Mike Stenhouse
Encyclopedia
Michael Steven Stenhouse (May 29, 1958 in Pueblo, Colorado
) is a former outfielder
, first baseman
, and designated hitter
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Montreal Expos
from -, the Minnesota Twins
in , and the Boston Red Sox
in . Listed at 6'1", 195 lb., Stenhouse batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of pitcher
Dave Stenhouse
.
A star in high school, Mike turned down opportunities at some of the top baseball colleges, including Arizona State University
, in order to attend Harvard
. He was a two time All-Ivy League
r and hit .475 as a freshman in 1977, second-best in NCAA Division I. He was an American Baseball Coaches Association All-American, joining Kirk Gibson
, Hubie Brooks
and Bob Horner.
He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
with the 26th overall pick of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
. He was offered only $12,000 by Charlie Finley and opted to return to college when the commissioner's office refused to make him a free agent. Finley later offered the same amount of money with the stipulation of a September call-up, but Mike backed out when this was not put in writing. Stenhouse was selected fourth overall in the 1980 January draft by the Montreal Expos
. He signed for a $32,000 bonus this time.
He was called up for the first time in 1982, striking out in his only at bat. After two sub-par seasons, he was traded by the Expos to the Minnesota Twins
for Jack O'Connor
. There he had career highs in games played (81), at bats (179), runs (23) hits (40), home runs (5), RBI (21), stolen bases (1), walks (29), and batting average (.223). That December he was traded by the Twins to the Boston Red Sox
for Charlie Mitchell
. In his final major league season he went 2 for 21 (.095), but walked 12 times and had an On base percentage
of .424.
In 1996, Stenhouse was an announcer for the Expos on CIQC
. He had previously been an analyst for the Pawtucket Red Sox
.
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
) is a former 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...
, 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...
, and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come 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 Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
from -, 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...
in , and 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 . Listed at 6'1", 195 lb., Stenhouse batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Dave Stenhouse
Dave Stenhouse
David Rotchford Stenhouse is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators from to . Stenhouse batted and threw right-handed. He is the father of outfielder Mike Stenhouse....
.
A star in high school, Mike turned down opportunities at some of the top baseball colleges, including Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, in order to attend Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He was a two time All-Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
r and hit .475 as a freshman in 1977, second-best in NCAA Division I. He was an American Baseball Coaches Association All-American, joining Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
, Hubie Brooks
Hubie Brooks
Hubert Brooks, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. During his career, he played as a third baseman, shortstop and right fielder for the New York Mets , Montreal Expos , Los Angeles Dodgers , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .Brooks played varsity baseball...
and Bob Horner.
He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
with the 26th overall pick of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. He was offered only $12,000 by Charlie Finley and opted to return to college when the commissioner's office refused to make him a free agent. Finley later offered the same amount of money with the stipulation of a September call-up, but Mike backed out when this was not put in writing. Stenhouse was selected fourth overall in the 1980 January draft by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He signed for a $32,000 bonus this time.
He was called up for the first time in 1982, striking out in his only at bat. After two sub-par seasons, he was traded by the Expos 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...
for Jack O'Connor
Jack O'Connor (pitcher)
Jack William O'Connor is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, between and .-Sources:...
. There he had career highs in games played (81), at bats (179), runs (23) hits (40), home runs (5), RBI (21), stolen bases (1), walks (29), and batting average (.223). That December he was traded by the Twins to 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"...
for Charlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell
Charles Ross Mitchell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 4th round of the amateur draft...
. In his final major league season he went 2 for 21 (.095), but walked 12 times and had an On base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .424.
In 1996, Stenhouse was an announcer for the Expos on CIQC
CINW (AM)
CINW was an English language Canadian radio station located in Montreal, Quebec.Owned and operated by Corus Quebec, it broadcasted on 940 kHz with a power of 50,000 watts as a clear channel station, using a slightly directional antenna solely for the purpose of improving reception in downtown...
. He had previously been an analyst for the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
.