Mike Armstrong – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Michael Dennis Armstrong wrapped up his Major League Baseball career in 1987 after eight seasons as a relief pitcher, finishing a journey that took him through four different organizations. The right-handed pitcher from Glen Cove, New York, put together a 19-17 record with a 4.10 ERA in the majors, appearing in 197 games, mostly as a reliever.

Armstrong’s career lasted from 1980 to 1987. He played for the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

He found his best years in Kansas City. There, he pitched over 100 innings in two seasons and kept his ERA under 4.00.

Armstrong became part of baseball history when he picked up the win in the famous pine tar game between the Royals and Yankees in 1983.

From his college days at the University of Miami to his last appearance with Cleveland, Armstrong’s story included draft picks, trades, injuries, and the constant fight to keep a spot on a major league roster.

After baseball, he moved to Georgia. He stayed connected to the sport while starting a new career away from the diamond.

Mike Armstrong’s Baseball Career Overview

Michael Dennis Armstrong pitched in Major League Baseball for eight seasons, from 1980 to 1987, and played for four teams. He started with the San Diego Padres and ended with the Cleveland Indians.

Major League Debut and Final Season

Mike Armstrong made his MLB debut on August 12, 1980, with the San Diego Padres at age 26. The Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the first round (24th overall) of the 1974 amateur draft after he played at the University of Miami.

Early in his career, Armstrong moved around a lot. He played for the Padres from 1980-1981, bouncing between the majors and minors.

The Kansas City Royals picked up his contract before the 1982 season.

Kansas City turned out to be his best stop. Armstrong pitched over 100 innings in both 1982 and 1983, keeping his ERA under 4.00.

He hit career highs in 1983 with 10 wins and 58 appearances.

Armstrong grabbed a bit of notoriety for his role in the pine tar game between the Royals and Yankees on July 24, 1983. He got the win in this wild contest.

“It was wild to go back to New York and play these four outs in a totally empty stadium,” Armstrong recalled. “I’m dressed in the uniform, and nobody’s there.”

Retirement in 1987

After the 1983 season, the Royals traded Armstrong to the New York Yankees for Steve Balboni.

He showed up to spring training in 1984 with a sore arm, and that limited what he could do. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner filed a grievance with Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn because of the injury.

From 1984 to 1986, Armstrong spent most of his time with the Yankees’ AAA Columbus club, not on the big league roster.

He made his last MLB appearance with the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1987.

Career Statistics:

• Record: 19-17
• ERA: 4.10
• Games: 197 (1 start)
• Strikeouts: 221
• Saves: 11

Armstrong played for four teams: the Padres, Royals, Yankees, and Indians. He spent nearly all his MLB career coming out of the bullpen.

Early Life and Education

Michael Dennis Armstrong was born on March 7, 1954, in Glen Cove, New York. He honed his baseball skills in high school and became a standout pitcher at the University of Miami.

Birthplace and Childhood

Mike Armstrong arrived on March 7, 1954, in Glen Cove, New York. This Long Island town shaped his early years.

Glen Cove sits on Long Island’s North Shore. The area gave young athletes good baseball programs and fields.

Armstrong grew up in the 1960s, when baseball ruled American sports. He caught the baseball bug during those years.

Living in New York meant he saw plenty of the Yankees and Mets. That environment fueled his baseball dreams.

High School Years

Armstrong attended high school in Glen Cove in the early 1970s. He pitched for his school team and quickly showed real promise.

His high school play drew the attention of pro scouts. The Cleveland Indians picked him in the ninth round of the 1972 draft.

He didn’t sign with Cleveland, though. Armstrong chose to keep playing and studying at college instead.

That call turned out to be important for his career. He got more time to grow as a player and a student before turning pro.

University of Miami Baseball Achievements

Armstrong joined the University of Miami to play college ball. The Miami Hurricanes had a reputation for developing future big leaguers.

He pitched for the Hurricanes baseball team during his college years. The program gave him strong coaching and tough competition.

His college stats caught scouts’ attention again. The Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the first round (24th overall) of the 1974 amateur draft.

Armstrong’s time at Miami prepared him for professional baseball. The experience sharpened his skills for the majors.

