Happy birthday, Mike Stanley

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 25, 2008 2:45 PM CDT

Happy birthday to former Ranger catcher Mike Stanley, who turns 45 today.

Stanley was one of my favorites from my late teens, a guy who had a part-time role for several years in the late-80s and early-90s before playing with the Yankees and the Red Sox. He wasn't a real good defensive catcher, but could hit, and ended up getting significant time as a DH or first baseman later in his career.

Did you know that Stanley finished 13th in the MVP voting one year? 1993, to be exact, when he put up a .305/.389/.534 line with the Yankees, and ended up tied with 13th in the balloting.

Stanley signed with the Red Sox after he left the Yanks, and then was traded back to the Yanks for Tony Armas, Jr., and Jim Mecir, in 1997, after a deal where the Rangers were going to send Pudge Rodriguez to the Yanks for Jorge Posada and Armas was derailed by Pudge coming into Tom Schieffer's office and announcing he wanted to sign an extension.

Armas was later dealt by Boston, along with Carl Pavano, to the Expos for Pedro Martinez. So just think...if it weren't for Mike Stanley, the BoSox wouldn't have gotten Pedro, and likely wouldn't have won the 2004 World Series.

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good

he was a good player

http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER

by gossamer on Jun 25, 2008 3:03 PM CDT reply actions

I still wonder

from time to time what might have happened in that Pudge trade had gone through. I was completely psyched when Pudge did that, though.

...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on Jun 25, 2008 3:05 PM CDT reply actions

I loved Stanley when he was here

but he was nothing compared with the legendary, immortal Geno Petralli, one of my all-time faves with that incredible mustache of his.

The Rangers used to run out some interesting catchers there in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s: Chad Krueter, Don Slaught, Stanley, Petralli, even Jim Sundberg came back at the end of his career. Those were the halcyon days weren’t they!

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo

by kentbenfer on Jun 25, 2008 3:13 PM CDT reply actions

Ah Chad Kreuter...

...he was always one of my favorites as a young Rangers fan… for reasons you may be able to guess.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jun 25, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

remember when we would be like 46-36 at the All-Star Break...

...and then we’d tank in the second half of the season?...

those were the days!

by oc on Jun 25, 2008 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't forget John Russell...

by T Coleman on Jun 25, 2008 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions

ah... Mike Stanley.

I remember him. And all the games at Arlington Stadium I went to over the years. Wish I would have been at the Game on May 1,1991

I liked him too.

He caught Nolan Ryan’s last no-hitter. I bet he clearly remembers that game. I wonder what he’s doing these days?

Ryan said “This one will be especially gratifying because it was in front of the Arlington Stadium crowd.”- Nolan Ryan on his seventh no-hitter

I looked up the game… May 1, 1991. It was Arlington Appreciation Night

Stanley had a double and a walk.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1991/B05010TEX1991.htm

Happy Birthday Mike

Over the years, my favorite pastime outside baseball is driving through a pasture looking at cattle - Nolan Ryan

by hurlerhurley on Jun 25, 2008 3:14 PM CDT reply actions

I was lucky enough to be at that game...

...and it indeed was Arlington Appreciation Night. I believe the measure to raise the sales tax to fund the ballpark had just passed.

If memory serves, then-mayor Richard Greene threw out the first pitch and the dot race was won by “greene” to boot.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jun 25, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

i was there too...

...little league uniform and all!

by oc on Jun 25, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I almost missed the game...

...I was feeling sick all day and called my dad from work and told hime to find someone else to use the ticket. Thankfully he couldn’t find anyone and I rallied enough to go.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jun 25, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep, official attendance was 24K

“Fans” who claim they bared witness: 220-250 thou.

SRO must a been a mutha that night…

Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .

by Brian Thomas on Jun 25, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

One of my fondest Ranger memories

I was at this game, Mike Stanley hit the first pinch hit Grand Slam in Texas Rangers history against Jeff Reardon. The Twins went on to win the World Series that year.

Box Score

It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin

by txranger7 on Jun 25, 2008 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

Tony Armas, Jr

This is stupid but here it goes.
Only baseball player whose name is composed by the sound of the names of four body parts.

by chrisR on Jun 25, 2008 3:39 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

well done.

by oc on Jun 25, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

five

if you name something Jr.

...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on Jun 25, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

what about the indention that connects the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip?...

...is that called anything?

you could call it a junior…

by oc on Jun 25, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

by txranger7 on Jun 25, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Always liked Mike Stanley.

by Garcia on Jun 25, 2008 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

“Happy birthday to former Ranger catcher Mike Stanley, who turns 45 today.”

Don’t you mean ‘former Ranger great, catcher Mike Stanley’?

Of course Stanley reminds me of Petralli, who I think of every time I drive by a Gino’s Pizza….

Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.

by WhipSmart on Jun 25, 2008 4:43 PM CDT reply actions

I always think of Petralli when...

...I see a Dr. Pepper truck.

Physician: Primum non nocere

Batter: First, make no out

by Chad Crudup on Jun 25, 2008 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

haha!

by oc on Jun 25, 2008 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

So we just ended up cutting him?

i always thought we had traded him since he was around for quite a while longer in the league and i figured we woulda been able to get something of value out of the guy.

i still remember him being pretty good for the yanks and sox.

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jun 25, 2008 4:56 PM CDT reply actions