:Mike Anderson (outfielder)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mike Anderson

|position=Outfielder

|image=Mike Anderson 1972.jpg

|caption=Anderson in 1972

|width=250px

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1951|6|22}}

|birth_place=Florence, South Carolina, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 2

|debutyear=1971

|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 30

|finalyear=1979

|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.246

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=28

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=134

|teams=

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1971}}–{{mlby|1975}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1976}}–{{mlby|1977}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|1978}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1979}})

}}

Michael Allen Anderson (born June 22, 1951) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He is the brother of former Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder Kent Anderson.

Career

=First round draft pick=

The Florence, South Carolina native signed a letter of intent to play tight end for the University of South Carolina upon graduation from Timmonsville High School in Timmonsville, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://1980toppsbaseball.blogspot.com/2010/08/317-mike-anderson.html|title=#317 Mike Anderson|publisher=1980 Topps|date=August 6, 2010}} He changed paths when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1055954-25-cant-miss-phillies-prospects-that-never-panned-out|author=Grag Pinto|date=February 7, 2012|title=25 'Can't-Miss' Phillies Prospects Who Never Panned out|publisher=Bleacher Report}} Over three seasons in the Phillies' farm system, Anderson batted .322 with 21 home runs & 241 runs batted in to earn a September call up to the Phillies at just twenty years old.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

In his major league debut, he was struck out three times by the New York Mets' Gary Gentry.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197109020.shtml|title=New York Mets 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=September 2, 1971}} He rebounded nicely the next day, going three for four with a triple & an RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197109030.shtml|title=New York Mets 7, Philadelphia Phillies 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=September 3, 1971}} For the season, he batted .247 with two home runs & five RBIs.

During Spring training {{by|1972}}, Anderson was hit in the head by a pitch from the Cincinnati Reds' Clay Carroll, and carried off the field on a stretcher.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDJXJINcj00C&pg=PA77|last=Morgan|first=Bruce|date=2012|title=Steve Carlton and the 1972 Phillies|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|page=77|isbn=9780786489831}} He recovered in time to begin the season as the Phillies' everyday right fielder, but after batting just .194 through May, he was demoted to triple A Eugene, with a platoon of Roger Freed & Oscar Gamble taking over in right. He played well for the Eugene Emeralds, batting .298 with seventeen home runs & 56 RBIs, but it wasn't enough to earn him a call backup to the majors that season.

He spent all of {{by|1973}} platooning with Bill Robinson in right field, and took over sole possession of the position in {{by|1974}}. He managed a career high 34 RBIs, but failed to live up to the promise that made him one of the top Phillies' prospects when he first came up to the majors.

=St. Louis Cardinals=

Anderson was traded from the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ron Reed at the Winter Meetings on December 9, 1975.[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/10/archives/veeck-has-funds-to-pay-white-sox-price-today-veeck-set-to-buy-white.html Durso, Joseph. "Veeck Has Funds to Pay White Sox Price Today," The New York Times, Wednesday, December 10, 1975.] Retrieved October 16, 2022. He was used primarily as a backup corner outfielder & pinch hitter in {{by|1976}}. He performed well in this role, batting .333 with four walks in 26 pinch hitting plate appearances. He was used more strictly in right field in {{by|1977}}, and saw more limited use. He was released during Spring training {{by|1978}}.

=Baltimore Orioles=

After being released by the Cards, Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. Though he played well for the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers (8 home runs, 34 RBIs, .313 batting average), he did not fit into the Phillies' plans. The team released him in order to allow him to sign elsewhere, and he was immediately picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. His stint in Baltimore did not go well. Used very sparingly by manager Earl Weaver, Anderson batted just .094 in 32 at bats. He was released after the season, and signed with the Phillies once again.

=Phillies=

After a brief stop in Oklahoma City, Anderson began his third stint with the Phillies on April 28, {{by|1979}} with a double in his first at bat.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197904280.shtml|title=San Diego Padres 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=April 28, 1979}} He received most of his playing time as a late inning defensive replacement for Greg Luzinski in left field, though his most memorable performance may have been when he made his debut on the mound on June 27. He struck out both of the first two batters he faced, and pitched a scoreless inning in an 11-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197904280.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs 11, Philadelphia Phillies 4|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=June 27, 1979}}

He spent all of {{by|1980}} in Oklahoma City, and batted .327 with eight home runs, but it wasn't enough to earn a call up to the World Series championship team. He was released after the season. He spent part of the {{by|1981}} season in the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league system before retiring.