The Miami program was known for developing pitchers, so it was a smart fit. Armstrong learned a lot from the coaches and competition there.

Major League Teams and Key Moments

Mike Armstrong spent eight years in the majors, moving through four organizations. He had his best seasons in Kansas City, where he posted sub-4.00 ERAs.

His journey included memorable moments, like winning the pine tar game, and tough stretches with arm injuries that really slowed him down.

San Diego Padres Period

Armstrong started his MLB career with the San Diego Padres after a trade from the Reds organization in 1979. He made his big league debut on August 12, 1980, at 26.

From 1980 to 1981, Armstrong split time between the majors and minors. He couldn’t quite lock down a regular spot in the bullpen.

The Padres mostly used him as a reliever. He had some ups and downs while adjusting to big league hitters.

His time in San Diego was short but important. It gave him his first shot at major league hitters before he moved on to better days elsewhere.

Kansas City Royals Success

The Kansas City Royals picked up Armstrong before the 1982 season. That move turned out well for both sides.

Armstrong settled in with the Royals, pitching over 100 innings in each of his two seasons there. He kept his ERA under 4.00.

His most famous moment came in the pine tar game on July 24, 1983, against the Yankees. Armstrong got the win in this wild and historic game, though it took weeks to finish.

“It was wild to go back to New York and play these four outs in a totally empty stadium,” Armstrong said. “I’m dressed in the uniform, and nobody’s there.”

His 1983 season was his best—he went 10-7 in 58 games. Both were career highs.

New York Yankees Tenure

After 1983, the Yankees traded for Armstrong, sending Steve Balboni to Kansas City. This deal didn’t work out for Armstrong.

He showed up to spring training in 1984 with a sore arm and only pitched twice in Grapefruit League games.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wasn’t happy about the trade. He filed a grievance with Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Armstrong stayed with the Yankees from 1984 to 1986, but he spent most of his time with their AAA Columbus team.

The arm issues really hurt his performance. He never got back to the level he showed in Kansas City.

Cleveland Indians Finale

Armstrong wrapped up his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1987. His last MLB game came on July 5, 1987.

The Indians gave him one more shot in the majors, but his arm problems stuck around.

This short stint in Cleveland closed out Armstrong’s eight-year career. He finished with a 19-17 record and a 4.10 ERA in 197 games.

Armstrong tallied 221 strikeouts and 11 saves. He made almost all of his appearances as a reliever—just one career start.

Pitching Style and Career Statistics

Mike Armstrong made his name as a relief pitcher, posting a 4.10 ERA over eight seasons from 1980 to 1987. His stats show a guy who mostly worked middle relief, finishing with 19 wins and 17 losses in 198 games.

Role as a Reliever

Armstrong spent nearly all his major league career coming out of the bullpen. He pitched in 198 games across eight seasons, helping out four different teams.

He worked as a middle reliever, not a closer. Armstrong came in during all sorts of situations, often bridging the gap between starters and closers.

His bullpen role meant he had to be ready for anything. Armstrong pitched for the Padres, Royals, Yankees, and Indians.

His ability to handle different roles made him useful to those teams. Armstrong could give them multiple innings or pitch in tight spots.

Notable Games and Performances

Armstrong’s 1987 season with Cleveland was a tale of two splits. At home, he struggled badly, posting a 12.00 ERA in eight games and giving up 22 hits in just 12 innings.

On the road, he did much better. Armstrong put up a 2.90 ERA in six games away from home, allowing only five hits over 6.2 innings.

That year’s splits showed the challenges Armstrong faced in his final season. His home struggles played a big part in his retirement after 1987.

He pitched 14 games that year. His numbers from 1987 really reflected the difficulties he ran into, especially at home.

Pitching Records and Stats

Armstrong ended up with a career record of 19 wins and 17 losses and a 4.10 ERA. He struck out 221 batters in eight years, averaging about 28 Ks a season.

He pitched 198 games for four teams. Armstrong’s steady presence in the bullpen showed teams valued his reliability.

