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| Mike Stanton | |
|---|---|
 Stanton during Spring training in 2008 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1967-06-02)June 2, 1967 (age 58) Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 24, 1989, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 2007, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games pitched | 1,178 |
| Win–loss record | 68–63 |
| Earned run average | 3.92 |
| Strikeouts | 895 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
William Michael Stanton (born June 2, 1967) is an American former left-handedrelief pitcher who pitched for eight teams inMajor League Baseball between 1989 and 2007. Stanton won theWorld Series in 1998, 1999, and 2000 as a member of theNew York Yankees.
Stanton graduated fromMidland High School inMidland, Texas, where he playedbaseball,basketball andfootball. However, he did notpitch at all inhigh school. His first pitching appearance came atSouthwestern University inGeorgetown, Texas. Stanton also attendedAlvin Community College.
Stanton relied throughout his career on afastball,slider, andcurveball.[1] He also developed atwo-seam fastball andchangeup.[2]
Stanton was drafted by theAtlanta Braves. He made his major league debut with the Braves in 1989 and spent the first six years of his career with the team. He pitched in 20 games in his first year, racking up 27 strikeouts and seven saves.
Stanton struggled mightily in his sophomore season, going 0–3 with an ERA of 18.00 in just seven innings (giving up 14 runs).[3] His first full year in the major leagues was 1991, and he put up a 5–5 record in 74 games, earning a spot on the Braves' postseason roster. He pitched well, allowing just one run in eight total games and earning a win in the1991 World Series.
In 1992, Stanton went 5–4, (his first season with a record over .500).[3] The Braves once again lost the World Series, this time to theToronto Blue Jays. Stanton allowed three hits and two walks during the series. The next year, he fashioned a 4–6 record with a in 63 games, but earned a career-high 27 saves.[3] He pitched one inning of one-hit, one-walk baseball in the1993 National League Championship Series.
In 1994, Stanton fashioned a 3–1 record before the strike ended the season early. He was granted free agency following the season, but re-signed on April 12, 1995. When play resumed in 1995, Stanton pitched in 26 games, garnering a 1–1 record and 5.59 ERA before being traded on July 31 to theBoston Red Sox. The Braves would go on to win theWorld Series that season, but Stanton was nevertheless awarded a World Series ring.[4]
Stanton pitched in 22 games with a 1–0 record and 3.00 ERA in 1995. He allowed one hit and struck out four in his only postseason appearance. In 1996, he fashioned a 4–3 record with a 3.83 ERA before being traded to theTexas Rangers.
Stanton pitched in 23 games while surrendering eight runs. In the1996 American League Division Series, he pitched in three games, earning one loss and surrendering his only postseason home run.[3] On October 27, 1996, he was granted free agency, and he signed with the Yankees on December 11.
Stanton pitched for theNew York Yankees for seven seasons. During that span, Stanton was a large part of the Yankees World Series teams, proving himself in big roles out of the bullpen. He garnered a 6–1 record in 1997, and appeared in 64 games.[3] In the1997 American League Division Series, he allowed one hit in one inning while striking out three.[3] In 1998, Stanton went 4–1 and collected six saves during the Yankees' 114-win season. After not pitching in theDivision Series, he returned during theChampionship Series and allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over three games.[3] In the1998 World Series, Stanton allowed three hits and two earned runs,[3] and earned a World Series ring as the Yankees swept the Padres four games to none. In 1999, he was 2–2 in 73 games, and did not pitch in the Division Series.
In the Championship Series, he allowed one hit in1⁄3 of an inning. However, he rebounded in the1999 World Series, striking out the only batter he faced.[3] On November 5, he was granted free agency, but re-signed with the Yankees on November 29.[3] In 2000, he was 2–3 with a 4.10 ERA over 69 games. He pitched in four innings of one-hit ball in the Division Series and did not pitch in the Championship Series.[3] In the2000 World Series, he earned two wins in four games. In 2001, he was 9–4 with a 2.58 ERA and was selected to the 2001 All-Star team. He pitched in all three games of the2001 American League Division Series and in two games of the2001 American League Championship Series. He pitched in five games of the2001 World Series.
In 2002, he was 7–1 with a 3.00 ERA, and pitched in three games in the2002 American League Division Series allowing three runs.[3]
Following the 2002 season, the Yankees offered Stanton a two-year, $4.6 million contract to remain with the team. The Yankees gave Stanton 15 minutes to make a decision; he did not respond to their offer.[5]
On December 16, 2002, Stanton signed a three-year, $9 million contract with theNew York Mets.[6] He spent two seasons with the club. Stanton posted a career-worst 2–7 with a 4.57 ERA with the Mets in 2003. He posted a 2–6 record in 2004 despite rebounding back with a 3.16 ERA.[3] He was traded on December 4 forFélix Heredia. August 3, 2004, Stantonstruck out four batters in one inning. He struck outGary Bennett,Scott Podsednik (who reached base on an uncaught third strike),Trent Durrington, andWes Helms.
Stanton pitched in 28 games with the Yankees in 2005 with a 7.07 ERA. He was released on July 1.
Stanton was 2–1 with theWashington Nationals, posting a 3.58 ERA and finishing six games.[7] On September 29, he was traded to theBoston Red Sox, where he pitched one inning of one-hit ball. He was released by the Red Sox on October 12.[3]
He re-signed with Washington on December 24 and was 3–5 with a 4.47 ERA in 56 games. On July 28, 2006, he was traded to theSan Francisco Giants. He was 4–2 with the Giants over 26 games and was released on October 30. On November 20, 2006, he signed with theCincinnati Reds.
With the Reds, he was 1–3 with a 5.93 ERA in 69 games. Despite his high salary due in 2008, the Reds cut Stanton from the team, going instead with veteran leftyKent Mercker. The Reds paid $3.5 million in salary to make the cut, including the 2008 salary and the 2009 option.[8] After being cut by the Reds, Stanton signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Chicago Cubs on January 20,2009. He did not make the team and was released on March 30.[9]
In his major league career, Stanton posted a 68–63 record with a 3.92ERA and 84saves in 1178games pitched which ranks him second all-time in appearances behindJesse Orosco (1252). He is also the all-time leader inholds with 266 when counting games before 1999, when MLB started counting it as an official statistic.
Despite being aset-up man, Stanton chose to come out of the bullpen to an entrance song like manyMajor Leagueclosers do. Stanton usually entered toAldo Nova's "Fantasy". With theNew York Mets however, he came in toMetallica's "Enter Sandman" during save situations as a tribute toMariano Rivera, whom heset up for in hisYankees years.[10]
Stanton was mentioned in theMitchell Report for purchasinghuman growth hormone, implicated byKirk Radomski.[11] Stanton has flatly denied any wrongdoing or any connection to any type of performance-enhancing drugs in his baseball career. Stanton's alleged HGH use was also mentioned in testimony byBrian McNamee during theRoger Clemens trial.[12]
Stanton worked as the head coach of the varsity baseball team atDon Bosco Preparatory High School inRamsey, New Jersey.[13][better source needed]
From 2013 to 2024, Stanton hosted the pregame show for theHouston Astros onSpace City Home Network.[14][15]
Media related toMike Stanton at Wikimedia Commons · Baseball Almanac
