Gene "Stick" Michael, the beloved Yankees executive who helped build their late-1990s dynasty teams and drafted Derek Jeter, has died of a heart attack at age 79, the Daily News has learned.
It is believed Michael underwent a procedure on his heart earlier this year, but the news was kept private.
Michael served as the manager of the Yankees in 1981-82 and as their GM from 1991-95.
Howie Spira and Gene Michael. Spira getting Stienbrenner suspended for a year for trying to dig up dirt on Winfield, which allowed Michael to work with the scouts to build up the farm system without George ditching all the prospects in trades like he did in the 1980s (Phelps for Buhner, etc). RIP.
+1. RIP
RIP
RIP, he did help revive the Yankees.
RIP
Yup, good comparison. RIP, one of the greats
Also caught the line drive at my first baseball game ever, stepped on second for two, then whipped it to Ron Bloomberg at first....who dropped the triple play ball. Belt high. Talk about core curriculum on the first day of class at Yankee Fan 101.
I remember one of Stick's TV interviews a few years after Big Papi magically became one of the best players in the game.
The interviewer (can't remember who) asked Stick how Ortiz could have gone from being just an average player to being a superstar with Boston.
Stick just smiled and said, "I don't know. But he sure got a lot bigger didn't he."
RIP Stick.
He was the interim manager for parts of the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
...Cleveland's Tony Horton put a hard tag on Gene Michael, and even though the "Stick" gave away dozens of pounds, he got into it real good with Horton. It was quite a donnybrook!
Gene Michael was a tough, hard-nosed ballplayer and a very smart baseball executive.
RIP Gene Michael.
Also caught the line drive at my first baseball game ever, stepped on second for two, then whipped it to Ron Bloomberg at first....who dropped the triple play ball. Belt high. Talk about core curriculum on the first day of class at Yankee Fan 101.
Isn't the story that he also talked the Boss out of going through with the Mariano for a new SS trade, convincing him to go with a rookie named Jeter instead?
Thanks for everything Stick. RIP.
RIP.
RIP.
I still have a few, but not him
RIP.
Don't know if this should be the game-thread or not, but Yanks are leading the O's 3-0. Didi with a 2 out, 2 run double, and Judge just hit a HR.
After the game my older buddy and I used to hit a diner in Fort Lee NJ, grab a burger, pull out a lawn chair and hang out in the parking lot and talk about the game.
One day this long car (cannot remember the model) with the licence plate STICK. Next thing we know he was sitting on his hood parked near us talking about the game, players etc. A real nice regular now to earth guy.
Happened to do a fun raiser for the company I was working for at the time, he posed for pictures, remembered out conversation and pulled out a ball and had a very nice comment for me.
Class, my heart goes out to him and his family. RIP.