Career Statistics:

• Games: 198
• Wins: 19
• Losses: 17
• ERA: 4.10
• Strikeouts: 221

Armstrong’s stats point to a solid middle relief career. He lasted eight years in the majors, which says a lot about his consistency.

He debuted on August 12, 1980, with San Diego at age 26. His journey through four teams wrapped up in Cleveland in 1987.

Noteworthy Incidents and Legacy

Mike Armstrong’s eight-year career brought some memorable moments that still stand out to baseball fans. His win in the Pine Tar Game and his steady work in the Kansas City Royals bullpen made him part of baseball’s story.

The Pine Tar Game

Armstrong’s name will always be tied to July 24, 1983, when he got the win in the infamous Pine Tar Game. That Royals-Yankees game turned into one of baseball’s most talked-about moments.

The game ended with George Brett’s apparent home run being wiped out because of too much pine tar on his bat. Brett’s angry reaction is still replayed to this day.

When the game resumed weeks later, Armstrong was the pitcher of record for the Royals’ 5-4 victory.

That crazy incident gave Armstrong a permanent place in baseball history. The Pine Tar Game remains one of the sport’s most debated regular season games.

Famous Bullpen Anecdotes

Armstrong worked as a dependable setup man for Hall of Fame closer Dan Quisenberry while he played with the Kansas City Royals from 1982 to 1983.

He put together a 15-12 record and a 3.51 ERA in 110 games during that stretch.

His pitching arsenal had a sinking fastball, a hard slider, and a forkball.

Those pitches made him tough to hit as a reliever.

People trusted Armstrong in high-pressure situations, and he usually came through.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander teamed up with Quisenberry in the Royals bullpen.

Together, they helped keep Kansas City’s late-inning pitching steady during the early 1980s.

Trades and Their Impact

Armstrong bounced around between several teams, and those changes shaped his career in big ways.

He played for four teams: the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

He really found his stride with the Kansas City Royals.

But after the Yankees traded for him, Armstrong struggled with being sent back and forth between New York and their Triple-A team in Columbus.

The Yankees stirred up controversy with how they handled Armstrong, and the Players’ Association filed a grievance for him.

They said the team demoted him improperly.

Armstrong eventually dropped the grievance so he wouldn’t risk losing his guaranteed contract.

Life After Baseball and Net Worth Information

Mike Armstrong moved on from baseball into different business ventures and community work.

He settled in Georgia with his second wife, Monica.

He started receiving MLB pension benefits at age 45, which gave him some financial peace of mind during his post-baseball years.

Post-MLB Career Activities

After he retired from pro baseball in 1987, Michael Dennis Armstrong moved to South Boston, Virginia.

He helped start an adult baseball league, which kept him close to the game and gave locals a chance to play.

Armstrong ran a sporting goods store in South Boston for five years.

That business kept him involved with the sports community and brought in some income early in retirement.

Later, Armstrong worked in construction and also as a painter.

Those jobs paid the bills until he started getting his MLB pension at 45.

He got in a bad car accident that left him with a rod in his right leg, but Armstrong didn’t let that stop him from playing baseball.

Even in 2006, he was still pitching in a wooden bat league.

Honestly, that’s some serious passion for the game.

Personal Life and Community Involvement

Armstrong moved to Oconee County, Georgia, to be closer to Monica’s family and hometown.

That move was a big shift for him and set up his long-term home.

His community involvement went past baseball, thanks to his role in founding the adult baseball league in Virginia.

That league gave locals a place to play and kept competitive baseball alive in the area.

Even after the accident, Armstrong stayed active in baseball.

He kept playing in leagues well into his 50s, proving just how much he loved the sport that shaped his life.

Estimated Net Worth

We don’t really have the exact numbers on Mike Armstrong’s net worth. When he hit age 45 and started getting MLB pension benefits, though, his finances definitely took a turn for the better. That steady retirement income probably made a big difference.

He earned those pension benefits after eight seasons in the majors, from 1980 to 1987. MLB usually pays out monthly to former players, and the amount depends on how long they played and the plan rules at the time.

After baseball, Armstrong worked a bunch of different jobs. He ran a sporting goods business, did some construction, and even picked up painting gigs. All those jobs helped him get by before the pension kicked in.