1970 Profile: Gene Michael

"It was questionable whether Gene Michael would make the club last spring, but an injury to Tom Tresh gave the onetime Pirate and Dodger another chance. And once he got into the lineup, there was no getting him out, and in June the Yanks showed their faith in Gene by trading Tresh to Detroit.
Although rated a poor hitter, he came through with a .272 average which included 23 doubles, two homers and 31 RBI's. And he gave the Yanks some of the steadiest shortstopping they've had since Tony Kubek's retirement."

-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1970

"Gene labored hard and long (eight years) in the minors. It was said that he had a beautiful glove but couldn't hit. A curious set of circumstances seemed to bear out the suspicion. First, Gene got into 30 games as a Pirate during a '66 emergency and hit only .152. Then he was traded to the Dodgers for Maury Wills. A broken hand and the pressure of trying to replace the fan's big favorite gave Gene a year he'd rather forget. The Yankees saw it as an off year and acquired him from the Dodgers in 1967.
Last season showed that Gene Michael had it all along. When Tom Tresh was injured last May, Gene replaced him permanently as shortstop. His improved hitting (.272) seemed to make him even stronger on defense; he made brilliant plays; his arm was excellent; he put all together in the best performance at shortstop the Yankees have seen in recent years.
The former Kent State basketball star, who now lives in Norwood, New Jersey, is married and the father of three children.
His biggest thrill in baseball: the day he put on the Yankee flannels."

-The New York Yankees Official 1970 Yearbook

"Gene came into his own last year. He broke into the starting lineup at shortstop on May 27 and never left. He finished the year hitting .272, third-highest on the club, and helped stabilize the infield. Gene took the shortstop job away from Tom Tresh.
After eight years in the minor leagues with the Pittsburgh organization, Gene was traded to the Dodgers in 1967 to take over the shortstop post vacated by Maury Wills but did not make it. 1968 found him traded to the Yankees, also to fill a void at shortstop. He had a disappointing first season in New York at bat and in the field. Last year was a different story- Gene gained confidence as a regular and was outstanding in the field and at bat.
Gene attended Kent State where he was a basketball star and was pursued by the New York Knicks. He pitched in the minor leagues at Kinston in 1963, where was 1-3, and also appeared on the mound with the Yankees in 1968 when he allowed five unearned runs in three innings, giving up five hits and striking out three.
Nicknamed 'Stick' due to his long, lanky appearance, Gene spent the off-season working for the Yankees Promotion Department."

-1970 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide