Michael Dennis Armstrong (born March 7, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1980 to 1987, mainly as a relief pitcher. He played college baseball for the University of Miami.
Armstrong originally was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 1972 draft, but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round (24th overall) of the 1974 amateur draft. While still in the minors, Armstrong was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1979. He made appearances in the majors with the Padres in 1980 and 1981, but mainly played in the minor leagues. Prior to the start of the 1982 season, Armstrong was purchased by the Kansas City Royals. There, Armstrong pitched regularly, with over 100 innings in his two years with the team and had an earned run average under 4.00.
Armstrong played in the pine tar game between the Royals and the Yankees on July 24, 1983, earning the victory; a victory it took him almost a month to pick up. "It was wild to go back to New York and play these four outs in a totally empty stadium," Armstrong said. "I'm dressed in the uniform, and nobody's there."[1] He went 10-7 that season in 58 appearances, notching career highs in wins and games.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander was traded to the Yankees after the 1983 season in a deal that brought Steve Balboni to the Royals.[2] While Balboni went on to slug over 100 home runs and contributed to the Royals 1985 World Series triumph, Armstrong reported to spring training in 1984 with a sore arm, limiting him to two Grapefruit League appearances.[citation needed] As a result, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner filed a grievance with Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.[3] Despite efforts to get another pitcher other than him from the Royals, Armstrong remained with the Yankees, though he spent most of his time with their AAA Columbus farm club from 1984 to 1986.[4] Armstrong finished his Major League career with the Cleveland Indians in 1987.
In parts of 8 seasons he had a 19–17 win–loss record, pitching in 197 games with 1 start, 11 saves, 94 games finished, 338 innings pitched, 300 hits allowed, 170 runs allowed of which 154 were earned, 42 home runs allowed, 155 walks allowed, 221 strikeouts, 6 hit batsmen, 16 wild pitches, 1,439 batters faced, 20 intentional walks, 2 balks and a 4.10 ERA. His career WHIP was 1.346.[5]
Following his playing career, Armstrong remained involved in baseball. He moved to South Boston, Virginia, where he helped found an adult baseball league and ran a local sporting goods store for five years. Then he worked in the construction business and as a painter until he turned 45, when his major league pension kicked in. He moved to Oconee County, Georgia, close to where his second wife Monica was from. A severe car accident left him with a rod in his right leg, but as of 2006, he was still pitching in a wooden bat league.[6]
ReferencesEdit
^. onlineathens.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
^Associated Press (December 9, 1983). "Royals acquire Balboni, pitchers in pair of trades". Sports. The Lawrence Daily Journal-World. Vol. 125, no. 343. Lawrence, Kansas: World Company. p. 15. Retrieved May 28, 2017 – via Google Newspapers.
^"Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
^James, Bill (1991). The Baseball Book 1991. Villard Books. p. 360.
^Peters, Craig (July 23, 2006). . The Athens Banner-Herald. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
External linksEdit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
August 31, 2023
mike, armstrong, baseball, michael, dennis, armstrong, born, march, 1954, former, major, league, baseball, pitcher, played, from, 1980, 1987, mainly, relief, pitcher, played, college, baseball, university, miami, mike, armstrongpitcherborn, 1954, march, 1954, . Michael Dennis Armstrong born March 7 1954 is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1980 to 1987 mainly as a relief pitcher He played college baseball for the University of Miami Mike ArmstrongPitcherBorn 1954 03 07 March 7 1954 age 69 Glen Cove New York U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutAugust 12 1980 for the San Diego PadresLast MLB appearanceJuly 5 1987 for the Cleveland IndiansMLB statisticsWin loss record19 17Earned run average4 10Strikeouts221TeamsSan Diego Padres 1980 1981 Kansas City Royals 1982 1983 New York Yankees 1984 1986 Cleveland Indians 1987 Career EditArmstrong originally was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 1972 draft but did not sign He was then drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round 24th overall of the 1974 amateur draft While still in the minors Armstrong was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1979 He made appearances in the majors with the Padres in 1980 and 1981 but mainly played in the minor leagues Prior to the start of the 1982 season Armstrong was purchased by the Kansas City Royals There Armstrong pitched regularly with over 100 innings in his two years with the team and had an earned run average under 4 00 nbsp Armstrong with the Nashville Sounds in 1979Armstrong played in the pine tar game between the Royals and the Yankees on July 24 1983 earning the victory a victory it took him almost a month to pick up It was wild to go back to New York and play these four outs in a totally empty stadium Armstrong said I m dressed in the uniform and nobody s there 1 He went 10 7 that season in 58 appearances notching career highs in wins and games The 6 foot 3 right hander was traded to the Yankees after the 1983 season in a deal that brought Steve Balboni to the Royals 2 While Balboni went on to slug over 100 home runs and contributed to the Royals 1985 World Series triumph Armstrong reported to spring training in 1984 with a sore arm limiting him to two Grapefruit League appearances citation needed As a result Yankees owner George Steinbrenner filed a grievance with Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn 3 Despite efforts to get another pitcher other than him from the Royals Armstrong remained with the Yankees though he spent most of his time with their AAA Columbus farm club from 1984 to 1986 4 Armstrong finished his Major League career with the Cleveland Indians in 1987 In parts of 8 seasons he had a 19 17 win loss record pitching in 197 games with 1 start 11 saves 94 games finished 338 innings pitched 300 hits allowed 170 runs allowed of which 154 were earned 42 home runs allowed 155 walks allowed 221 strikeouts 6 hit batsmen 16 wild pitches 1 439 batters faced 20 intentional walks 2 balks and a 4 10 ERA His career WHIP was 1 346 5 Following his playing career Armstrong remained involved in baseball He moved to South Boston Virginia where he helped found an adult baseball league and ran a local sporting goods store for five years Then he worked in the construction business and as a painter until he turned 45 when his major league pension kicked in He moved to Oconee County Georgia close to where his second wife Monica was from A severe car accident left him with a rod in his right leg but as of 2006 he was still pitching in a wooden bat league 6 References Edit Who was the winning pitcher in the legendary pine tar game Online Athens onlineathens com Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2008 07 27 Associated Press December 9 1983 Royals acquire Balboni pitchers in pair of trades Sports The Lawrence Daily Journal World Vol 125 no 343 Lawrence Kansas World Company p 15 Retrieved May 28 2017 via Google Newspapers Eugene Register Guard Google News Archive Search news google com James Bill 1991 The Baseball Book 1991 Villard Books p 360 Baseball Reference a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Peters Craig July 23 2006 Who was the winning pitcher in the legendary pine tar game The Athens Banner Herald Archived from the original on May 14 2009 Retrieved January 20 2020 External links EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Armstrong baseball amp oldid 1164374842, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
