Mickey Rivers
Encyclopedia
John Milton "Mickey" Rivers (born October 31, 1948 in Miami, Florida
) is a former Major League Baseball
player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels
, New York Yankees
, and Texas Rangers
. He was generally known as a speedy leadoff hitter who made contact and was an excellent center fielder
, with a below-average throwing arm.
, "Mick The Quick" began his big league career in 1970 with the Angels playing center field and third base, and stayed with them through the 1975 season. Rivers played part-time in his first few years, until becoming the starter in 1974. He led the league in triples
both years and swiped a career-high 70 bases in 1975, tops in the American League
.
Along with Ed Figueroa
, Rivers was dealt to the Yankees in the 1975-76 off-season for Bobby Bonds
, a trade which immediately paid dividends for the Yankees. Figueroa won 19 games and Rivers enjoyed a career year. Rivers was named to the All-Star
team, batted .312, stole 43 bases and posted then-career highs in home run
s (8) and runs batted in (67). Rivers placed third in the Most Valuable Player
voting behind teammate Thurman Munson
and George Brett
and was named an outfielder
on The Sporting News
AL All-Star team.
Rivers posted good numbers in his two other full seasons as a part of the "Bronx Zoo", including a .326 batting average
in 1977, but was traded in the middle of the 1979 season to Texas. There he set the single-season record for hits
by a Ranger with 210 in 1980, a mark since eclipsed by Michael Young
. He concluded his career in 1984 with a .295 lifetime average, 267 stolen bases, 1,660 hits.
While Rivers played for them, the Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978, both times against the Los Angeles Dodgers
. They also won the 1976 pennant, but lost in the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds
. Rivers posted a .308 average in his 29 postseason games.
Bill James
ranked Mickey Rivers as the 59th greatest center fielder of all time.
Mickey, who has been called the fastest Yankee of all time was honored with many of his fellow teammates from the 1977 World Series champion New York Yankees, in the Yankee Old Timers Game in 2007. In The Bronx Is Burning
, the ESPN
minseries based on the 1977 Yankees, he was portrayed by Leonard Robinson
and portrayed as a person with financial problems. When Reggie Jackson
once remarked to a reporter that he had an IQ of 160, Rivers responded, "Out of what, a thousand?".
Since his playing career ended, Rivers has trained racehorses in his native Florida
.
His son, Mickey Rivers Jr. played minor league baseball in the Rangers
organization.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He was generally known as a speedy leadoff hitter who made contact and was an excellent center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, with a below-average throwing arm.
Biography
Originally signed by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, "Mick The Quick" began his big league career in 1970 with the Angels playing center field and third base, and stayed with them through the 1975 season. Rivers played part-time in his first few years, until becoming the starter in 1974. He led the league in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
both years and swiped a career-high 70 bases in 1975, tops in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
Along with Ed Figueroa
Ed Figueroa
Eduardo Figueroa Padilla , is a former Major League Baseball player. He holds the distinction of being the only pitcher from Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a season.-USMC:...
, Rivers was dealt to the Yankees in the 1975-76 off-season for Bobby Bonds
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
, a trade which immediately paid dividends for the Yankees. Figueroa won 19 games and Rivers enjoyed a career year. Rivers was named to the All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team, batted .312, stole 43 bases and posted then-career highs in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (8) and runs batted in (67). Rivers placed third in the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
voting behind teammate Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
and George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
and was named an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
AL All-Star team.
Rivers posted good numbers in his two other full seasons as a part of the "Bronx Zoo", including a .326 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 1977, but was traded in the middle of the 1979 season to Texas. There he set the single-season record for hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
by a Ranger with 210 in 1980, a mark since eclipsed by Michael Young
Michael Young (baseball player)
Michael Brian Young is a Major League Baseball All Star designated hitter and utility infielder for the Texas Rangers....
. He concluded his career in 1984 with a .295 lifetime average, 267 stolen bases, 1,660 hits.
While Rivers played for them, the Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978, both times against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. They also won the 1976 pennant, but lost in the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Rivers posted a .308 average in his 29 postseason games.
Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
ranked Mickey Rivers as the 59th greatest center fielder of all time.
Mickey, who has been called the fastest Yankee of all time was honored with many of his fellow teammates from the 1977 World Series champion New York Yankees, in the Yankee Old Timers Game in 2007. In The Bronx Is Burning
The Bronx Is Burning
The Bronx Is Burning is a television drama that debuted on ESPN on July 9, 2007, after the 2007 MLB Home Run Derby. It is an eight-episode mini-series adapted from Jonathan Mahler's best-selling book, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning...
, the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
minseries based on the 1977 Yankees, he was portrayed by Leonard Robinson
Leonard Robinson
- Biography :Originally from Danbury, Connecticut, Robinson has appeared in theaters nationwide including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.. He performs stand-up and long form improvisation in theaters and clubs in New York and Los...
and portrayed as a person with financial problems. When Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
once remarked to a reporter that he had an IQ of 160, Rivers responded, "Out of what, a thousand?".
Since his playing career ended, Rivers has trained racehorses in his native Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
His son, Mickey Rivers Jr. played minor league baseball in the Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions