Gene Michael

Eugene Richard Michael
(Stick)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 183 lb.
• School Kent State University
• High School Akron East High School
• Debut July 15, 1966
• Final Game September 9, 1975
• Born June 2, 1938 in Kent, OH USA
• Died September 7, 2017 in Oldsmar, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Gene Michael was a light-hitting shortstop in the 1960s and 1970s. He was most famous for being an expert at pulling the hidden ball trick on unsuspecting opponents. He later was a manager and General Manager of the New York Yankees from 1980 to 1981 and again from 1990 to 1995. He passed away from a heart attack in September 2017. The Yankees wore black armbands for the remainder of the season to honor him.

Preceded by Cedric Tallis

New York Yankees General Manager 1980-1981

Succeeded by Bill Bergesch

Preceded by Dick Howser

New York Yankees Manager 1981

Succeeded by Bob Lemon

Preceded by Bob Lemon

New York Yankees Manager 1982

Succeeded by Clyde King

Preceded by Jim Frey

Chicago Cubs Manager 1986-1987

Succeeded by Frank Lucchesi

Preceded by Harding Peterson

New York Yankees General Manager 1991-1995

Succeeded by Bob Watson

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1979	Columbus Clippers	International League	85-54	1st	New York Yankees	League Champs
1981	New York Yankees	American League	48-34	--	New York Yankees		replaced by Bob Lemon on September 6
1982	New York Yankees	American League	44-42	--	New York Yankees		replaced Bob Lemon (6-8) on April 27/ replaced by Clyde King on August 4
1986	Chicago Cubs	National League	46-55	5th	Chicago Cubs		replaced Jim Frey (23-34) and John Vukovich (1-1) on June 14
1987	Chicago Cubs	National League	68-68	--	Chicago Cubs		replaced by Frank Lucchesi on September 8

Record as a General Manager

Draft Picks

First Round

• 1980 - No pick (lost for signing Rudy May)
• 1981 - No pick (lost for signing Dave Winfield)
• 1991 - 1st overall P Brien Taylor
• 1992 - 6th overall SS Derek Jeter
• 1993 - 13th overall P Matt Drews
• 1994 - 24th overall OF Brian Buchanan
• 1995 - 27th overall OF Shea Morenz

Other Notable Selections

• 1980 - 6th round 151 overall OF Glenn Braggs - San Bernardino High School Did Not Sign
• 1980 - 32nd round 755 overall P Pat Clements - Pleasant Valley High School (Chico, CA) Did Not Sign
• 1981 - 3rd round 64 overall C Scott Bradley - University of North Carolina
• 1981 - 6th round 155 overall 3B Mike Pagliarulo - University of Miami
• 1981 - 9th round 233 overall 1B Fred McGriff - Jefferson High School (Tampa, FL)
• 1981 - 19th round 493 overall P Bob Tewksbury - Saint Leo University
• 1993 - 25th round 701 overall C Chad Moeller - Upland High School Did Not Sign
• 1995 - 20th round 562 overall 3B Mike Lowell - Florida International University

Significant Trades

• November 1, 1979 traded Jim Beattie, Jerry Narron, Juan Beniquez and Rick Anderson to the Seattle Mariners for Ruppert Jones and Jim Lewis
• November 1, 1979 traded Chris Chambliss, Damaso Garcia and Paul Mirabella to the Toronto Blue Jays for Tom Underwood, Rick Cerone and Ted Wilborn
• August 14, 1980 traded Ken Clay and Marvin Thompson to the Texas Rangers for Gaylord Perry
• March 31, 1981 traded Ruppert Jones, Jim Lefebvre, Chris Welsh and Tim Lollar to the San Diego Padres for Jerry Mumphrey and John Pacella
• June 12, 1981 traded Mike Griffin and Doug Bird to the Chicago Cubs for Rick Reuschel
• August 19, 1981 traded Pat Tabler to the Chicago Cubs for Jay Howell and Bill Caudill
• October 12, 1981 traded Willie McGee to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Sykes
• January 8, 1992 taded Darrin Chapin to the Philadelphia Phillies for Charlie Hayes
• January 10, 1992 traded Steve Sax to the Chicago White Sox for Melido Perez, Bob Wickman and Domingo Jean
• November 3, 1992 traded Roberto Kelly to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul O'Neill and Joe DeBerry
• December 6, 1992 traded J.T. Snow, Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen to the California Angels for Jim Abbott
• August 31, 1993 traded Rich Batchelor to the St. Louis Cardinals for Lee Smith
• September 17, 1993 traded Kenny Greer to the New York Mets for Frank Tanana
• February 9, 1994 traded Kevin Jordan, Ryan Karp and Bobby Munoz to the Philadelphia Phillies for Terry Mulholland and Jeff Patterson
• December 14, 1994 traded Keith Heberling and Lyle Mouton to the Chicago White Sox for Jack McDowell
• April 5, 1995 traded Fernando Seguignol to the Montreal Expos for John Wetteland
• July 28, 1995 traded Marty Janzen, Jason Jarvis and Mike Gordon to the Toronto Blue Jays for David Cone
• July 28, 1995 traded Danny Tartabull to the Oakland A's for Ruben Sierra and Jason Beverlin

Significant Signings

• November 8, 1979 signed Bob Watson as a free agent from Boston Red Sox
• November 8, 1979 signed Rudy May as a free agent from Montreal Expos
• December 15, 1980 signed Dave Winfield as a free agent from San Diego Padres
• November 20, 1990 signed Ruben Rivera as amateur free agent
• November 26, 1990 signed Steve Farr as a Free Agent from Kansas City Royals
• May 25, 1991 signed Andy Pettitte as a amateur free agent
• November 13, 1991 signed Ramiro Mendoza as a amateur free agent
• January 6, 1992 signed Danny Tartabull as a free agent from Kansas City Royals
• January 9, 1992 signed Mike Gallego as a free agent from Oakland A's
• January 21, 1992 signed Mike Stanley as a free agent from Texas Rangers
• April 3, 1992 signed Dion James as a free agent from Cleveland Indians
• September 6, 1992 signed Rafael Medina as a amateur free agent
• December 4, 1992 signed Spike Owen as a free agent from Montreal Expos
• December 10, 1992 signed Jimmy Key as a free agent from Toronto Blue Jays
• December 15, 1992 signed Wade Boggs as a free agent from Boston Red Sox
• August 16, 1994 signed Tony Armas, Jr as amateur free agent
• August 24, 1994 signed Cristian Guzman as amateur free agent

Further Reading

• Mark Feinsand: "Gene 'Stick' Michael dies at age 79: Former player, longtime exec instrumental in building Yankees dynasty", mlb.com, September 7, 2017. [1]
• Mike Mazzeo and Bill Madden: "Gene ‘Stick’ Michael, Yankees exec who helped build ‘90s dynasty, dead at 79", New York Daily News, Septemebr 7, 2017. [2]

Related Sites

• Gene Michael at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• Obituary from USA Today