The DMBL's Moonlight Graham

Whenever I'm stopped by fans on the street, they always ask me one question: Who is the DMBL version of Moonlight Graham, the player who appeared in just one MLB game, but was made famous by the movie Field of Dreams?

Well, the long-awaited answer is here!

The DMBL's version of Moonlight Graham is Jose Castillo -- the only player I could find who played in a DMBL game, but didn't have an official at-bat. Castillo's entire DMBL career consists of one game with the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2006. That year, the second baseman was signed May 31 as a free agent, and would remain on the team for almost a month (he'd be released on June 25, making way for Zack Greinke). During his 26 days in the show, Castillo would appear in just one game, and get only one plate appearance. And guess what? Castillo delivered with a sac fly, driving in a run! He was never seen in the DMBL again; the 31-year-old infielder is currently playing for Veracruz in the Mexican League.


But he's not the only player who had a brief DMBL career.
  
Two players had just one official at-bat: Peter Bergeron and Manny Lee. Bergeron played in one game for the Kentucky Hillbillies in 2001, and in his only plate appearance, he singled and then scored. He thus retired with a 1.000 batting average. Lee's single appearance came in 1993 with the Columbia Crusaders, going 0-for-1 in his only at-bat.

The following players had 10 at-bats or less in the entirety of their DMBL careers:

Jermaine Allensworth played in just 3 games, all in 1998 with the Phoenix Dragons. He got five at-bats and went 0-for-5, including a strikeout.

Alfredo Amezaga is unusual in that he played two DMBL seasons -- and has just two at-bats. He appeared in four DMBL games, one in 2008 and three in 2009, all with Sardine City. He had one at-bat in 2008 and another in 2009, and didn't get a hit either time, although in '09 he did reach via walk and scored. The 34-year-old utilityman won't be back in the DMBL any time soon; he hasn't been eligible in three years, and spent all of this season in Triple-A.

Bruce Aven appeared in three games, all with Phoenix in 2000, and got 10 at-bats. He had just one hit -- but it was a home run. He also had two walks.

Rafael Bournigal played in nine DMBL games, all in 1997 for the Jerusalem Rabbis, mostly as a defensive replacement. He did come up four times and had two hits.

Wes Chamberlain played for the Scranton Sparrows in 1992. Games played data isn't available, but we do know he had just 5 at-bats, going 1 for 5.

Jerald Clark played for the Austin Outlaws in 1994; again, we don't know how many games he played in, but he had only 3 at-bats. He didn't get a hit, but he did have a walk.

He had a 20-year career in MLB, but Brian Downing played just two games in the DMBL, both with the Columbia Crusaders in 1993. He went 2-for-8 at the plate (both hits were doubles), with one RBI.

Chris Duffy had five games with Las Vegas in '07, going 2-for-5 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI.

Dan Gladden went 1-for-5 (with an RBI) in his only DMBL season -- 1994 with the Charleston Chiefs. Games played data not available.

Rene Gonzales played in one DMBL game, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout as a member of the '93 Arkansas Golden Falcons.

A member of the 1994 Sacramento Seahawks, David Hulse went 0-for-3 (with a walk) in his only DMBL action. Games played data isn't available.

Matt LaPorta has played in just 10 games despite playing for two teams. LaPorta had four games with Carolina in 2011, and then six with Vancouver that same year. Between the two teams he went 2-for-9 with two walks and a run. LaPorta is eligible for 2012, but no one signed him; he won't be eligible next year.

Mitch Maier played in one game with the Philadelphia Endzone Animals in 2010. He went 1-for-3, and the one was a double. He's still in the bigs, but he wasn't eligible this year and won't be next year.

Catcher Eric "No Relation" Munson went 2-for-6 in his only DMBL action, including a home run. He played in seven games with the Vancouver Iron Fist in 2004.

Laynce Nix played in two games with the Vancouver Iron Fist in 2005. He went 0-for-2. There's no danger in adding to his career total -- he wasn't eligible last year and won't be next year, either. Coincidentally, his brother, Jayson Nix, just missed the cutoff -- he had 12 at-bats, getting a hit, but also 5 Ks, in 2010. He played in three games with Hillsborough and four with Philadelphia.

Charlie O'Brien played in 3 games with Vancouver in 1998 and went 2-for-7 with a double and a walk.

Mark Parent was one of the best hitters in DMBL history... if you don't require a minimum number of at-bats. Parent, playing for the 1996 Toledo Mutthens, went 4-for-5 with a double and two home runs, giving him a career .800 batting average (and 2.200 slugging average), for a 3.000 OPS.

Long-heralded prospect Felix Pie finally got his big break for the Iron Fist in 2010. He played in 12 games, mostly as a defensive replacement or pinch runner; at the plate, he got 9 at-bats and had one hit, plus two walks. Pie is still just 27, but hasn't appeared in the bigs this year.

So Taguchi got into 6 games with the Phoenix Dragons in 2006; he went 3-for-10 with a home run.

Willie Wilson played in just two games in his DMBL career, both with the Cheyenne Warhawks in 1993. The 36-year-old outfielder went 3-for-8 with 4 RBIs.

Another small sample size superstar, Daryle Ward got into 10 games with the Las Vegas Rat Pack in 2005. In 10 at-bats, Ward went 4-for-10 with a triple and a home run, plus a walk, giving him a career line of .400/.455/.900.

Honorable mention: Kirk Gibson didn't make it to the DMBL until he was a 36-year-old designated hitter and a shadow of his former self. He had just 11 at-bats, all in 1994 with the Charleston Chiefs, picking up two hits.