Mike Ivie---1976
His unquestioned talent and potential
left scouts drooling at the sight of
Ivie. A high school All-American while
growing up in Atlanta, Ivie was the
first overall pick in the 1970 draft,
nabbed by the infant San Diego
Padres. Yet aside from a few flashes
of brilliance, Ivie proved to be little
more than a moody player with brittle
confidence that prevented him from
living up to worlds of expectations.
Promoted to the big leagues at the
end of his second minor league
season, the 19-year-old Ivie
impressed by recording eight hits in
15 at-bats during his first cup of
coffee with the Padres. He returned
in 1974 and had just three safeties in
34 trips to the plate before spending
the entire 1975 slate with San Diego.
He hit .249 with the Padres and
earned a spot on the Topps All-
Rookie club. In 1976, he paced the
team with a .291 batting average and
70 RBIs, although his home run
output did not live up to expectations.
Ivie battled personal demons during
his time with the Padres. Projected as
a potential star behind the plate, he
hated catching and even developed
a mental block about throwing the
ball back to the pitcher. He played
mostly first base thereafter, yet
sulked and left the team for several
days in 1977 when he was shifted to
third base. That led to a trade to San
Francisco the following offseason.
Ivie responded to his new
surroundings by hitting .387 as a
pinch-hitter, including four pinch-
homers and two pinch-grand slams,
and posted 20 RBIs in just 31 at-bats
off the pines. With Willie McCovey
nearing retirement, Ivie took over the
Giants’ first-base duties in 1979 and
put together the best season of his
career, including 27 home runs and
89 RBIs.
Just as it appeared that Ivie would
take his game to all-star status,
difficulties arose again. He cut a
tendon in his hand with a hunting
knife during the offseason and
became so frustrated that he retired
after a rough start in 1980. He
returned to the Giants shortly
thereafter, only to have San
Francisco send Ivie to Houston on
April 20, 1981, in exchange for
outfielder Jeffrey Leonard and
infielder Dave Bergman. After hitting .
238 with Houston in 1981, Ivie was
released by the Astros in May 1982
and picked up by the Tigers. He
batted .232 with 14 home runs as a
reserve with Detroit in 1982 prior to
retiring from the game for a final time
after seeing action in 12 games with
the Tigers in 1983.
(9/28/09)
left scouts drooling at the sight of
Ivie. A high school All-American while
growing up in Atlanta, Ivie was the
first overall pick in the 1970 draft,
nabbed by the infant San Diego
Padres. Yet aside from a few flashes
of brilliance, Ivie proved to be little
more than a moody player with brittle
confidence that prevented him from
living up to worlds of expectations.
Promoted to the big leagues at the
end of his second minor league
season, the 19-year-old Ivie
impressed by recording eight hits in
15 at-bats during his first cup of
coffee with the Padres. He returned
in 1974 and had just three safeties in
34 trips to the plate before spending
the entire 1975 slate with San Diego.
He hit .249 with the Padres and
earned a spot on the Topps All-
Rookie club. In 1976, he paced the
team with a .291 batting average and
70 RBIs, although his home run
output did not live up to expectations.
Ivie battled personal demons during
his time with the Padres. Projected as
a potential star behind the plate, he
hated catching and even developed
a mental block about throwing the
ball back to the pitcher. He played
mostly first base thereafter, yet
sulked and left the team for several
days in 1977 when he was shifted to
third base. That led to a trade to San
Francisco the following offseason.
Ivie responded to his new
surroundings by hitting .387 as a
pinch-hitter, including four pinch-
homers and two pinch-grand slams,
and posted 20 RBIs in just 31 at-bats
off the pines. With Willie McCovey
nearing retirement, Ivie took over the
Giants’ first-base duties in 1979 and
put together the best season of his
career, including 27 home runs and
89 RBIs.
Just as it appeared that Ivie would
take his game to all-star status,
difficulties arose again. He cut a
tendon in his hand with a hunting
knife during the offseason and
became so frustrated that he retired
after a rough start in 1980. He
returned to the Giants shortly
thereafter, only to have San
Francisco send Ivie to Houston on
April 20, 1981, in exchange for
outfielder Jeffrey Leonard and
infielder Dave Bergman. After hitting .
238 with Houston in 1981, Ivie was
released by the Astros in May 1982
and picked up by the Tigers. He
batted .232 with 14 home runs as a
reserve with Detroit in 1982 prior to
retiring from the game for a final time
after seeing action in 12 games with
the Tigers in 1983.
(9/28/09)
