Mike Fiore

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Michael Gary Joseph Fiore (born October 11, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the New York Mets before the 1963 season, drafted by the Baltimore Orioles from the Mets in the 1963 first-year draft (December 2), and later drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the Orioles as the 17th pick in the 1968 expansion draft. He played for the Orioles (1968), Royals (1969-1970), Boston Red Sox (1970-1971), St. Louis Cardinals (1972), and San Diego Padres(1972).

Fiore hit the first home run in Kansas City Royals history. It took place at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in their fifth game...April 13, 1969. Fiore led off the top of the 2nd with a solo shot against Oakland Athletics All-Star John "Blue Moon" Odom.

Other career highlights include:

a three-run home run against Minnesota Twins All-Star Jim Perry (June 29, 1969)
three 3-hit games, with the most impressive coming against the Cleveland Indians on August 9, 1969, in which he hit two singles and a home run, scoring three times in the 10-0 win
a two-run home run against the A's Blue Moon Odom in front of 30,004 fans at Fenway Park (August 10, 1971)
hit a combined .370 (20-for-54) against All-Stars Ray Culp, Jim McGlothlin, John O'Donoghue, Jim Perry, Mel Stottlemyre, and Luis Tiant
hit .300 (6-for-20) against Hall of Famer Jim "Catfish" Hunter

His personal high for playing time was during the 1969 season, when he hit .274 with 12 HR and 35 RBI in 107 games. He finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .227, 13 HR, 50 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 254 ballgames.