went for an MRI which revealed Tommy John surgery was needed.
In 1997, Pulsipher returned to AAA but struggled with control. He was sent down to A-ball and continued issues with walks continued. Around this time, he was diagnosed with depression.
After treatment for depression, his performance improved and in 1998 he pitched his way back to the MLB, working mostly in relief. He was shipped to Milwaukee at the deadline, working as a starter for the Brewers. He required off-season back surgery. He returned as a starter but battled chronic back issues.
He was dealt back to the Mets before the 2000 season. He’d make two more starts with New York (losing both and surrendering nine runs in 6.1 innings.
Pulsipher would bounce around, including pitching for international and independent teams. His last big-league run was in 2005 (after being out of the Majors for four years), reunited with Isringhausen in St. Louis.
All told, Pulsipher had a 13-19 record and 5.15 ERA over parts of six seasons.
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