Mickey Stanley
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley (born July 20, 1942 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
) was a baseball
player for the Detroit Tigers
from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.
.
debut in center field with Detroit on September 13, 1964.
Stanley was an excellent fielder, winning Gold Gloves in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1973. For 9 consecutive seasons, from 1966–1974, Stanley played the majority of the Tigers' games in center field. He had speed, a strong arm, good hands, and an ability to take the perfect first step to get a jump for loose seams headed to the gaps. In both 1968 and 1970, Stanley led all American League outfielders with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
. His 1973 Range factor
of 2.74 was well above the league average of 2.02.
Stanley was an adequate but not overwhelming hitter. In 1970, the speedy Stanley was second in the American League with 11 triples. Until 1968, he was used mainly as a defensive replacement, pinch-hitter and even part-time first baseman
.
He earned a regular spot in the lineup in 1968 with his slick fielding, .259 average and hustle. The fact that outfielder Al Kaline
spent part of the year injured also boosted Stanley's playing time.
With the American League
pennant clinched and two weeks left in the '68 season, manager Mayo Smith
asked Stanley to play the last nine games of the regular season at shortstop, the first time he had ever played the position. This was in preparation for the World Series, in which Smith planned to replace weak-hitting regular shortstop Ray Oyler
(who was hitting a paltry .135 at the time) in favor of Stanley's superior bat. This would also allow the other 3 power hitting Tiger outfielders (Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, and Al Kaline) to all be in the lineup for the World Series. Stanley did a decent job, committing two errors in 34 chances, and became the starting shortstop for the entire 1968 World Series
. Oyler did not have an official at-bat in the Series and appeared in only four games as a defensive replacement—the four games the Tigers needed to win the series. Stanley made two errors in the seven-game series, neither of which led to a run. He did not have a stellar series at the plate, hitting .214, but he did triple and score two runs in a pivotal Game 5 comeback win for the Tigers. And his move allowed Horton, Northrup, and Kaline to all play full time; Horton batted .304 with 1 HR and 3 RBI, Northrup batted .250 with 2 HR and 8 RBI, and Kaline batted .379 with 2 HR and 8 RBI.
In its "The End of the Century" series, ESPN
rated Smith's decision to move Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series as one of the 10 greatest coaching decisions of the 20th century.
Stanley returned to play 59 games at shortstop the next year, after Oyler was allowed to be drafted by the expansion Seattle Pilots
. However, the Stanley-at-short experiment did not work long-term, and Detroit finished the season 19 games out of first. Stanley's batting average also dropped to .235. It recovered when he was returned primarily to the outfield for the remainder of his career.
With the veteran Al Kaline injured and the arrival of the newly created Designated Hitter
rule in 1973 (a spot primarily filled by aging slugger Frank Howard and pinch hitter Gates Brown that year), Stanley reached career highs in games (157, all in the outfield), at-bats (602) and home runs (17). He also played full-time in the outfield for the season, before getting injured and then giving way to budding star Ron LeFlore
. He completed his career in - as it had started—as a utility outfielder
and late-inning defensive replacement, but this time he made occasional infield appearances, too. During these last four seasons, he played at least a few games at every position on the field except pitcher and catcher.
He also made the last play ever at the original Yankee Stadium, catching a fly ball hit by Mike Hegan on September 30, 1973.
Stanley is also remembered for his quote on being struck out by fireballer Nolan Ryan
, who had once no-hit the Tigers in 1973: "Those were the best pitches I ever heard."
After retiring from baseball, Stanley signed with the Detroit Auto Kings
, a professional softball team and played a part-time role in their only season (1980). Detroit won the Eastern Division of the North American Softball League (NASL) and advanced to the league finals, where they lost to the Milwaukee Schlitz.
Stanley now resides in Brighton, Michigan
.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
) was a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.
Early life
Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.
Professional Baseball
Stanley made his MLBMajor 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...
debut in center field with Detroit on September 13, 1964.
Stanley was an excellent fielder, winning Gold Gloves in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1973. For 9 consecutive seasons, from 1966–1974, Stanley played the majority of the Tigers' games in center field. He had speed, a strong arm, good hands, and an ability to take the perfect first step to get a jump for loose seams headed to the gaps. In both 1968 and 1970, Stanley led all American League outfielders with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. His 1973 Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 2.74 was well above the league average of 2.02.
