Mike Easler
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Easler is a retired Major League Baseball
outfielder
who enjoyed a 14 year major league career from 1973 to 1987 with the Houston Astros
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, Philadelphia Phillies
, California Angels
, Boston Red Sox
and New York Yankees
. He is currently is a minor league hitting instructor in the New York Mets
organization.
Easler played first base, outfield and designated hitter. He was nicknamed "Hit Man" during his playing career and hit a career high .338 in 1980. After his major league career, he played two seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters
in the Japanese Leagues in 1988-89 and one season with the West Palm Beach Tropics
of the Senior Professional Baseball Association
.
After his retirement, he managed the independent league team Miami Miracle in 1990. He was the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
in 1992, the Boston Red Sox
in 1993, and the St. Louis Cardinals
from 1999-2001. He returned to independent baseball in 2004, managing the Florence Freedom
for part of the season.
He was the hitting coach for the Jacksonville Suns
in 2006 and was the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s
in 2007.
On January 22, 2008, Don Mattingly
, who had been announced as Joe Torre
's hitting coach, chose not to take on the position citing personal reasons. The Dodgers named Easler, their Triple-A coach, as the new hitting coach on Torre's staff.
Easler was dismissed as the Dodgers' hitting coach on July 9, 2008 when it was announced Mattingly would be returning to his role after dealing with turmoil in his marriage. Easler returned to his role as a minor league hitting instructor for the remainder of the season and then left the organization.
In 2011, Easler began his first season as hitting coach of the Buffalo Bisons
in the New York Mets
' organization.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who enjoyed a 14 year major league career from 1973 to 1987 with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He is currently is a minor league hitting instructor in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
organization.
Easler played first base, outfield and designated hitter. He was nicknamed "Hit Man" during his playing career and hit a career high .338 in 1980. After his major league career, he played two seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
in the Japanese Leagues in 1988-89 and one season with the West Palm Beach Tropics
West Palm Beach Tropics
The West Palm Beach Tropics were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club hired Dick Williams as manager and fielded a lineup that included slugger Dave Kingman and Rollie Fingers. The Tropics went 52-20 in the regular...
of the Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
.
After his retirement, he managed the independent league team Miami Miracle in 1990. He was the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1992, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in 1993, and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
from 1999-2001. He returned to independent baseball in 2004, managing the Florence Freedom
Florence Freedom
The Florence Freedom are a professional baseball team based in the Northern Kentucky city of Florence, located near the city of Cincinnati. The Freedom are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league...
for part of the season.
He was the hitting coach for the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
in 2006 and was the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
in 2007.
On January 22, 2008, Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, who had been announced as Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
's hitting coach, chose not to take on the position citing personal reasons. The Dodgers named Easler, their Triple-A coach, as the new hitting coach on Torre's staff.
Easler was dismissed as the Dodgers' hitting coach on July 9, 2008 when it was announced Mattingly would be returning to his role after dealing with turmoil in his marriage. Easler returned to his role as a minor league hitting instructor for the remainder of the season and then left the organization.
In 2011, Easler began his first season as hitting coach of the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
' organization.