YEARS
BIOGRAPHY
Early on, Mike showed his love for athletics. His favorite pasttime was tree climbing. At the age of 7 while climbing a tree, he fell 24 feet through branches and tension wires. At this point, he got serious about baseball. It was safer and closer to the ground. He also discovered golf when he began swinging his father's golf clubs in his yard. At age 8, he joined his first organized team in Little League. He also took up football and basketball, excelling in these sports in High School.
In 1967, he graduated from high school and went to Ohio University. He wanted to study architecture, a passion he still has today. As a freshman, Mike made the Basketball team, but chronic knee problems forced him to give up basketball. At this time, he focused on baseball. During his freshman year, Mike hit .260 as a switch hitting back-up shortstop. His sophmore year, he took over the starting shortstop job and hit .310. He was named First Team All-American. His team finished fourth overall in the College World Series. During his senior year, he hit .330 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI's. Again, he was named First Team All-American. At the end of his college career, he had a whopping 27 home runs.
Mike was scouted by many teams but Phillies scout Tony Lucadello convinced his team to draft Mike in the second round of the 1971 draft.
And the rest is Phillies history.
Click on the years to follow Mike's story.
