Who is the man: After getting the Yankees' hopes up by batting .272/.364/.705 in 1969, Gene Michael was coming off a .214/.255/.548 season when this card was issued. It was all talk about his glove from this point forward.
Can ya dig it: "Stick" is swinging a stick!
Right on: This is the eighth action photo for the Yankees so far in this set. I'd wager they have the most, but I'll have to match them up against the Royals, Angels, A's and Mets.
Shut your mouth: Michael was known for his ability to pull off the hidden ball trick. According to a Baseball Digest article, he executed it successfully twice in one game against the Royals.
No one understands him but his woman: Michael nearly considered trading Mariano Rivera to the Tigers while working as the Yankees' GM in 1995. Rivera was struggling and barely hitting 90 mph on the radar gun. But new reports, right around the time Michael was talking to the Tigers about obtaining David Wells, said Rivera was hitting 95 consistently. Michael pulled Rivera from consideration.
(A word about the back): Michael pitched 3 innings of relief against the Angels on Aug. 26, 1968. The Yankees were getting pounded and it was the second game of a doubleheader in what would be 3 consecutive days of doubleheaders for New York.
The Angels only have five action shots. Just so you know.
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