Nick Esasky

I recently started a 1990 National League replay using the Windows game, and following a game involving the Braves and the Astros, I got to wonder about Nick Esasky (Braves), who had limited playing time and a very miserable season that year. Anyway, I researched online and found this article that Esasky had apparently developed vertigo from an ear infection which greatly diminished his athletic capabilities, and which led to a premature retirement from the game. Apparently it look a LONG time for it to be diagnosed.

http://people.com/archive/his-career-th ... -35-no-11/

Admittedly I don't follow baseball to the same degree that I used to back in the 60s and 70s, but I had not heard anything about this until I read the article, which I found quite fascinating. The article states that "vertigo, (is) a disorder that afflicts one in 10 Americans at some time in their lives."

Sounds like his story could have the makings of a movie or documentary.

I live in Boston and Nick had just had his best year for the Sox hitting 30+ HR's with 100 RBI. I forget how he ended up in Atlanta, must have been a FA. Anyway, in looking at the stats it looks like he never really played again. I think Nick's a little low on the totem pole for a movie concerning his plight.

I do remember this, and went ahead and looked up some info to refresh my memory.

Esasky played for the Red Sox in 1989 after being traded there from the Reds. 1989 was his only season in Boston, and was by far his best season (30 HRs, 108 RBI). He signed a free agent contract with the Braves for a huge raise: after making $570 K with the Red Sox, he inked a 3 year, $5.6 million contract with Atlanta (in today's economy he would have been a $10 million/year player for sure). He would only ever play in 9 games for the Braves, early in 1990. He missed most of 1990, all of 1991, then tried to make a comeback with the Braves AAA team in 1992 before finally being released. His contract was apparently paid for by insurance. The vertigo developed from an ear infection.