Mike Cubbage
Encyclopedia
Michael Lee Cubbage in Charlottesville, VA was an American
baseball
player who played Major League Baseball
from 1974 until the close of the 1981 season. He is the son of Lindy and Marge Cubbage and cousin of former major league catcher
Larry Haney
and former major league pitcher
Chris Haney
.
in the 2nd round of the 1971 amateur draft by the Washington Senators
. He was called up to the Major League level by the Texas Rangers
in 1974.
He made his major league debut on April 7, 1974 against the Oakland Athletics. He played with the Rangers until he was traded to the Minnesota Twins
in 1976. On June 27, 1978 he hit for the cycle against the Toronto Blue Jays
. He later signed as a free agent
with the New York Mets
for the 1981 season. Throughout his playing career, he was considered somewhat of a utility player, playing mostly third base, but with stints at the first base, second base, and designated hitter
positions. Although he spent most of his playing time at shortstop in high school, he did not receive any playing time at this position in the major leagues.
In 2002, Cubbage served as the interim manager of the Boston Red Sox
after previous manager Joe Kerrigan
was fired during spring training. He remained on the staff after the Red Sox hired Grady Little
as Kerrigan's full-time replacement.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 who played 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...
from 1974 until the close of the 1981 season. He is the son of Lindy and Marge Cubbage and cousin of former major league catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Larry Haney
Larry Haney
Wallace Larry Haney is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played from 1966-1978 for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and Milwaukee Brewers. Haney later served as bullpen coach with the Brewers...
and former major league pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Chris Haney
Chris Haney
Christopher Deane Haney is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991–2000 and in 2002 for the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox. In 2001, he played in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. Haney gave up...
.
Playing career
On June 7, 1968, he was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 6th round of the 1968 amateur draft, but did not sign. In 1971 he was drafted again out of the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in the 2nd round of the 1971 amateur draft by the Washington Senators
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 called up to the Major League level by the 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...
in 1974.
He made his major league debut on April 7, 1974 against the Oakland Athletics. He played with the Rangers until he was traded to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1976. On June 27, 1978 he hit for the cycle against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He later signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for the 1981 season. Throughout his playing career, he was considered somewhat of a utility player, playing mostly third base, but with stints at the first base, second base, and 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...
positions. Although he spent most of his playing time at shortstop in high school, he did not receive any playing time at this position in the major leagues.
Coaching and managerial career
Cubbage played the part of the Mets' third base coach. However, he was named interim manager of the New York Mets on Sunday September 30, 1991. He managed the Mets in seven games, finishing with a career managerial record of three wins and four losses (.429).In 2002, Cubbage served as the interim manager of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
after previous manager Joe Kerrigan
Joe Kerrigan
Joseph Thomas Kerrigan is a former relief pitcher, manager and longtime pitching coach in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
was fired during spring training. He remained on the staff after the Red Sox hired Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
as Kerrigan's full-time replacement.