Catching Up With Mike Stanley
February 10, 2008, 5:05 pmFrom Newsday:
All these years later, surely Yankees fans still hold Stanley in high regard, but his star has faded in the Bronx, probably because he was never part of a championship team. Reached this past week on his cell phone, Stanley, 44, said he absolutely loved his time as a Yankee, but the former catcher admits his unlucky timing still “just eats away at me.”
He said Yankees fans sometimes ask to see his World Series rings. Imagine how that makes him feel. There are none. “It’s just such a sore subject with me,” he said.
And that’s understandable. Stanley hit .305 with 26 homers and 84 RBIs for the 1993 Yankees and totaled 35 homers the next two seasons, but he left the Yankees after the 1995 season, thus missing out on the 1996 title. He returned in 1997, only to lose in the Division Series. Then he left again and missed the titles in 1998 and 1999. He almost came back in 2000 but couldn’t wait for the Yankees’ final offer any longer and signed with the Athletics.
“When my agent said, ‘OK, you’re on a flight to Oakland tomorrow,’ I said, ‘Yeah, but if New York calls in the morning, I’m going to New York,’ ” Stanley said. “Obviously, they didn’t call in the morning. I was ready to come.”
What made that year all the more painful was that the Yankees eliminated Stanley’s A’s en route to their fourth world championship in five years. “After we lost,” he said, “I can still vividly remember Joe Torre coming into the clubhouse to shake Art Howe’s hand and looking at me and saying, ‘Stano, you should be with us.’ “
“After that, I said, ‘The heck with it, I’m retiring. It wasn’t meant to be.’ “
Tough stuff for an old fan favorite. He had his best season with the Yankees (93), and it must’ve been hard to swallow when they went on their historic run without him (especially since he left and joined Boston). Anyone out there a big Mike Stanley fan?
I loved ‘Grand Stan’ he had an amazing year in ‘93.
One of the things I remember about him has nothing to do with on the field stuff.
When the Yanks brought him back in 1997 they traded a highly thought of pitcher to the Red Sox to get him back – Tony Armas Jr.
The Red Sox then packaged Armas Jr along with Carl Pavano to get Pedro from Montreal.
So effectively we helped Boston get Pedro!
lol, how horrible is that? is that the last recent trade between the red sox and the yankees? hmmm… i really can’t think of another at this time.
As a Boston fan (am I allowed to post here?) I have always been a big Mike Stanley fan. There was talk when he was in Boston that he would make a great manager someday. Does anyone know what he is up to these days?
You’re allowed! I do it all the time :)
Hey bosox fan. Ha, yes it’s alright and, in case you were still wondering, Stanley is a baseball coach in Florida… for Lake Highland Highschool.
I wish the Texas Rangers would hire Mike Stanley as their manager. He was an excellent bench coach for the Red Sox and the Rangers need a good manager as Washington stinks. Mike doesn’t probably remember me but I was with him on 2/5/88 when he was on his honeymoon and I was celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary. I have many pictures of us all.
I used to throw BP for the OKC 89ers in 1986-87. I spent a lot of time with Mike at early BP before everybody else came out. He out worked everybody. He is a great guy.
I am a Sox fan who really admired Stano’s work ethic and interest in the game. He seemed like a great guy and it’s sad to not see him managing somewhere. Everyone always said what a great manager he would make. Hopefully he’s happy out there and enjoying being a dad.
It is sad that Mike Stanley never won a World Series ring with the Yankees. But he certainly contributed to the Yankees resurgence which began in 1993. I think they were on the way to the World Series in 1994 when the strike happened. A Yankees-Expos (who had the best record in baseball when playing stopped) World Series would have been epic.
I think he was their best catcher since Thurman Munson. Matt Nokes and Don Slaught had good seasons, but Stanley, starting in 1993, could hit for average and power.