Mike Squires
Encyclopedia
Michael Lynn Squires is a former Major League Baseball
player who played for the Chicago White Sox
primarily as a first baseman
from 1975 and 1977 to 1985. Squires was best known as a defensive player, often coming on in late inning situations when the White Sox had a slim lead. He did not have the typical power associated with a corner infielder, never hitting more than two home runs in a season. Nonetheless, he was a valuable member of the White Sox of the early Tony LaRussa era, particularly in their 1983 AL West championship run.
On May 4, 1980, Squires became the first left-handed-throwing catcher
in Major League Baseball since Chris Short
in 1961 when he was shifted from first base in the ninth inning
of an 11–1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers
at Comiskey Park
. He would go behind home plate
one more time three days later on the same homestand, coming off the bench in the ninth inning of a 12–5 defeat to the Kansas City Royals
. He replaced Bruce Kimm
in both instances.
He became the first left-handed-throwing third baseman
in at least 50 years on August 23, 1983 when he entered the game for Vance Law
in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 10–2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City. He would play thirteen more games at third base the following season
, including four starts at the position.
Squires currently works as a scout
for the Cincinnati Reds
.
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...
player who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
primarily as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
from 1975 and 1977 to 1985. Squires was best known as a defensive player, often coming on in late inning situations when the White Sox had a slim lead. He did not have the typical power associated with a corner infielder, never hitting more than two home runs in a season. Nonetheless, he was a valuable member of the White Sox of the early Tony LaRussa era, particularly in their 1983 AL West championship run.
On May 4, 1980, Squires became the first left-handed-throwing catcher
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 since Chris Short
Chris Short
Christopher Joseph "Style" Short was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , and in his final year, for the Milwaukee Brewers . He was a left-handed pitcher, but batted righty. He was born in Milford, Delaware.Short was considered a top pitcher from 1964 through 1968 with...
in 1961 when he was shifted from first base in the ninth inning
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
of an 11–1 loss to 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...
at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
. He would go behind home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
one more time three days later on the same homestand, coming off the bench in the ninth inning of a 12–5 defeat to 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...
. He replaced Bruce Kimm
Bruce Kimm
Bruce Edward Kimm is a retired American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox between 1976 until 1980....
in both instances.
He became the first left-handed-throwing 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...
in at least 50 years on August 23, 1983 when he entered the game for Vance Law
Vance Law
Vance Aaron Law is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago White Sox , Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , and Oakland Athletics . He also played one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 1990. Law batted and threw...
in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 10–2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City. He would play thirteen more games at third base the following season
1984 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over San Diego Padres ; Alan Trammell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Kirk Gibson*National League Championship Series MVP: Steve Garvey...
, including four starts at the position.
Squires currently works as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
External links
- WHAT'S UP WITH MIKE SQUIRES, by Joe Goddard Chicago Sun Times, August 19, 2001