Mike Ivie

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Mike Ivie
First Baseman, Third Baseman
Born: August 8, 1952 (1952-08-08) (age 55)
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 1971 for the San Diego Padres
Final game
May 7, 1983 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Batting average	.269
Hits	724
RBI	411
Teams
San Diego Padres (1971), (1974-1977) San Francisco Giants (1978-1981) Houston Astros (1981)-(1982) Detroit Tigers (1982)-(1983)
Career highlights and awards

Michael Wilson Ivie (born August 8, 1952 in Atlanta, Georgia), is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers during his career from 1971 to 1983. In addition to playing first base, Ivie put in considerable time as a third basemen, a left fielder and was a designated hitter.

Contents 1 Baseball Career 2 Most Memorable Moment 3 Trades involving Ivie 4 External links

[edit] Baseball Career

Ivie started his baseball career in the minors as a catcher, but after making his major league debut as an 18-year-old in 1971, he then started as a third baseman. Ivie was moved to first base and caught on for good in 1974. Ivie hit a career high 27 home runs and 89 RBI for the Giants in 1979. He was considered to become the Giants future first basemen and replace Willie Mcovey in 1980, but due to an off season accident with a hunting knife, where he sliced part of his pinky off from his hand, he was unable to perform and became a bench player. He walked away during that season, but a phone call from Willie McCovey convinced him to return and he played out the 1980 season hitting just 4 home runs. In 1981, Frank Robinson was given the helm to manage the Giants after Joe Altobelli was fired during the 1979 season and Mike Ivie's career took a turn for the worse. Even though he was reported to have a good attitude during spring training, was in considerable shape and he worked hard, he lost the starting first baseman job due to the off season acquisition of free agent Enos Cabell. He became a back up and was then traded to the Houston Astros during the season. He then asked to be released from the Houston Astros and they granted his request. He then called on Sparky Andersen, manager of the Detroit Tigers where he was signed to play first base/DH. He was their starting first baseman/DH during the 1982 season and hit 14 homer runs.

[edit] Most Memorable Moment

During the 1978 season, Ivie played a significant role in helping the Giants win and stay in first place throughout most of the season. His most memorable moment came on May 28, 1978 during the 4th inning of the Giants-Dodgers rivalry, which was in full force that season. Ivie was pinch hitting when he hit a 2-0 pitch from Dodger ace Don Sutton into the left field bleachers for a grand slam. As the ball cleared the left field fence, Darrell Evans, Jack Clark and Larry Herndon all scored while the largest paid crowd at Candlestick Park errupted. Ivie was mobbed at home plate by the Giants. The Dodgers tied it in the 5th, but the Giants won the game by a score of 6-5. He went on to hit a total of 4 grand slams that year.

[edit] Trades involving Ivie

• February 28, 1978 - Traded by the San Diego Padres to the San Francisco Giants for Derrel Thomas.
• April 20, 1981 - Traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Houston Astros for Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard.

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference
• Baseball Library

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