After a long career in the minor leagues, Figga made his major-league debut on September 16, 1997, with the Yankees. Figga appeared in five games for the Yankees between 1997 and 1999. His lone major-league appearance in 1998 was on September 23, 1998, when he went one-for-four and scored a run against the Cleveland Indians.[2] For that appearance, Figga earned a World Series ring when the Yankees won the World Series the following month.
In 1999, Figga started the season as one of three catchers on the Yankees' roster, however his mere presence caused controversy amongst the Yankee brass. Out of options, (the number of times a team is allowed to demote a player to the minor leagues without exposing him to waivers) owner George Steinbrenner ordered acting manager Don Zimmer to promote Figga to the major league roster despite offering limited opportunities to play. In fact, he saw no action at all until a doubleheader on May 22 where he was a late inning defensive replacement for both games. He never batted nor appeared in another game for the Yankees. When manager Joe Torre (who missed the first two months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in spring training) returned, he was able to convince Steinbrenner that he needed the roster spot more than he needed the player so Figga was waived in June 1999 and picked up by the Baltimore Orioles, and played 41 games for the Orioles.[3]
After baseball
From 2000 until 2004, Figga played both in the minor leagues and for the Nashua Pride in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He subsequently retired from baseball with an early case of the dreaded disease of catchers: bad knees.[citation needed] Today, Figga now works for Republic National Distribution Company and lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and recently finished coaching a little league football team called the Westchase Colts and a travel baseball team called the Tampa Bay Bulls.
^September 23, 1998 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com
^"BASEBALL; Orioles Claim Yankee Catcher". The New York Times. June 4, 1999. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
Sources
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
January 24, 2023
mike, figga, michael, anthony, figga, born, july, 1970, retired, catcher, major, league, baseball, played, york, yankees, baltimore, orioles, three, year, career, figga, with, home, catcherborn, 1970, july, 1970, tampa, floridabatted, rightthrew, rightmlb, deb. Michael Anthony Figga born July 31 1970 is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles In a three year career Figga hit 213 with one home run Mike FiggaCatcherBorn 1970 07 31 July 31 1970 age 52 Tampa FloridaBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 16 1997 for the New York YankeesLast MLB appearanceOctober 3 1999 for the Baltimore OriolesMLB statisticsBatting average 213Home runs1Runs batted in5TeamsNew York Yankees 1997 1999 Baltimore Orioles 1999 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Major league career 3 After baseball 4 References 5 SourcesEarly life and education EditBorn in Tampa Florida Figga attended A P Leto High School in Tampa graduating in 1988 Figga then enjoyed a short but standout career at Central Florida Community College Figga was drafted in 1989 by the New York Yankees He played in the Australian Baseball League with the Canberra Bushrangers in the 1994 and 1995 seasons 1 Major league career EditAfter a long career in the minor leagues Figga made his major league debut on September 16 1997 with the Yankees Figga appeared in five games for the Yankees between 1997 and 1999 His lone major league appearance in 1998 was on September 23 1998 when he went one for four and scored a run against the Cleveland Indians 2 For that appearance Figga earned a World Series ring when the Yankees won the World Series the following month In 1999 Figga started the season as one of three catchers on the Yankees roster however his mere presence caused controversy amongst the Yankee brass Out of options the number of times a team is allowed to demote a player to the minor leagues without exposing him to waivers owner George Steinbrenner ordered acting manager Don Zimmer to promote Figga to the major league roster despite offering limited opportunities to play In fact he saw no action at all until a doubleheader on May 22 where he was a late inning defensive replacement for both games He never batted nor appeared in another game for the Yankees When manager Joe Torre who missed the first two months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in spring training returned he was able to convince Steinbrenner that he needed the roster spot more than he needed the player so Figga was waived in June 1999 and picked up by the Baltimore Orioles and played 41 games for the Orioles 3 After baseball EditFrom 2000 until 2004 Figga played both in the minor leagues and for the Nashua Pride in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball He subsequently retired from baseball with an early case of the dreaded disease of catchers bad knees citation needed Today Figga now works for Republic National Distribution Company and lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and recently finished coaching a little league football team called the Westchase Colts and a travel baseball team called the Tampa Bay Bulls References Edit Flintoff and Dunn Alamanac September 23 1998 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Play by Play and Box Score Baseball Reference com BASEBALL Orioles Claim Yankee Catcher The New York Times June 4 1999 Retrieved May 12 2010 Sources EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Figga amp oldid 1108730698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
