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

Mike Ferraro’s name doesn’t pop up in baseball’s Hall of Fame, but his journey through Major League Baseball tells a pretty compelling story of perseverance and dedication.

Born in Kingston, New York, Ferraro carved out a four-year MLB career as a third baseman. He played for the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Milwaukee Brewers before hanging up his cleats in 1972.

Ferraro hit .232 with 2 home runs and 30 RBIs across 162 games during his major league career. His best season came in 1972, when he appeared in 124 games for the Milwaukee Brewers.

He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. Ferraro made his mark as a steady defensive presence at third base throughout his playing days.

His playing stats might seem modest by today’s standards, but Ferraro’s baseball journey kept going long after his playing days ended.

He faced the challenges of breaking into pro baseball in the 1960s, moved from promising prospect to major league regular, and stayed involved in the game that shaped his life.

From Kingston High School all the way to his last season with Milwaukee, Ferraro’s career echoes the experiences of so many players who gave everything to America’s pastime.

Early Life and Athletic Beginnings

Michael Dennis Ferraro was born on August 18, 1944, in Kingston, New York. He developed into a multi-sport athlete at Kingston High School.

His athletic talents caught the attention of professional scouts. Eventually, he signed with the New York Yankees organization.

Hometown and Family Background

Michael Dennis Ferraro entered the world on Friday, August 18, 1944, in Kingston, New York.

Kingston, sitting in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, set the scene for Ferraro’s early years.

He grew up in this mid-sized city, surrounded by the rich baseball culture that ran through much of New York in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The town’s proximity to New York City meant that major league baseball was always on the minds of young athletes.

His full name was Michael Dennis Ferraro, though people would soon just call him Mike once he turned pro.

The Ferraro family encouraged his athletic pursuits from an early age. They recognized his natural talent for sports.

High School Sports Achievements

At Kingston High School, Ferraro stood out as a versatile athlete.

He played three major sports: baseball, basketball, and football.

Baseball was his real calling. Ferraro’s skills on the diamond made him stand out, and college recruiters and pro scouts took notice.

When Ferraro made his major league debut on September 6, 1966, he hit a historic milestone.

He became the first former Kingston High School student to play in the major leagues.

This brought a wave of pride to his alma mater and the local community.

His success showed future Kingston High School athletes that small-town talent could reach the top levels of pro sports.

Signing with the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees saw Ferraro’s potential during his high school years.

Their scouting network flagged him as a prospect worth developing in their farm system.

The Yankees signed Ferraro as an amateur free agent. Their scouts liked his defensive abilities and saw promise at third base.

In 1966, the Yankees called Ferraro their top farmhand, highlighting his growth in their minor league system.

This recognition meant the organization viewed him as one of their best young players.

Signing with the Yankees was a dream come true for many young baseball players in that era.

The Yankees’ reputation as a championship club made them a magnet for talented prospects like Ferraro.

Minor League Development

Mike Ferraro spent six years sharpening his skills in the Yankees’ farm system before he finally broke into the majors.

His journey through the minor leagues showed steady improvement, and he ended up recognized as the organization’s top prospect.

Initial Minor League Assignments

Ferraro started his pro career in 1962 with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in the Florida State League.

At 18, he began as a shortstop before moving to third base.

He also played in the New York-Penn League early on. These short-season leagues gave young players a taste of pro baseball and helped them adjust.

The Yankees moved Ferraro through several affiliate teams during his first few seasons.

Each stop helped him develop new aspects of his game while facing tougher pitching.

Achievements in the Western Carolinas League

Ferraro found his biggest minor league success with the Shelby Colonels in the Western Carolinas League.

His performance there showed the offensive potential that would define his pro career.

With Shelby, Ferraro put up numbers that caught the Yankees’ attention.

His batting average and power improved a lot compared to his earlier assignments.

The Western Carolinas League gave Ferraro plenty of time at third base.

This consistency helped him sharpen his defensive skills and establish himself as a reliable corner infielder.

Progression Through the Yankees’ Farm System

The Yankees promoted Ferraro as he kept developing and performing well.

His 1966 season was a breakthrough, and the organization took notice.

Baseball scouts voted Ferraro the top Yankee farmhand in 1966. That was a big deal, showing he grew from a raw prospect into a real major league candidate.

He climbed through Double-A and Triple-A levels. Each promotion brought tougher competition and new challenges that got him ready for the big leagues.

Key Coaches and Influences

Ferraro learned a lot from the Yankees’ coaching network in the minors.

The organization focused on fundamentals, which shaped his approach to the game.

Minor league managers helped Ferraro shift from shortstop to third base. That switch turned out to be a key move for his future in the majors.

Coaches drilled him on defensive consistency and situational hitting.

These became the trademarks of Ferraro’s playing style as a pro.

