1984 Profile: Mike Armstrong

"When the New York Yankees sent Steve Balboni to the Kansas City Royals on December 8, 1983 and received side-arming reliever Mike Armstrong in return, 99 per cent of Yankee fans rolled their heads back and muttered, 'What are we going to do with another relief pitcher relief pitcher? We already have George Frazier and Rich Gossage?'
The Yankees have neither Frazier nor Gossage at this time. They do have Armstrong, who won 10 games for the Royals in 1983, not an easy task when you consider that he pitched behind record-breaking Dan Quisenberry.
Armstrong is a local product, born in Glen Cove, Long Island, and it makes you wonder how he escaped the Yankees in the first place. But time heals all wounds, and the Yankees rectified that apparent oversight when they traded for the 6-3, 30-year-old reliever.
He is more valuable today than when he was first acquired because of the defection of Gossage and the trade of Frazier. He can come in to pitch to one batter, can pitch in long relief, can spell a tired starter and is a workhorse. In 1982 and 1983, he appeared in 110 games for the Royals.
Mike Armstrong will give manager Yogi Berra an extra trump card in 1984."

-The New York Yankees Official 1984 Yearbook

"1983 was Armstrong's first full major league season. He appeared in 58 games, all in relief, and finished 32 games. He had a five-game streak, from June 19 to June 30, of not allowing any runs (9.2 IP) and won his final three decisions. Mike was the number two man in the Kansas City bullpen, often working in advance of Dan Quisenberry, who set a major league record with 45 saves in 1983.
Mike began his career with the Reds organization as a 1st round selection in January 1974. He was traded to the Padres in 1979 and to the Royals in 1982, and has career minor league totals of 67-59 with a 3.25 ERA (935 IP), 680 strikeouts and 38 saves.
Armstrong made his major league debut with the Padres against Cincinnati on August 12, 1980, pitching one inning and allowing a walk. He made his AL debut in May 1982 against the Yankees, pitching three scoreless innings and allowing two hits; he posted his first major league win against Texas and his first major league save against Oakland.
A native New Yorker, Mike played his college ball at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida."

-1984 New York Yankees Information Guide