Mike Figga
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Figga is a retired catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the New York Yankees
and the Baltimore Orioles
. In a 3-year career, Figga hit .213 with 1 home run.
, Figga attended A.P. Leto High School in Tampa, graduating in 1988. Figga then enjoyed a short but standout career at Central Florida Community College
. Figga was drafted in 1989 by the New York Yankees
. He played in the Australian Baseball League with the Canberra Bushrangers
in the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
. For that appearance, Figga earned a World Series ring when the Yankees won the World Series the following month.
In 1999, Figga started the season as one of three catchers on the Yankees' roster, after owner George Steinbrenner
reportedly wanted him on the team. Figga was the with the Yankees for two months but played just two innings and was designated for assignment by the Yankees in May 1999. In June 1999, Figga was picked up on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles
, and played 41 games for the Orioles.
in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. He subsequently retired from baseball with an early case of the dreaded disease of catchers: bad knees. Today, Figga now works and lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and coaches Little League.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
who 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...
and 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...
. In a 3-year career, Figga hit .213 with 1 home run.
Early life and education
Born in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Figga attended A.P. Leto High School in Tampa, graduating in 1988. Figga then enjoyed a short but standout career at Central Florida Community College
Central Florida Community College
College of Central Florida, formerly known as Central Florida Community College, is a public state college in Ocala, Florida. The College of Central Florida is a member institution of the Florida College System....
. Figga was drafted in 1989 by 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...
. He played in the Australian Baseball League with the Canberra Bushrangers
Canberra Bushrangers
The Canberra Bushrangers were originally created as the Melbourne Bushrangers, To replace the Melbourne Monarchs in the 1991-92 Australian Baseball League Championship after the Monarchs were expelled from the competition....
in the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Major league career
After a long career in the minor leagues, Figga made his major-league debut on September 16, 1997, with the Yankees. Figga appeared in five games for the Yankees between 1997 and 1999. His lone major-league appearance in 1998 was on September 23, 1998, when he went one-for-four and scored a run against the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
. For that appearance, Figga earned a World Series ring when the Yankees won the World Series the following month.
In 1999, Figga started the season as one of three catchers on the Yankees' roster, after owner George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
reportedly wanted him on the team. Figga was the with the Yankees for two months but played just two innings and was designated for assignment by the Yankees in May 1999. In June 1999, Figga was picked up on waivers by 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...
, and played 41 games for the Orioles.
After baseball
From 2000 until 2004, Figga played both in the minor leagues and for the Nashua PrideNashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. He subsequently retired from baseball with an early case of the dreaded disease of catchers: bad knees. Today, Figga now works and lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and coaches Little League.