1974 Profile: Gene Michael

"Stick has borne the brunt of the jokes about the Yankees' second base-shortstop combination with Horace Clarke for years, but really has been a pretty good, steady defensive who occasionally gets a big hit.
Born in Kent, Ohio, Gene was once an outstanding basketball player at Kent State and was offered a no-cut contract by the Detroit Pistons. He pitched three innings in 1968.
Gene is an excitable player who has been in a few fights."

-Peter Gammons, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1974 Edition

"This is Gene Michael's seventh year with the Yankees, quite an accomplishment for a career that began with seven and a half years in the minors, then a fast shuttle from the Pirates to the Dodgers to the Yankees.
But since he became a regular shortstop in 1969, Gene has won over all his old critics by getting 100% out of his ability and becoming a quality major league infielder, with good range and a strong arm. He kids himself about his hitting, but Gene is a clutch hitter who reached a career high in runs batted in last season. He was especially effective in the first half when the Yankees were winning.
Then of course, there is that hidden ball trick, with which Gene has embarrassed five men leading off second in recent years.
The kind of man Gene is was best exemplified when his friends from Norwood, New Jersey had a Gene Michael Night at Yankee Stadium, and Gene saw to it that all proceeds went to the established of a Gene Michael Scholarship Fund.
A credit to baseball is Gene, as well as a key figure in the Yankee story today."

-The New York Yankees Official 1974 Yearbook

"The Stick is entering his seventh season as a Yankee, the last five as the club's regular shortstop. There always seems to be a replacement for Gene in spring training, but when the bell rings on Opening Day, Gene usually is found at his familiar post.
A very aware, heads-up type of ballplayer, he's the modern master of the old Hidden Ball Trick, having pulled the stunt five times with the Yankees: he caught Tom Matchik off base in 1968, Zolio Versalles in 1969, Joe Keough and Jarvis Tatum in 1970 and Vic Harris in 1973.
Gene has seen action at both second and third base with the Yankees, and also as a pitcher when in 1968, he allowed five unearned runs on five hits in three innings and struck out three against the Detroit Tigers. He had some pitching experience in the minor leagues, being 1-3 at Kinston in 1963.
Gene was a basketball star at Kent State and later was pursued by the New York Knicks. He became a permanent resident of New Jersey five years ago and has since gained acclaim as a very popular after-dinner speaker around the metropolitan area. He established a college scholarship fund for needy youngsters on Gene Michael Night last August."

-1974 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide