1985 Profile: Mike Pagliarulo

"A big part of the second half youth movement that gave the Yankees hope in the final days of 1984, Pagliarulo was platooned with right-handed hitting Toby Harrah at third base. He was called up even though he was hitting only .212 for Columbus (AAA), yet showed a slick glove and some power, hitting .239 with seven homers and 34 RBI in 201 at-bats with the Yanks last season.
Born in Medford, Mass., he was a sixth round draft choice out of Miami in 1981. His father Charlie was an infielder in the Chicago Cubs organization."

-Tracy Ringolsby, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1985 Edition

"When third baseman Mike Pagliarulo joined the Yankees on July 7, 1984, he was already considered an outstanding defensive player. Some people even compared him to former Yankees great Graig Nettles. But his ability to hit big league pitching was questioned. Pags answered such questions by hitting .282 in his first 121 at-bats including 17 extra-base hits and a grand slam homer.
'You don't usually see guys with this kind of defense and power,' says Yankees General Manager Clyde King. Despite a late season slump in '84, Pagliarulo still has shown he's on his way to becoming a complete player. Platooning with Dale Berra at third, Pagliarulo's maturity and healthy approach to the game is becoming evident.
'When I balance everything out,' he says, 'when I'm hitting the ball and doing my job on the field, that's when I'm satisfied.'"

-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook

"Pagliarulo hit for his lowest batting average since his rookie league year at Oneonta, but continued to show prowess with the glove while at Columbus. Called up to the Yankees on July 7, replacing the injured Toby Harrah, Mike made his major league debut that night in Minnesota going 3-for-5 with two runs, two doubles and an RBI. He hit his first big league home run on July 13 (second game) off Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen at Yankee Stadium. Mike played his first 33 games without an error.
He continued to hit for power, with better than half his hits going for extra bases, and hit a grand slam off Baltimore's Dennis Martinez on September 18 in New York. Pags had a seven-game hitting streak, September 13-21, going 8-for-22 (.364 BA) including three homers in four games, September 16-19, but went 3-for-27 (.111 BA) over his last nine games, dropping his batting average 20 points.
Mike played a full season at AA Nashville in 1983 and led Southern League third basemen in fielding with a .954 percentage in 133 games with 433 total chances, 98 putouts and 315 assists. In 1982, he was named utility infielder on the South Atlantic All-Star team. Mike was signed in 1981 by Yankee scout Fred Ferreira.
He graduated in 1978 from Medford (Mass.) High School, where he played baseball, basketball and ran track. Mike played South Medford Little League, Medford Babe Ruth League and Medford Post 45 American Legion baseball. He attended the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) and was a finance major. His father, Charles Pagliarulo , was an infielder in the Chicago Cubs organization in 1958.
Mike enjoys golf and going to Boston Celtics and Bruins games."

-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide