Mike Anderson (outfielder)

Michael Allen Anderson (born June 22, 1951) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He is the brother of former Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder Kent Anderson.

Mike Anderson
Anderson in 1972
Outfielder
Born: (1951-06-22) June 22, 1951
Florence, South Carolina
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1971, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1979, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Batting average.246
Home runs28
Runs batted in134
Teams

Career

First round draft pick

The Florence, South Carolina native signed a letter of intent to play tight end for the University of South Carolina upon graduation from Timmonsville High School in Timmonsville, South Carolina.[1] He changed paths when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.[2] Over three seasons in the Phillies' farm system, Anderson batted .322 with 21 home runs & 241 runs batted in to earn a September call up to the Phillies at just twenty years old.

Philadelphia Phillies

In his major league debut, he was struck out three times by the New York Mets' Gary Gentry.[3] He rebounded nicely the next day, going three for four with a triple & an RBI.[4] For the season, he batted .247 with two home runs & five RBIs.

During Spring training 1972, Anderson was hit in the head by a pitch from the Cincinnati Reds' Clay Carroll, and carried off the field on a stretcher.[5] He recovered in time to begin the season as the Phillies' everyday right fielder, but after batting just .194 through May, he was demoted to triple A Eugene, with a platoon of Roger Freed & Oscar Gamble taking over in right. He played well for the Eugene Emeralds, batting .298 with seventeen home runs & 56 RBIs, but it wasn't enough to earn him a call back up to the majors that season.

He spent all of 1973 platooning with Bill Robinson in right field, and took over sole possession of the position in 1974. He managed a career high 34 RBIs, but failed to live up to the promise that made him one of the top Phillies' prospects when he first came up to the majors. After the 1975 season, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Ron Reed.

St. Louis Cardinals

Anderson was used primarily as a back up corner outfielder & pinch hitter in 1976. He performed well in this role, batting .333 with four walks in 26 pinch hitting plate appearances. He was used more strictly in right field in 1977, and saw more limited use. He was released during Spring training 1978.

Baltimore Orioles

After being released by the Cards, Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. Though he played well for the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers (8 home runs, 34 RBIs, .313 batting average), he did not fit into the Phillies' plans. The team released him in order to allow him to sign elsewhere, and he was immediately picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. His stint in Baltimore did not go well. Used very sparingly by manager Earl Weaver, Anderson batted just .094 in 32 at bats. He was released after the season, and signed with the Phillies once again.

Phillies

After a brief stop in Oklahoma City, Anderson began his third stint with the Phillies on April 28, 1979 with a double in his first at bat.[6] He received most of his playing time as a late inning defensive replacement for Greg Luzinski in left field, though his most memorable performance may have been when he made his debut on the mound on June 27. He struck out both of the first two batters he faced, and pitched a scoreless inning in an 11-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.[7]

He spent all of 1980 in Oklahoma City, and batted .327 with eight home runs, but it wasn't enough to earn a call up to the World Series championship team. He was released after the season. He spent part of the 1981 season in the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league system before retiring.

Career statistics
Games PA AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB HBP SO Avg. OBP Slg. Fld%
721 1675 1490 159 367 67 11 28 134 8 161 4 343 .246 .319 .362 .980

Anderson is a .316 career hitter in the minor leagues.

Sources
  1. "#317 Mike Anderson". 1980 Topps. August 6, 2010.
  2. Grag Pinto (February 7, 2012). "25 'Can't-Miss' Phillies Prospects Who Never Panned out". Bleacher Report.
  3. "New York Mets 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1". Baseball-Reference.com. September 2, 1971.
  4. "New York Mets 7, Philadelphia Phillies 1". Baseball-Reference.com. September 3, 1971.
  5. Morgan, Bruce (2012). Steve Carlton and the 1972 Phillies. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 77. ISBN 9780786489831.
  6. "San Diego Padres 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0". Baseball-Reference.com. April 28, 1979.
  7. "Chicago Cubs 11, Philadelphia Phillies 4". Baseball-Reference.com. June 27, 1979.
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