| Mike Gallego | |
|---|---|
 Gallego with the Oakland Athletics | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1960-10-31)October 31, 1960 (age 65) Whittier, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 11, 1985, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 23, 1997, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .239 |
| Home runs | 42 |
| Runs batted in | 282 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Michael Anthony Gallego (born October 31, 1960) is anAmerican former professionalbaseball player and currentcoach. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) as aninfielder from 1985 to 1997, most notably as a member of theOakland Athletics team that won three consecutiveAmerican League pennants and aWorld Series championship in1989. He also played for theNew York Yankees and theSt. Louis Cardinals. After his playing career, Gallego served as a major league coach.
Gallego was born inWhittier, California, ofMexican descent. Before playing professionally, he graduated fromSt. Paul High School, where he lettered in baseball and football, and then attended theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (1978–81, history major). Gallego played on theUnited States national baseball team at the1979 Pan American Games.[1]
Gallego was the Athletics' startingsecond baseman during their three-year run of AL championships from 1988 through 1990, which included aWorld Series sweep in 1989 against theirBay Area rivals, theSan Francisco Giants. Throughout his career, he was known more for his glove than his bat. In 1990, he led the AL in sacrifice hits with 17. He had 28 hits without an extra-base hit in 1995, still the post-1912 non-pitcher record. Gallego's 12 home runs in 1991 set a career high.
While playing with the Yankees from 1992 to 1994, Gallego was the last player to wear the uniform number 2 prior to the Yankees'Hall of Fame shortstop,Derek Jeter.[2] Upon his return to the Oakland A's in 1987, Gallego refused to give up uniform number 9 thatReggie Jackson had worn previously with the A's, forcing Jackson to wear number 44 for his final season.[3]
Gallego closed out his career with the Cardinals in 1996 and 1997, where he once again played underTony La Russa, his manager while with the A's.
Gallego was named theColorado Rockiesthird base coach and infield coach in December 2004 and coached until October 7, 2008. He was hired as the A's third base coach and infield instructor during the 2008 offseason. He was dismissed on August 24, 2015.[4]
On November 25, 2015, Gallego was announced as director of baseball development for theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[5] He was promoted to third base coach for the 2019 season, and tobench coach prior to the 2020 season.[6] He remained with the Angels' major-league coaching staff through the 2022 season, then was reassigned within the organization.[7]
Gallego and his wife Caryn have three children, Joe, Niko and Ali. His son Niko also played forUCLA baseball and was signed with theArizona Diamondbacks in July 2010.[8] Niko helped theBruins to the Championship Series of the2010 College World Series, where they lost to South Carolina for the national championship. Following his graduation from UCLA, Niko began playing for theVisalia Rawhide of theCalifornia League.[9] He is the uncle ofLos Angeles Dodgers catcherAustin Barnes.[10] He is of Mexican descent.[11]
· Baseball Almanac