Major League Playing Career Overview

Mike Ferraro played four seasons in Major League Baseball from 1966 to 1972. He appeared in 162 games, mostly as a third baseman.

His career took him to three American League teams: the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee gave him his biggest taste of regular playing time.

MLB Debut with New York Yankees

Mike Ferraro made his MLB debut on September 6, 1966, with the New York Yankees at age 22.

He became the first former Kingston High School student to reach the big leagues.

During his rookie stint, Ferraro played in 10 games and got 28 at-bats. He struggled at the plate, collecting only 5 hits for a .179 average, with no home runs or RBIs.

Ferraro came back to the Yankees in 1968 for a longer look.

He played 23 games and had 87 at-bats, but his offense didn’t really pick up.

1968 Yankees Stats:

• Games: 23
• Batting Average: .161
• Hits: 14
• RBIs: 1

He showed promise with the glove at third base, posting a .975 fielding percentage in 1968.

The Yankees mostly used him as a defensive specialist and an occasional pinch hitter.

Seattle Pilots and Expansion Draft

The Seattle Pilots picked Mike Ferraro in the 1969 expansion draft as MLB added two new AL teams.

This gave Ferraro a fresh shot with a brand-new franchise.

His time with the Pilots was short and pretty limited.

Ferraro appeared in just 5 games in 1969, logging 4 at-bats without a hit.

The Pilots mostly used him as a pinch hitter, and he drew one walk in his few plate appearances.

Seattle’s only season as the Pilots was rough, and the team soon moved to Milwaukee.

Ferraro’s limited playing time showed the team was focused on other options at third base and utility spots.

Career with Milwaukee Brewers

When the Pilots moved to Milwaukee in 1972 and became the Brewers, Ferraro finally got his biggest shot in the majors.

He played 124 games for Milwaukee, which made up 76% of his total MLB games.

1972 Milwaukee Brewers Stats:

• Games: 124
• Batting Average: .255
• Hits: 97
• Home Runs: 2
• RBIs: 29

This was Ferraro’s career-best offensive year.

He hit 18 doubles and a triple among his 97 hits and drove in 29 runs.

On defense, he started 100 games at third base and posted a .950 fielding percentage.

His 2.64 range factor showed he could handle the hot corner just fine.

The 1972 season ended up being Ferraro’s last in the big leagues.

He wrapped up his four-year career with a .232 average, 116 hits, 2 home runs, and 30 RBIs in 162 games across three AL teams.

Notable Moments and Accomplishments

Mike Ferraro’s MLB career was brief but meaningful.

He turned in strong defensive performances with the Yankees and learned from some of the game’s greats.

Key Defensive Plays and Records

Ferraro earned a reputation as a reliable third baseman during his Yankees days.

His defensive skills earned respect from teammates and coaches, even if his offense never really took off.

In 1966, Ferraro made his MLB debut on September 6th, becoming the first Kingston High School alum to reach the majors.

That was a big deal back home.

He batted and threw right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches, and weighed 175 pounds.

These physical traits fit his defensive-minded game.

Ferraro’s best statistical achievements came from his steady glove work.

He kept respectable fielding percentages during his Yankees stints in 1966 and 1968.

Interactions with Legendary Teammates

During his time with the Yankees, Ferraro shared the clubhouse with some Hall of Famers.

Mickey Mantle was wrapping up his legendary career when Ferraro joined in 1966.

The young third baseman picked up valuable lessons from veteran teammates at Yankee Stadium.

These experiences shaped his understanding of the game and set him up for his later coaching career.

Clete Boyer was Ferraro’s main competition at third base.

Boyer’s presence pushed Ferraro to get better on defense and accept a utility role.

The Yankees’ veteran leadership gave Ferraro mentorship that stuck with him.

He drew on this guidance when he later moved into coaching and managing.

Transition to End of Playing Days

Ferraro played his last MLB game with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1972.

His final appearance came on October 4th, closing out a six-year journey that spanned four different seasons.

He didn’t just walk away from the game overnight.

Ferraro’s baseball smarts and leadership made him a natural fit for coaching.

His experience with multiple teams gave him a broad view of how baseball organizations worked.

That helped him in his long post-playing career as a coach and manager.

Post-Playing Career and Managerial Roles

After retiring as a player in 1972, Mike Ferraro moved into coaching and management across pro baseball.

His post-playing career lasted nearly two decades. He managed in the minors, coached in the majors for several teams, and even had two stints as a big-league manager.

Early Minor League Managerial Assignments

Ferraro kicked off his managerial career in 1974 in the New York Yankees farm system.

He spent five years there, through 1978, and racked up success at every level.

Ferraro led teams to pennants at Class A, Double-A, and Triple-A.

His knack for developing young talent got the Yankees’ attention.

