Gene Michael facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gene Michael |
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Michael in 2014
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| Shortstop / Manager | |||
| Born: June 2, 1938 Kent, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died: September 7, 2017 (aged 79) Oldsmar, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 15, 1966, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 9, 1975, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .229 | ||
| Home runs | 15 | ||
| Runs batted in | 226 | ||
| Managerial record | 206–200 | ||
| Winning % | .507 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
As general manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Eugene Richard Michael (June 2, 1938 – September 7, 2017), known as Stick, was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout, manager, and team executive. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop from 1966 to 1975. He was best known for his time with the New York Yankees. He played for them for seven seasons in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers.
Gene Michael was not a powerful hitter. However, he was a very quick and smooth defensive player. After his playing days, Michael managed the Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. He also served as the Yankees' general manager. Many people credit Michael with building the Yankees team that became a baseball powerhouse in the late 1990s.
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Early Life and Education
Gene Michael was born on June 2, 1938, in Kent, Ohio. He went to Akron East High School in Akron, Ohio. After high school, he attended Kent State University. There, he played both college baseball and college basketball for the Kent State Golden Flashes teams.
He even played professional basketball for one season. This was in 1966-67 for the Columbus Comets. They were part of the North American Basketball League.
Playing Career Highlights
Gene Michael started his professional baseball journey when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him in 1959. He made his big league debut with the Pirates in 1966. During his time as a player, he earned the nickname "Stick." This was because of his slender build.
The next year, the Pirates traded Michael to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played one season in Los Angeles. Then, the New York Yankees bought his contract. He played for the Yankees from 1968 to 1974.
The Yankees released him before the 1975 season. He then signed with the Detroit Tigers. Michael retired with a .229 batting average. He hit 15 home runs and had 226 runs batted in in 973 games. Michael was also famous for the "hidden ball trick." He successfully pulled it off five times in his career!
After Playing: Coaching and Management
Weeks after leaving the Boston Red Sox in 1976, Michael became a coach for the Yankees. Reggie Jackson, a famous Yankees player, said Michael's scouting reports helped him hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.
In 1979, Michael managed the Yankees' Triple-A team. He then became the Yankees' general manager in 1980. In 1981, Michael became the Yankees' manager. He had managed well in the minor leagues. However, he faced challenges with the team's owner, George Steinbrenner. Michael was fired in September 1981. He was hired again in 1982 but was fired that August.
As a manager, Michael and his coaches kept detailed notes. They used these notes to help them make game decisions. Michael's total record as Yankees manager was 92 wins and 76 losses. He returned to the Yankees front office in 1983 and coached again starting in 1984. He later managed the Chicago Cubs in 1986 and 1987. His record with the Cubs was 114 wins and 124 losses.
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In 1990, Michael was hired again as the Yankees' general manager. At this time, the Yankees' owner, George Steinbrenner, was suspended from baseball operations. Michael used this chance to rebuild the Yankees' farm system. He focused on developing young talent instead of trading it away. This was a big change from the 1980s.
During Michael's time as general manager, the Yankees drafted or signed many future stars. These included Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada. These players later became known as the "Core Four." He also traded for Paul O'Neill. Michael also showed patience with Bernie Williams. The owner had wanted to trade Williams when he struggled early in his career.
This strong foundation led to Yankees championships in 1996, and from 1998 to 2000. However, Michael was fired in 1995. This happened before the Yankees began winning their World Series titles. His firing was partly due to issues from the 1994 strike.
From 1996 to 2002, Michael worked as the Yankees' vice-president of major league scouting. In 2003, he was promoted to vice-president and senior advisor. He held this important position until he passed away.
During his time as Vice President, Michael often attended the annual Old Timers Day events. He would manage one of the teams in the exhibition game.
Personal Life
During his time with the Yankees, Gene Michael lived in Norwood, New Jersey. He had four children.
Gene Michael passed away from a heart attack on September 7, 2017. He was 79 years old. He died in Oldsmar, Florida. To honor Michael, the Yankees wore black armbands on their uniforms for the rest of the 2017 season.
