Mickey Stanley

From BR Bullpen

Mitchell Jack Stanley

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.
School Grand Rapids Community College
Debut September 13, 1964
Final Game September 28, 1978
Born July 20, 1942 in Grand Rapids, MI USA

[edit] Biographical Information

A great-fielding and surehanded center fielder, Mickey Stanley was a less than average hitter. In the 1968 World Series, Detroit Tigers Manager Mayo Smith moved him from center field to shortstop, even though Stanley had almost never played the position as a professional. The Tigers' regular shortstops that season, Ray Oyler and Tom Matchick, had hit .135 (!) and .203 respectively, while the team had four healthy outfielders: Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Stanley. Smith figured that the very athletic Stanley could handle the position switch, as he had played short 9 times that year, and that the offensive upgrade was worth the risk. Although Stanley handled only a few routine fielding opportunities during the Series, it was one of the most unusual World Series managerial moves of all-time. The Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.