Stanley was an adequate but not overwhelming hitter. In 1970, the speedy Stanley was second in the American League with 11 triples. Until 1968, he was used mainly as a defensive replacement, pinch-hitter and even part-time first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
.
He earned a regular spot in the lineup in 1968 with his slick fielding, .259 average and hustle. The fact that outfielder Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
spent part of the year injured also boosted Stanley's playing time.
With 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...
pennant clinched and two weeks left in the '68 season, manager Mayo Smith
Mayo Smith
Edward Mayo Smith was an American player, manager, and scout in Major League Baseball.Smith was born in New London, Missouri, but grew up in Florida. A left-handed batter who threw right-handed, Smith was a career minor league outfielder who spent many seasons in the International League with the...
asked Stanley to play the last nine games of the regular season at shortstop, the first time he had ever played the position. This was in preparation for the World Series, in which Smith planned to replace weak-hitting regular shortstop Ray Oyler
Ray Oyler
Raymond Francis Oyler was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Detroit Tigers , Seattle Pilots , and California Angels...
(who was hitting a paltry .135 at the time) in favor of Stanley's superior bat. This would also allow the other 3 power hitting Tiger outfielders (Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, and Al Kaline) to all be in the lineup for the World Series. Stanley did a decent job, committing two errors in 34 chances, and became the starting shortstop for the entire 1968 World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
. Oyler did not have an official at-bat in the Series and appeared in only four games as a defensive replacement—the four games the Tigers needed to win the series. Stanley made two errors in the seven-game series, neither of which led to a run. He did not have a stellar series at the plate, hitting .214, but he did triple and score two runs in a pivotal Game 5 comeback win for the Tigers. And his move allowed Horton, Northrup, and Kaline to all play full time; Horton batted .304 with 1 HR and 3 RBI, Northrup batted .250 with 2 HR and 8 RBI, and Kaline batted .379 with 2 HR and 8 RBI.
In its "The End of the Century" series, 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....
rated Smith's decision to move Stanley to shortstop for the 1968 World Series as one of the 10 greatest coaching decisions of the 20th century.
Stanley returned to play 59 games at shortstop the next year, after Oyler was allowed to be drafted by the expansion Seattle Pilots
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. However, the Stanley-at-short experiment did not work long-term, and Detroit finished the season 19 games out of first. Stanley's batting average also dropped to .235. It recovered when he was returned primarily to the outfield for the remainder of his career.
With the veteran Al Kaline injured and the arrival of the newly created Designated Hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule in 1973 (a spot primarily filled by aging slugger Frank Howard and pinch hitter Gates Brown that year), Stanley reached career highs in games (157, all in the outfield), at-bats (602) and home runs (17). He also played full-time in the outfield for the season, before getting injured and then giving way to budding star Ron LeFlore
Ron LeFlore
Ronald LeFlore is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Montreal Expos, retiring as a Chicago White Sox in . He stole 455 bases in his career, and was an American League All-Star selection in 1976...
. He completed his career in - as it had started—as a utility 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...
and late-inning defensive replacement, but this time he made occasional infield appearances, too. During these last four seasons, he played at least a few games at every position on the field except pitcher and catcher.
He also made the last play ever at the original Yankee Stadium, catching a fly ball hit by Mike Hegan on September 30, 1973.
Stanley is also remembered for his quote on being struck out by fireballer Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, who had once no-hit the Tigers in 1973: "Those were the best pitches I ever heard."
After retiring from baseball, Stanley signed with the Detroit Auto Kings
Detroit Auto Kings
The Detroit Auto Kings were a professional softball team that played during the 1980 season in the North American Softball League , one of three professional softball leagues active in the pro softball era...
, a professional softball team and played a part-time role in their only season (1980). Detroit won the Eastern Division of the North American Softball League (NASL) and advanced to the league finals, where they lost to the Milwaukee Schlitz.
Stanley now resides in Brighton, Michigan
Brighton, Michigan
Brighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...
.
External links
- Baseball Reference
- BR Bullpen
- Mickey Stanley: He Was the Complete Pro, by Jerry GreenJerry Green (writer)Jerry Green is an American sports journalist and author. He was a staff writer for the Associated Press from 1956 to 1963 and for The Detroit News from 1963 to 2004. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2003...
, Baseball Digest, March 1979