Help ID'ing Player Info

[Dan G]

I'm uploading all of my autographs to my site (37 left as of this post) and I came across a card that I really don't remember much about.

The player is Jeff Berman, but I don't know the team uniform he's wearing. The card is slightly smaller than an average baseball card. The back just has his name, Position (2B), DOB (5/31/75), Hometown (Hunt Valley, MD), Bats and Throws (right). No date listed anywhere, just a photograph credit by Larry Kave and a sponsor (Nelson's Prescription Drug Stores).

I also don't remember how I obtained this autograph. I got it at the end of 2000 or early 2001. I may have received it TTM. I have had baseball players e-mail me because they saw my site but didn't see their names listed and offered to help, but it doesn't appear that this guy played for any Minor League teams that I ever watched.

[anjo25]

Here's a boxscore, he pitched in relief for Cal Lutheran, maybe it isnt the Jeff Berman youre looking for:
http://www.odaconline.com/div3base/1992/boxscores/92box04.htm

[anjo25]

Heres another link, theres more info in this one:
http://www.umbcretrievers.com/info/hall/bios/#berman

[Dan G]

Heres another link, theres more info in this one:
http://www.umbcretrievers.com/info/hall/bios/#berman

I've seen that link and that is most likely him since that school is in MD, but the school uniform doesn't match the one he's wearing in my card.
I'm trying to figure out where he played professionally.

[anjo25]

Apparently, he didnt play professionally-other wise he'd be on www.thebaseballcube.com -they have every professional player, especially from the last few years, and he's not on there...
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/search.asp

[The Prowling Cat]

Could the uniform be a city league baseball? The card could even be one of those you purchase when they do the team and individual photo's. That would explain why no one recognizes the uniform....

[Dan G]

Apparently, he didnt play professionally-other wise he'd be on www.thebaseballcube.com -they have every professional player, especially from the last few years, and he's not on there...
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/search.asp

According to his college's web site, he and 16 others have gone to play professionally. He played in an Independent league, but I can't find which league or team he was with.

[Dan G]

I think I'm getting closer. I just Googled the Easton phone number on the sign in the background of that card. It's a West Virginia number. A team called the Huntington Rail Kings played in WV in the Heartland League.

[jakre]

Could be from one of those wood bat summer college leagues.

[Dan G]

Could be from one of those wood bat summer college leagues.

Are those considered professional?

The Huntington Rail Kings played 1 season in 1998. I found their roster, but unfortunately Jeff's name was not listed.

[Dan G]

OK, I found this on an Ohio Valley Red Coats site of the Frontier League.

Jeff Berman: (.283, 3 HR, 14 RBI) INJURED. 1997 Redcoat(.248, 1HR, 20 RBI) Graduate of Maryland Eastern University hit .377 in 1997. Lead conference in hitting his junior year.

The team folded in 1998. Their games were played in Parkersburg, WV.

[Dan G]

I think I finally solved it.

Jeff Berman played for the Ohio Valley Redcoats of the Frontier League in 1997 and 1998.
Larry Kave was the official team photographer.
There's a radio station sign in the background of the card, but the only call letters shown are WL. Upon further research, WLTP-AM handled all of the broadcasts of the Redcoats games.

Now if I could only remember how Jeff got in touch with me.