Mike Heath

For other people of the same name, see Michael Heath (disambiguation).

Mike Heath
Catcher
Born: February 5, 1955 (1955-02-05) (age 56) Tampa, Florida
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 3, 1978 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
July 2, 1991 for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics
Batting average	.252
Home runs	86
Runs batted in	469
Teams
New York Yankees (1978) Oakland Athletics (1979–1985) St. Louis Cardinals (1986) Detroit Tigers (1986–1990) Atlanta Braves (1991)
Career highlights and awards

Michael Thomas Heath (born February 5, 1955, in Tampa, Florida) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees (1978), Oakland Athletics (1979–1985), St. Louis Cardinals (1986), Detroit Tigers (1986–1990), and Atlanta Braves (1991).

While Heath played most of his games as a catcher, he started his professional baseball career as a shortstop and played every position except pitcher during his major league career. He played 1083 games at catcher, 142 games in right field, 79 games in left field, 39 games as a DH, 38 games at third base, four games each at first base and shortstop, and one game each at second base and center field.

Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1973 MLB amateur draft, Heath made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees on June 3, 1978. He hit .228 in 33 games with the 1978 Yankees and appeared in one game of the 1978 World Series.

On November 10, 1978, Heath went to the Oakland A's in a ten-player trade that sent Dave Righetti to the Yankees. Heath got substantial playing time in seven seasons with the A's. Heath hit .333 for the A's in the 1981 American League Championship Series.

While with the A's, Heath caught Mike Warren's no-hitter on September 29, 1983.^[1]

Heath was known for his strong throwing arm. In 1989, playing with the Detroit Tigers, Heath led the AL's catchers with 66 assists and 10 double plays.

References

1. ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1983/B09290OAK1983.htm

External links

• Mike Heath at Baseball Reference.com
• BaseballLibrary.com Profile of Heath

Persondata
Name	Heath, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 5, 1955
Place of birth	Tampa, Florida
Date of death
Place of death