Joe Mikulik
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Mikulik, born October 30, 1963 in Weimar, Texas
, is a former minor league baseball
player and the current manager
of the Asheville Tourists
class A minor league baseball
team. The 5' 11" right-handed outfielder never rose above AAA baseball, but was a key player in the Tucson Toros
' first Pacific Coast League
championship in 1991. During 2007, his eighth season with the Tourists, Mikulik, who already held the team record for most games managed, became the team's all-time leader in managerial wins.
On September 13, 1991, the recently-promoted Mikulik, wearing wristbands emblazoned with the words "NEVER SURRENDER", drove in the winning run by Trenidad Hubbard
during the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of the league championship series between Tucson and the Calgary Cannons
. "It was a great thrill," he told a reporter ten years later. "I was in the right place at the right time." Team General Manager Mike Feder later remembered the game as "one of the best moments in Tucson baseball history."
He was again with the Toros when they won their second and final championship under that name in 1993. He finished his career as a player in Tucson in 1994, aside from one more stint in the Mexican League.
On September 13, 1991, the recently-promoted Mikulik, wearing wristbands emblazoned with the words "NEVER SURRENDER", drove in the winning run, during the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of the league championship series between Tucson and the Calgary Cannons. "It was a great thrill," he told a reporter ten years later. "I was in the right place at the right time." Team General Manager Mike Feder later remembered the game as "one of the best moments in Tucson baseball history."
He was again with the Toros when they won their second and final championship under that name in 1993. He finished his career as a player in Tucson in 1994, aside from one more stint in the Mexican League, where the new environment made him a stronger man. Mikulik came very close to joining the big leagues during his 11 year tenure in the minor leagues. Mikulik finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .279, 1265 career hits, 109 career home runs, 670 career RBIs, 161 stolen bases, and 742 runs. Played on 3 championship teams, 1986 AA Southern League Champion Columbus Astros, 1991 & 93 AAA Pacific Coast League Champion Tucson Toros.
Mikulik has described his coaching experience as, “Lots of trial and error, just like life”. His career record stands at 868-838, a winning percentage of .509.
When asked about his former coach, major leaguer Chris Iannetta described him as someone who “treated and handled players well and motivated through his positive energy all year.” Iannetta believes his strongest qualities as a manager are his “energy, passion, and care for players”.
Simon Ferrer—Minor League Pitcher for the Modesto Nuts
Ferrer describes Mikulik as the best manager he has ever had and was fun and enjoyable to be around. “Playing with [Mikulik] is a blessing, [he] showed me a different way to look at baseball and how you can attribute it to everyday life. He loves teaching and spending times with others and brings out the best in his players. He motivates as well as knowing the game”.
Ian Stewart—MLB Infielder for the Colorado Rockies
Ryan Spilborghs –MLB Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook—MLB Pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
Weimar, Texas
Weimar is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,981 at the 2000 census.In 1873 the town was founded as Jackson, but subsequently called Weimar in tribute to the German city of Weimar....
, is a former minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
player and the current manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
class A minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team. The 5' 11" right-handed outfielder never rose above AAA baseball, but was a key player in the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
' first Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
championship in 1991. During 2007, his eighth season with the Tourists, Mikulik, who already held the team record for most games managed, became the team's all-time leader in managerial wins.
Early life
Mikulik attended Bishop Forest High School in Schulenburg, Texas. He did not have many options other than to play sports and lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track and field.On September 13, 1991, the recently-promoted Mikulik, wearing wristbands emblazoned with the words "NEVER SURRENDER", drove in the winning run by Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Hubbard
Trenidad Aviel Hubbard is a former Major League Baseball journeyman outfielder. He is an alumnus of Southern University and A&M College....
during the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of the league championship series between Tucson and the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
. "It was a great thrill," he told a reporter ten years later. "I was in the right place at the right time." Team General Manager Mike Feder later remembered the game as "one of the best moments in Tucson baseball history."
He was again with the Toros when they won their second and final championship under that name in 1993. He finished his career as a player in Tucson in 1994, aside from one more stint in the Mexican League.