Experience in the International League especially prepared him for future big-league jobs.

He knew how to work with prospects and guide them through the system.

In 1979, Ferraro got promoted to the Yankees’ major league coaching staff.

He took over as third base coach under manager Dick Howser.

Cleveland Indians Tenure

The Cleveland Indians brought Ferraro on as their manager on November 4, 1982, after they let Dave Garcia go. The franchise was honestly in a rough patch when he arrived.

Ferraro’s first season got complicated by medical problems. In February 1983, doctors removed his cancerous left kidney. He was just 38.

Even with those health scares, Ferraro bounced back enough to run the team’s spring training camp. The Indians stumbled out of the gate in 1983, but things looked better by the end of April.

By May 13, Cleveland had a 17-14 record and trailed the division leader by only 1½ games. Then things fell apart, and they lost 11 out of their next 13 games. They never really got close to .500 again.

After a 13-inning loss, the Indians fired Ferraro on July 30, 1983. He finished with a 40-60 (.400) record, and the team sat seventh in the division, 19 games behind the Orioles.

Kansas City Royals and 1985 World Series

Dick Howser called Ferraro up to be the Kansas City Royals third base coach in 1984. Reuniting with his old Yankees manager actually worked out well for both of them.

The 1985 season turned out to be unforgettable. The Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the 1985 World Series, and Ferraro finally got his only championship ring.

Things changed suddenly in mid-1986. Howser started having neck pain and confusion, and doctors diagnosed him with a brain tumor after the All-Star Game.

Since Ferraro had survived cancer himself, he stepped in as emergency manager. The Royals were 40-48 when Howser left, and Ferraro managed them to a 36-38 finish that year.

In October 1986, the Royals let Ferraro go. His big league managerial record ended up at 76-98 over parts of two seasons with Cleveland and Kansas City.

Baltimore Orioles Coaching Experience

After Kansas City, Ferraro went back to the New York Yankees coaching staff. He coached for the Yankees in 1987-1988 and again in 1990-1991.

For his last major league coaching job, Ferraro joined the Baltimore Orioles in 1993 as their third base coach. He stayed there just one season.

That Orioles stint wrapped up Ferraro’s long career in pro baseball management and coaching. During his Yankees years, he worked with some big names, including Pat Corrales and Yogi Berra.

His coaching days had their share of drama, like that heated moment during the 1980 ALCS when George Steinbrenner blasted his third-base coaching call on Willie Randolph.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Net Worth

After baseball, Michael Dennis Ferraro mostly kept to himself in Las Vegas while still dealing with health struggles. People remember him for his work with young players and the respect he earned back home, but honestly, not much is public about his finances.

Life After Baseball

When Ferraro retired from coaching in the ’90s, he moved to Las Vegas and lived out his later years there. He didn’t really seek the baseball spotlight anymore.

Health issues kept following him. His cancer battle started early in his managing days, right before his first season with Cleveland in 1983, when he lost a kidney.

Those surgeries and treatments drained him, both physically and mentally. “I went into the hospital worrying about [Bert] Blyleven’s arm and [Bake] McBride’s eyes and suddenly I couldn’t even think about baseball,” he once said.

Ferraro died in Las Vegas on July 20, 2024, at 79. His passing closed the book on over thirty years in baseball as a player, coach, and manager.

Community Impact and Recognition

Ferraro left his biggest mark by helping develop young Yankees players. He played a big part in Damaso Garcia’s rise to All-Star second baseman.

“I didn’t know how to catch a ball, how to turn the double play, how to hit,” Garcia admitted about his early days. “I was lucky to have a person like Mike Ferraro to work with me.”

His hometown, Kingston, New York, honored him with Mike Ferraro Day on August 13, 1972. Folks from Kingston even traveled to Yankee Stadium to watch him play in a Yankees-Brewers doubleheader.

Ferraro became the first former Kingston High School student to make it to the majors when he debuted in 1966. Back in high school, he played three sports—baseball, basketball, and football—and stood out in all of them.

Estimated Net Worth at Time of Passing

Ferraro’s net worth at the time of his death? Honestly, that’s still private. He earned most of his money from his playing days, which lasted four seasons in the majors, and then from a long coaching and managing career.

He probably made the most during his years as a Yankees coach and while managing Cleveland and Kansas City. But let’s be real, baseball salaries back in the ’60s and ’70s didn’t even come close to what players get now.

Back then, most players needed off-season jobs just to make ends meet. Ferraro’s longest run as a player happened with Milwaukee in 1972. That year, he played 124 games and hit .255.

He found more financial stability when he started coaching, beginning in 1974 and sticking with it into the early ’90s. In the 1990s, he worked as a roving instructor for the San Francisco Giants, then eventually decided to step away from baseball for good.