Mike Macfarlane
| Mike Macfarlane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: April 12, 1964 Stockton, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 23, 1987, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1999, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .252 |
| Home runs | 129 |
| Runs batted in | 514 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Michael Andrew Macfarlane (born April 12, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals (1987–1994, 1996–1998), Boston Red Sox (1995), and Oakland Athletics (1998–1999).
Early life
[edit]Macfarlane graduated from Lincoln High School in Stockton, California, in 1982. He played collegiate baseball for Santa Clara University before his selection in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 1985 draft.
Career
[edit]In 1988, Macfarlane became the first Royals rookie catcher to start on Opening Day since Ellie Rodríguez in 1969. In 1992, he led Kansas City with 17 home runs and a .445 slugging percentage. In 1994, he became the Royals leader in all-time games caught, surpassing a club record set by John Wathan.
In a 13-season major league career, Macfarlane posted a .252 batting average with 129 home runs and 514 runs batted in in 1,164 games played. He is ranked 64th all-time among American League catchers with a .992 fielding percentage while throwing out 33% of potential basestealers. His 97 hit by pitches ranks him 100th on the MLB all-time list.
Post-career activities
[edit]In 1996, Macfarlane co-founded Mac-N-Seitz Baseball Academy with Kevin Seitzer.[1][2] Among the academy's former players is Ryne Stanek.[2] After his retirement in 1999, Macfarlane became a pitching coach.[1] He created a new pitching grip, the Kansas City Knuckle-Curve, which became popular in the area.[1] He taught the pitch to future MLB pitcher Riley Pint.[1]
In 2014, Macfarlane was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.[3]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Manderfeld, Luke (July 29, 2016). "Former Royals catcher Mike Macfarlane teaches unique pitch to young baseball players". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- 1 2 "Mac N Seitz celebrates 25 years: Macfarlane reminisces about its beginnings". Martin City Telegraph. October 31, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Mike MacFarlane Talks Free Agency, Rule Changes, Fantasy Camp and Martin City". Martin City Telegraph. March 12, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
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- Major League Baseball catchers
- Baseball players from Stockton, California
- Kansas City Royals players
- Oakland Athletics players
- Boston Red Sox players
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Memphis Chicks players
- Omaha Royals players
- Santa Clara Broncos baseball players
- Anchorage Bucs players
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- Lincoln High School (Stockton, California) alumni
- American baseball catcher, 1960s birth stubs