Michael Dennis Ferraro (born August 18, 1944 in Kingston, New York

Kingston, New York

Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...

) is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 former Major League Baseball

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...

 third baseman

Third baseman

A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...

. He played for the 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...

 , Seattle Pilots

Seattle Pilots

The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...

 , and 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...

 . Ferraro threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg).

Playing career

Ferraro was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees, where he would have two stints in the majors with New York. He was left unprotected in the 1968 expansion draft, and he was selected by the Seattle Pilots

Seattle Pilots

The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...

, but after only five games and four at-bats, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

, where he spent two years in the minors. However, in 1971, he was traded back to the 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...

 (the Pilots moved to Milwaukee after only one season in Seattle), where he would play his only season as a regular player. In 1973, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

, but was promptly released. He tried one last comeback with the Yankees in 1974, but he never made it back to the majors.

Managerial career

He turned to managing

Manager (baseball)

In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...

 in the Yankee farm system in 1974, and he was highly successful in his five-year career (through 1978), winning pennant

Pennant (sports)

A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...

s at Class A, AA and AAA levels. He was the Yankees' major-league third-base coach

Coach (baseball)

In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...

 in 1979-80, but his tenure in that post included some controversy. After Game 2 of the 1980 American League Championship Series

1980 American League Championship Series

-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1980 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriThe series opener saw the Yankees throw their ace, Ron Guidry, against the Royals' Larry Gura. In the top of the second, the Bronx Bombers jumped out to a 2–0 lead when Rick Cerone and Lou Piniella smacked back-to-back...

, George Steinbrenner heavily criticized for waving home runner Willie Randolph

Willie Randolph

Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...

, who was thrown out at home plate for the final out of the eighth inning with Kansas City leading New York 3-2. Steinbrenner wanted Ferraro fired summarily, but he remained at his post through the end of the LCS, which New York lost. Then, his manager, Dick Howser

Dick Howser

Richard Dalton Howser was an American Major League Baseball shortstop, coach and manager. He is best known as the manager of the Kansas City Royals during the 1980s, and for guiding them to the franchise's only World Series title in 1985.-Playing career:A native of Miami, Florida, Howser grew up...

, resigned over the Ferraro brouhaha. Ironically, Ferraro ultimately returned to New York as a coach in 1981-1982, and again in 1989.

Ferraro got his first managerial job with the Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

 to replace Dave Garcia

Dave Garcia

David Garcia is an American retired coach, scout and manager in Major League Baseball who spent over 65 years in the game...

 after the 1982 season, but after a 40-60 start in 1983, he was fired. Ferraro coached with the Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

 from 1984–1986, working again with Howser, and when Howser stepped down to undergo treatment for a brain tumor

Brain tumor

A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...

 in 1986, Ferraro (himself a survivor of kidney cancer) finished the season. His major league managerial record was 76-98 over parts of two seasons.

External links