Mike Stanley #20

A Tribute to Mike Stanley By Linda Ciminelli


First off, I'd like to tell you that I am a season ticket holder at Yankee Stadium and a huge Yankee fan. When I was asked to write about Mike Stanley, my favorite player by Gary, I couldn't say no. I'd really like everyone to know what kind of person he is as a player and a human being. I have been a fan of Mike's for what seems to be forever. To me, Mike seems to be one of the most under-rated players in baseball today. His achievments far outweigh the lack of recognition he gets. He is a quiet leader and Ithink he likes it that way. Here in NY, Mike was a fan favorite, a media favorite and a team leader. A true professional in every sense of the word. I've neverread or heard anything adverse about him. Nothing bad from from him or abouthim, not from anyone. He takes time for the fans giving autographs when ever he can, even takes the time to wave to a fan who just wants to say hello. But when Mike steps onto the field to play always expect him to give his all. 110% and no less. Mike's career accomplishments have been nothing short of terrific. Asfar back as college, he tried to make a statement. At the University of Florida where Mike went to school he was selected All-SEC catcher in 1982 and 1984. He also was selected for the All-Academicteam in 1983. He played both baseball and football for his school and excelledin both sports.In 1985's free agent draft, Mike was selected in the 16th round by Texas. After stop offs in Salem, Burlington and Tulsa, Mike finally got his chance and was called up to play for the Texas Rangers on June 26th, 1986. Just one day after his 23rd birthday. He got his first major league hit in his first game. Mike played for Texas from 1986 to1991. While with Texas, he got his first 2 grand slams (1987) and was credited for catching Nolan Ryan's 7th and final no-hitter vs. Toronto on May 1, 1991. Mike was granted free agency in December of 1991 and was picked up by the NY Yankees in January of '92. Mike's years with the Yankees were memorable for Mike as well as his fans. He was with the Yankees from '92 thru the 1995 season when he finally gotto make a playoff appearance. Unfortunatly, the Yankees never made it to the World Series. In the time Mike was with the Yankees, he picked up 6 more grand slams. One in 1992, 3 in '93 and 2 more '95. In 1993, Mike was considered a back-up catcher to Matt Nokes, but by May, Mike got the starting job after hitting .400 with 3 HR's and 10 RBI in just 13 games. 1994 was a good year for Mike also. Batting .305 for the season and getting his first career multi-home run game. Mike had 129 hits, 70 runs, 17 2Band 26 HR's in his 423 AB's. In 1995, Mike was selected for the first time to the All-Star team. The first Yankee catcher to be selected since Thurman Munson in 1977. On August 10, 1995, Mike has his best career game. He had 3 home runs including a grand slam and had 7 rbi in the game. Mike was the first Yankee player to hit 3 homers in a game since Reggie Jackson did it in the 1977 World Series. As a freeagent at the end of the 1995 season, Mike was not resigned by the Yankees and never even got a phone call to explain why he hadn't been resigned after the4 great seasons he had given them. In December of 1995, Mike was signed by the Boston Red Sox. The 1996 season was rough for Mike. He missed the last 19 games of the season with a herniated disc in his lower neck. Dispite this injury, Mike added some highlights to his career. He hit his 100th career home run and set career highs for runs (73) and walks (69). He had 24 home runs this season and with21 of them coming as a catcher, Mike set a new record with most HR's bya Red Sox catcher since Gedman in 1984. In 1997, Mike again played for the Red Sox until he was traded back tothe Yankees on August 13th. Unfortunatly, Mike found himself sitting on thebench more than he played. I found out only recently that the only reason Mike was brought back to NY was to stop Baltimore from aquiring him off waivers. Mike did finally get to play in a playoff game in 1997. He went 3 for 4 with2 singles, a double, a run scored and an RBI. Unfortunatly, it was the last game of the series. Joe Torre for some reason or another prefered to play Cecil Fielder who batted .125 in the Yankee/Cleveland series. Mike in my opinion was not the player who should have been sitting. Mike was again snubbed by the Yankees and not offered a contract forthe 1998 season. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in the off season. Mike had a tough time adjusting to life as a Toronto Blue Jay. He found his batting average slipping and most of his 22 home runs came with no men on base. He collected only 47 RBI in his 341 AB's. He also had his longest career hitting slump going 0 for 29. Studying tapes and watching video's helped slightly. He changed his batting stance a little but still kept slumping. As hard as it was for him to adjust to his new team (the Jays), Mike always wished he would have done better during his time in Toronto. Since his return to the Boston Red Sox on July 30, 1998, Mike has improved considerably. Talking hitting with his friend Mo Vaughn has made a huge impact on Mike's season. Back with the Red Sox, Mike is now batting .306 with 30 H, 15 R, 22 RBI and 5 HR in just 98 AB's. His home run total of 27 is a career high. From what I have read and heard from interviews he has given, he feels like he never left Boston and is extremly happy with his return. Mike's career has not been injury free. In 1987, Mike missed most of Sepetmber with Chicken Pox and Pneumonia. He's had shoulder surgery. He has found himself on the DL with hamstring pulls and a strained knee. Has suffered concussions while catching, had a sore thumb and as I said before, a herniated disc in his lower neck which prevents him from catching on a full time basis. As for Mike's family, he married Erin in 1988. He met Erin in college. Mike's family lives in Florida and they have 3 children, Ryan, Tanner and Jenna. After years of cards, notes and birthday wishes, I finally got to meet Mike. On May 23, 1997, I got to meet him at Yankee Stadium before a Yankee/Red Sox game. After quite a long conversation a couple of hugs, an autographed ball for my son and an autographed news paper clipping for me, we said our good-byes. When word came through that the Yankees were thinking about reaquiring Mike in 1997, our family's "Bring Mike Back Home!" campagin began. We made signs to hold up at the Yankee games. We appeared on MSG once during a game and even found a picture of ourselves in the NY Post. We made phone calls to a local radio station and even spoke to Bob Watson twice!! We wrote letters that appeared in Die-Hard Magazine (a Red Sox publication) and Baseball Digest. We even wrote to George Steinbrenner. I don't know if anything we said or did made a difference but on August 13th Mike did become a Yankee again. I really felt bad for Mike because of all the time he spent on the bench. If anything, the best thing that happened because of Mike's return to the Yankees is the friendship that we share. A Christmas card that Mike sent my family, a Communion card sent to my son and notes I have recieved from Mike andhis wife are my prized possessions. It's been great. Mike now knows where my seats are at Yankee Stadium and always waves or stops by to talk and sign autographs. He is one terrific person. You know, Mike might not be the biggest, strongest or the best player in the league but to me he is the most loyal, the friendliest and the most dedicated player in the game today. He will always have my support no matter where he plays. And I will never stop hoping that some day he will finally get his chance to wear that World Series ring he so richly deserves.