Walk this way, that way and every which way

Left-hander Steve Adkins seemingly has an easy time zipping through the New York Yankees’ minor league system in the late 1980s.

On four levels in the minors over four-plus seasons from 1986-90, Adkins – whose best pitch is a knucklecurve – compiles an outstanding record of 54-26 between 88 starts and 37 relief appearances.

Nice numbers, but those are the ones on top.

Beneath, though, are the sloppy numbers that represent Adkins’ lack of control as he walks 324 batters in 652 innings over those four-plus seasons for an average of 4.5 walks per nine innings.

Not good.

Obviously, more knuckle, less curve.

Nonetheless, the real Yankees – the ones who play in the Bronx – see enough of the 25-year-old Adkins in the minors to promote him for his major league debut 34 years ago today.

The good news is that Adkins does not allow a hit against the Texas Rangers in a Wednesday night game at Yankee Stadium.

The bad news is Adkins has trouble throwing strikes.

Lots of trouble, really.

Adkins starts the game by walking three of the first four batters he faces, but somehow wriggles out of the mess without allowing a run, much to the delight of the Yankee Stadium crowd of 18,624.

He is not so fortunate in the second inning, much to the angst of those same 18,624 fans.

After retiring Pete Incaviglia on a flyout to Roberto Kelly in deep center field to start the inning, the 6-foot-6, 210-pound Adkins loads the bases – and then some – as he walks Mike Stanley, Steve Buechele, Scott Coolbaugh, Jeff Kunkle and John Russell.

In a row.

Just two shy of the major league record of seven straight walks set in 1909 by Washington Senators rookie left-hander Dolly Gray in the second inning of his late August start against the White Sox in Chicago.

Back then, though, Gray manages to pitch the entire game for the Senators and ends up walking 11 in a 6-4 loss at Comiskey Park.

Adkins does not come close to getting that opportunity as Yankees manager Stump Merrill – to everyone’s relief on this day in 1990 – pulls the onetime University of Pennsylvania pitcher from the game after his walk to Russell.

The walk to Russell, Adkins’ fifth straight in the second inning, gives the Rangers a 2-1 lead in a game they eventually win 5-4.

Adkins’ final line: 11 batters faced, 50 pitches – of which only 17 are strikes – eight walks and four outs recorded on a double play grounder by Russell, a strikeout (we see you there, Juan Gonzalez) and Incaviglia’s flyout.

Well, at least Adkins does not allow a hit, right?

The Yankees give Adkins four more starts to finish the 1990 season.

The results are not much better as Adkins goes 1-1 in those starts, but allows 13 more runs in 22 2/3 innings on 19 hits, including four home runs, and 21 walks.

The Yankees send him back to Class AAA in 1991, beginning a four-year stretch of frequently changing mailing addresses as Adkins repeatedly switches organizations – going from the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs and then on to the White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays before, finally, landing with the Baltimore Orioles.

Adkins, though, never again pitches higher than Class AAA, retiring after the 1994 season ends with an 0-3 record and 4.34 ERA in 47 appearances split between the Orioles’ Class AA and AAA teams.

Still, Adkins has those 21 days in the major leagues, and those are 21 days more than most of the folks who ever toil in the minors.

“I didn’t think I was nervous,” Adkins later tells The Daily Pennsylvanian, his college newspaper, of his major league debut from 34 years ago today, “but as I look back at it, I was probably terrified to be out there.”