Mike Heath
Born: 2/5/1955 in Tampa, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1978-06-03 | Final Game: 1991-07-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Michael Thomas Heath
Biography
Mike Heath, born in 1955, enjoyed a notable career as a professional baseball player from 1978 until his retirement in 1991. Over the course of 1,325 games, he amassed 1,061 hits and demonstrated his power at the plate with 86 home runs and 469 RBIs. Heath's batting average stood at .252, and he showcased his speed on the basepaths with 54 stolen bases. His career unfolded during an era that witnessed significant changes in the game, including the increasing emphasis on power hitting and the evolution of player fitness.
Primarily a position player, Heath was known for his versatility and ability to contribute on both offense and defense. He played for several teams throughout his career, leaving a mark as a reliable contributor in the lineup. His legacy in baseball is characterized by his consistency and durability, which allowed him to remain a competitive force in the league for over a decade. As one of the players who bridged the late 1970s and 1980s, Heath's contributions helped shape the modern game, influencing future generations of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1325 | 4212 | 462 | 1061 | 173 | 27 | 86 | 469 | 54 | 278 | 616 | 0.252 | 0.300 | 0.367 | 0.667 | -5342.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NYY | AL | 33 | 92 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.228 | -346.3 |
| 1979 | OAK | AL | 74 | 258 | 19 | 66 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 0.256 | -661.6 |
| 1980 | OAK | AL | 92 | 305 | 27 | 74 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 0.243 | -1080.5 |
| 1981 | OAK | AL | 84 | 301 | 26 | 71 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 30 | 3 | 13 | 36 | 0.236 | -628.7 |
| 1982 | OAK | AL | 101 | 318 | 43 | 77 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 8 | 27 | 36 | 0.242 | -584.2 |
| 1983 | OAK | AL | 96 | 345 | 45 | 97 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 33 | 3 | 18 | 59 | 0.281 | -143.8 |
| 1984 | OAK | AL | 140 | 475 | 49 | 118 | 21 | 5 | 13 | 64 | 7 | 26 | 72 | 0.248 | -503.4 |
| 1985 | OAK | AL | 138 | 436 | 71 | 109 | 18 | 6 | 13 | 55 | 7 | 41 | 63 | 0.250 | 10.9 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 30 | 98 | 11 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 0.265 | -54.6 |
| 1986 | STL | NL | 65 | 190 | 19 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 2 | 23 | 36 | 0.205 | -54.6 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 93 | 270 | 34 | 76 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 33 | 1 | 21 | 42 | 0.281 | 161.1 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 86 | 219 | 24 | 54 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 18 | 32 | 0.247 | -126.8 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | 122 | 396 | 38 | 104 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 43 | 7 | 24 | 71 | 0.263 | -44.8 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | 122 | 370 | 46 | 100 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 38 | 7 | 19 | 71 | 0.270 | -198.6 |
| 1991 | ATL | NL | 49 | 139 | 4 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 0.209 | -654.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.190 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.286 |
| 1981 | AWDIV | OAK | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1981 | ALCS | OAK | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 1978 | WS | NYA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 38 | 21 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 1 |
| C | 1083 | 935 | 4919 | 537 | 106 | 73 |
| OF | 215 | 130 | 331 | 14 | 6 | 3 |
| SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | NYA | C | 33 | 24 | 151 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | OAK | C | 22 | 17 | 80 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | OAK | 3B | 7 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | OAK | OF | 46 | 43 | 86 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 1980 | OAK | C | 47 | 43 | 268 | 19 | 4 | 5 |
| 1980 | OAK | OF | 8 | 6 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | OAK | C | 78 | 76 | 391 | 45 | 10 | 6 |
| 1981 | OAK | OF | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | OAK | C | 90 | 77 | 350 | 50 | 11 | 8 |
| 1982 | OAK | 3B | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | OAK | OF | 10 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | OAK | C | 80 | 71 | 316 | 47 | 10 | 6 |
| 1983 | OAK | 3B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | OAK | OF | 24 | 15 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | OAK | C | 108 | 96 | 423 | 54 | 7 | 7 |
| 1984 | OAK | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | OAK | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | OAK | OF | 45 | 28 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | OAK | C | 112 | 94 | 483 | 44 | 10 | 9 |
| 1985 | OAK | 3B | 13 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | OAK | OF | 35 | 16 | 49 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | DET | C | 29 | 27 | 145 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 | DET | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | SLN | C | 63 | 51 | 259 | 30 | 10 | 4 |
| 1986 | SLN | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | C | 67 | 54 | 337 | 38 | 4 | 5 |
| 1987 | DET | 1B | 4 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1987 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | OF | 24 | 12 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DET | C | 75 | 62 | 357 | 24 | 6 | 3 |
| 1988 | DET | OF | 9 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | DET | C | 117 | 107 | 582 | 66 | 9 | 10 |
| 1989 | DET | 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | DET | OF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | DET | C | 117 | 99 | 585 | 54 | 13 | 7 |
| 1990 | DET | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | DET | OF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | ATL | C | 45 | 37 | 192 | 33 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1083 |
| First Base | 4 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 38 |
| Shortstop | 3 |
| Left Field | 81 |
| Center Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 142 |
| Designated Hitter | 42 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | ATL | NL | $950,000 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | $600,000 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | $425,000 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | $400,000 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $650,000 |
| 1986 | SLN | NL | $533,333 |
| 1985 | OAK | AL | $425,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,983,333 | ||