When Mike Guilfoyle was drafted as a flame throwing left-handed pitcher by the Detroit Tigers out of St. Peter’s College in 1990, he could have never dreamed where his life in professional baseball would take him.
Back then, Guilfoyle probably thought he was on the fast track to the major leagues, that before long, he would be pitching in the big leagues with the Tigers.
But after seven years in the Tigers’ organization, making it all the way to Class AAA Toledo, Guilfoyle was unceremoniously released by the Tigers.
From that point, Guilfoyle’s baseball life has taken him to Korean, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and practically every single state in the union. To call Guilfoyle’s life a journey would be a gross understatement. Bags packed, a plane to catch, a bus to flag down – Guilfoyle was there.
"I’ve got a lot of good stories to tell," Guilfoyle said with a laugh.
Six years ago, Guilfoyle’s professional life took him to Bridgeport, Conn., where he signed with the independent Atlantic League Bridgeport Bluefish, where he has incredibly remained since.
At the age of 35, Mike Guilfoyle is still in the minor leagues, still serving as the closer for the Bluefish, playing on a team filled basically with younger guys still holding on to a dream and older former major leaguers still trying to recapture something from their youth.
Why would Guilfoyle want to continue to play baseball for a measly $3,000 per month?
"Because baseball is in me," Guilfoyle said last Sunday, after recording his first save of the 2003 season against the Newark Bears in Newark. "I’m never going to get rid of that feeling. My coach when I pitched for the Lakeland Tigers, John Lippon, once told me that the best thing about baseball is that they should have to tear the uniform off you when you’re done. Well, it’s going to take someone to tear it off me. I’m not ready to quit yet. I still feel I have something to offer. Baseball is still a lot of fun."
Guilfoyle said that he always enjoys returning home to his roots. He grew up in Bayonne and went to Marist High School. His family is still in Bayonne and his younger brother, Jeff, is a Jersey City police officer.
"It’s always fun to come back here," said Guilfoyle, who now resides full-time in Bridgeport. "My brother came the other night and brought a bunch of Jersey City cops with him to the game. Since I joined the Bluefish, I’ve loved to come here [to Newark] because I have had some success here."
While the Bluefish struggled in Newark, losing their first three games of the season, Guilfoyle managed to salvage the final game of the weekend series with two shutout innings.
"It’s been tough for us," Guilfoyle said. "We have a young team. We just need to get our feet wet. The hard part is that you don’t have time to do it when the season starts. It’s not going to be easy to do."
Guilfoyle has fully recovered from the reconstructive shoulder surgery he endured two years ago. He is the all-time leader in saves in the Atlantic League with 83 and is a two-time Atlantic League All-Star.
But he knows that no major league team is going to call him.
"No organization will ever take a chance on me at this point," Guilfoyle said. "I know that. But I love doing what I’m doing. How many 35-year-old guys can say that? I’ve been playing baseball my whole life and I’m not ready to give it up yet."
To supplement his income, Guilfoyle works as a substitute teacher, a bartender, and a basketball referee during the off-season. He has chosen to live full-time in Bridgeport because he is on the list to possibly become a police officer in Fairfield County.
"I’ve settled up there, but I’ll always be a Hudson County kid," Guilfoyle said. "I get home as much as I can. They can’t take that away from you."
Guilfoyle said that he enjoyed facing future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson during the weekend series, although Henderson took Guilfoyle deep for a triple last Friday night. Henderson, the all-time major league leader in stolen bases and runs scored, is playing for the Newark Bears.
"I’ve really enjoyed watching him play over the last four days," Guilfoyle said. "He got better each at-bat. Here’s another example of why I keep playing. He’s 44 years old and yet he’s still out there, busting his butt, because he loves the game and wants another chance. It’s impressive to see him making the most of this chance."
If a guy like Henderson, who made millions playing in the big leagues, can play for the $3,000 a month, then perhaps so can Guilfoyle. So much for trying to get a "real" job. The one Mike Guilfoyle has right now will suit just fine. – Jim Hague