Mike Stanley

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Robert Michael "Mike" Stanley (born June 25, 1963 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) was a baseball catcher who had a 15-year career MLB career. The 1995 American League All-Star played for the Texas Rangers (1986-1991), New York Yankees (1992-1995, 1997), Boston Red Sox (1996-1997, 1998-2000), Toronto Blue Jays (1998) and Oakland Athletics (2000). Stanley won the 1993 Silver Slugger award at catcher and was a member of the Yankees' 1994 AL Eastern Division Championship team and the Athletics' 2000 AL Western Division Championship team.

Stanley hit more than 20 home runs in a season three times during his career. His best all-around season at the plate came in 1993 with the Yankees, when he hit .305 with 26 homers and 84 RBI. He also hit .300 in 1994, and he notched a career-high 29 homers in 1998.

Stanley became a first baseman/designated hitter at the end of his career. He finished as a .270 career hitter with 187 homers, 702 RBI and a fine .370 career on base percentage. Stanley also hit well in the postseason, recording a .356 batting average and .434 on base percentage in 5 postseason series.

Following his retirement, Stanley was hired to serve as bench coach for the Red Sox throughout the 2002 season. He resigned after the year to spend more time with his family.

Stanley now lives in Maitland, Florida. His son Tanner played for the Maitland team in the 2005 Little League World Series; one of Tanner's teammates, Dante Bichette, Jr., is also the son of a former major-leaguer (Dante Bichette).