Playing History
Mikulik attended San Jacinto Junior College where he was a walk-on and received a full scholarship. After an All-American sophmore season, Texas A&M offered him a 2 year scholarship but he signed with the Houston Astros after being drafted in the ninth round of the 1984 amateur draft. Mikulik’s biggest challenge came in his first year in the minors playing for Auburn Astros, Mikulik had a batting average of .200 and almost decided to quit the sport of baseball. It was Mikuluk’s friend and teammate, a center fielder of the Astros, who convinced Mikulik to stick with baseball. Mikulik’s batting average saw a sudden rise to .247. Over the next ten years he played for the Auburn Astros, the Asheville Tourists, the Columbus Astros and the Jackson Generals, all in the Astros' minor league system, supplemented with a stint in the Mexican League. From 1988 to 1992 he spent parts of each season with the AAA Tucson Toros, finally spending the entire season there in 1993.On September 13, 1991, the recently-promoted Mikulik, wearing wristbands emblazoned with the words "NEVER SURRENDER", drove in the winning run, during the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of the league championship series between Tucson and the Calgary Cannons. "It was a great thrill," he told a reporter ten years later. "I was in the right place at the right time." Team General Manager Mike Feder later remembered the game as "one of the best moments in Tucson baseball history."
He was again with the Toros when they won their second and final championship under that name in 1993. He finished his career as a player in Tucson in 1994, aside from one more stint in the Mexican League, where the new environment made him a stronger man. Mikulik came very close to joining the big leagues during his 11 year tenure in the minor leagues. Mikulik finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .279, 1265 career hits, 109 career home runs, 670 career RBIs, 161 stolen bases, and 742 runs. Played on 3 championship teams, 1986 AA Southern League Champion Columbus Astros, 1991 & 93 AAA Pacific Coast League Champion Tucson Toros.
Coaching History
After Mikulik retired from baseball he realized that he wanted to help other men achieve their dreams of reaching the major leagues. In 1995, Mikulik coached the Canton-Akron Indians, and rose to the position of manager with the Burlington Indians in August 1997. He became manager of his previous team, the Asheville Tourists, in 2000. Among his motivational tools for the latter team was a video called Running With the Toros, which is about the Toros' first championship season.Mikulik won his 800th game with the Asheville Tourists on May 17, 2011 against Lexington (Ky.) and becomes the all-time leader in victories and games that he has managed. Mikulik is currently in his 12th season in Asheville and as of May 17, 2011 has posted a record of 800-757 (.513). Mikulik is a member of the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame and a three-time SAL Manager of the Year (2001.’07 and ’08) leading the Tourists to three playoffs. Tourists assistant general manager Chris Smith was quoted in the Asheville’s Citizen Times “Joe winning 800 games with Asheville is an amazing accomplishment that we are all proud of. Him being in Asheville for that long is so rare in minor league baseball, and it’s a testament to how much the (parent club Colorado) Rockies believe in Joe’s ability to develop young talent.”Meltdown on the Field
Mikulik is well known for embarking on a lengthy tirade after being ejected from a game against the Lexington Legends on June 25, 2006. In the bottom of the 5th inning, Mikulik got into an argument over a Legends player, third baseman Koby Clemens, called safe after a close call at second base. Having had enough, the umpire proceeded to eject Mikulik from the game. Mikulik then went on an extended rant, pulling up the second base and throwing it into the field, throwing bats from the dugout on to the field, then finally pouring water on home plate before eventually leaving for the clubhouse, where he continued his tantrum unseen, toppling water coolers and a chair in front of the umpire's locker room.[4] The Legends went on to win the game. Afterward, Mikulik made several unapologetic comments, including the claim that "I could get two mannequins at Sears and umpire better than what I saw this whole series."[4] As a result of his actions, Mikulik was given a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine; Mikulik's antics were shown on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, SportsCenter, and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann.Mikulik has described his coaching experience as, “Lots of trial and error, just like life”. His career record stands at 868-838, a winning percentage of .509.
Players Coached
Chris Iannetta—MLB catcher for the Colorado RockiesWhen asked about his former coach, major leaguer Chris Iannetta described him as someone who “treated and handled players well and motivated through his positive energy all year.” Iannetta believes his strongest qualities as a manager are his “energy, passion, and care for players”.
Simon Ferrer—Minor League Pitcher for the Modesto Nuts
Ferrer describes Mikulik as the best manager he has ever had and was fun and enjoyable to be around. “Playing with [Mikulik] is a blessing, [he] showed me a different way to look at baseball and how you can attribute it to everyday life. He loves teaching and spending times with others and brings out the best in his players. He motivates as well as knowing the game”.
Ian Stewart—MLB Infielder for the Colorado Rockies
Ryan Spilborghs –MLB Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook—MLB Pitcher for the Colorado Rockies