In more than five seasons with the Texas Rangers, the 28-year-old provided solid defense and occasionally a surprising bat. Last year alone he hit .375 (3-for-8, six RBI) with the bases loaded and eight of his 25 RBI were game-winning.
In '91 Stanley hit just .249 in 91 games, but he batted .325 over the last 29 games of the season. Throw in 34 walks and Stanley posted an impressive .372 on-base percentage. The Yankees need Stanley as a complement to starter Matt Nokes and as insurance for younger catchers Jim Leyritz and John Ramos.
'We feel Mike can fit in here,' Yankees GM Gene Michael says. 'I liked him when he was with Texas and I'm glad we've given him an opportunity to help us.' "
-The New York Yankees Official 1992 Yearbook
"Mike played in 95 games in 1991, hitting .249 with three home runs and 25 RBIs. He walked 34 times and had a .372 on-base percentage. 17 of his 45 hits were extra-base hits, including a career high 13 doubles.
He hit .375 (3-for-8, 6 RBIs) with the bases loaded. He hit .277 against left-handed pitchers and .281 at home. Over the last 29 games of the season, Mike hit .325. Eight of his 25 RBIs were game-winning. He made 34 starts behind the plate, five at first base, four at third.
Mike became a free agent on October 14 when he refused an assignment to the minors. He was signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract for the 1992 season on January 21.
He was selected by the Rangers in the June 1985 free agent draft in the 16th round. He started that season at Salem and hit .556 in four games, was sent to Burlington on June 26 and hit .310 in 13 games, and was promoted to Tulsa on July 11 and hit .309 in 46 games.
Mike began the 1986 season with Tulsa and was recalled to Texas on June 26. That day his first major league hit, a double, came against Seattle off Steve Fireovid. He began the 1987 season with Oklahoma City of the American Association and was recalled by the Rangers on June 2. At the time of his recall Mike was hitting .335, was leading the league in RBIs (54) and was tied for the lead in home runs with 13.
He started 54 games for Texas behind the plate, more than any other Ranger catcher in '87. He hit a pair of grand slams including the first pinch-hit grand slam in club history on June 27 against Minnesota off Jeff Reardon. Mike's other slam came on July 3 off Cecilio Guante at New York. He missed most of September with chickenpox and pneumonia.
1988 was his first full season in the majors. Mike began the season as the Rangers' regular catcher and started 44 of the club's first 88 games through July 15. A pulled left hamstring put him on the disabled list from July 23-August 13. He made just four starts behind the plate over the remainder of the season. He caught a total of 64 games and finished with a .991 fielding percentage.
Mike played in 67 games in 1989, hitting .246. He made 34 starts with the Rangers overall, including 18 of the last 28 games. After having only three RBIs in his first 48 games, Mike knocked in eight in his last 19 to close out the season. He spent time on the DL (August 19-September 2) with a strained left knee.
He spent the entire 1990 season with Texas, hitting .249 with two homers and 19 RBIs. He played a career high 103 games and tied his career-best with eight doubles.
Mike's best stretch came from June 17-August 31, hitting .350 (28-for-80) and raising his average from .177 to .264. He broke his left little finger in batting practice on July 21 but did not miss any action.
A versatile player, Mike made 41 starts at catcher, nine as the designated hitter, three at third base and two at second. In 63 games behind the plate, he had a .985 fielding percentage.
Mike played four seasons for the University of Florida. He was selected as the All-Southeastern Conference catcher in 1982 and 1984 and was named to the SEC All-Academic team in 1983.
He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale where he starred in both baseball and football. He was all-state and team MVP in both sports as a senior. He also played Little League, Senior League and American Legion baseball.
Mike enjoys fishing and golf."
-1992 New York Yankees Information Guide
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