Mickey Klutts – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mickey Klutts isn’t exactly a household name in baseball history, but his eight-year run in Major League Baseball shows the story of a dedicated infielder who earned respect around the league.

Born Gene Ellis Klutts on September 20, 1954, in Montebello, California, he became known as a reliable utility player who could handle a bunch of positions with skill and consistency.

Klutts played professional baseball from 1976 to 1983, spending time with three major league teams: the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays. He started his career when he broke into the majors at 21 with the Yankees, and wrapped things up after the 1983 season with Toronto.

Standing 5’11” and weighing 170 pounds, Klutts mostly played third base, but he could easily fill in at shortstop or second base.

What really made Klutts stand out was his relationship with manager Billy Martin. Martin liked his versatility and work ethic so much that he brought him along to more than one team.

Klutts’ journey through pro baseball really shows what it was like for those players who formed the backbone of MLB rosters in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He helped his teams find success, even if he never reached superstar status.

Early Life and Background

Gene Ellis “Mickey” Klutts was born on September 20, 1954, in Montebello, California.

He went to El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, just a short drive from Montebello, where he sharpened his baseball skills before the New York Yankees drafted him in 1972.

Family and Birthplace

Mickey Klutts grew up in Montebello, California, a city in Los Angeles County.

His full name was Gene Ellis Klutts, but he went by “Mickey” throughout his baseball career.

Born in 1954, Klutts spent his childhood during the golden age of Southern California baseball.

The region produced plenty of talented players who found success in the pros.

Montebello gave young athletes a solid foundation. Being close to Los Angeles meant he had access to good baseball facilities and tough competition.

Education and High School

Klutts attended El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California.

The school wasn’t far from his hometown of Montebello.

At El Rancho, Klutts really developed his baseball skills. The school’s program helped him get ready for the next level.

His high school performances caught the attention of pro scouts, which led to his selection in the 1972 June Amateur Draft.

The Yankees picked Klutts in the fourth round, kicking off his journey into professional baseball.

Early Baseball Development

Klutts impressed scouts as an infielder during high school, showing skills at third base, shortstop, and second base.

The New York Yankees saw his potential and drafted him in 1972. He was just 18 when he entered the pro baseball world.

He focused on improving his defense as an infielder and worked on his batting too.

Southern California’s baseball environment played a big part in shaping his skills. The weather let him play and practice pretty much all year.

Path to the Major Leagues

Mickey Klutts joined professional baseball through the Yankees and quickly made a name for himself as a promising prospect.

His journey to the big leagues included standout performances in the minors, and he even earned MVP recognition at Triple-A in 1976.

Draft by New York Yankees

The New York Yankees drafted Mickey Klutts and brought him into their farm system in the mid-1970s.

They saw his potential as an infielder and started developing his skills in the minors.

Klutts came in as a young player with raw talent that needed some polishing.

The Yankees’ coaches worked with him to improve both his defense and his approach at the plate.

His signing with the Yankees marked the start of a professional career that would last eight seasons.

The Yankees’ investment in Klutts paid off as he moved up through their system.

Minor League Success

Klutts played for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Yankees’ Triple-A team, and really honed his skills at third base.

His time in Syracuse turned out to be key for his development as a pro.

The Chiefs gave him his last stop before the majors, and Klutts used the chance to work on both his batting and his defensive positioning.

His performances in the minors got the attention of Yankees management.

The coaching staff noticed his work ethic and flexibility in different game situations.

Klutts kept improving throughout his time in the minors, with both his batting average and defense showing steady progress.

International League MVP Honors

In 1976, Mickey Klutts hit a big milestone by earning co-MVP honors in the International League.

He shared the award with Rich Dauer and Joe Lis while playing for Syracuse.

This honor recognized his standout performance in 1976.

Klutts’ offensive and defensive play led Syracuse to a strong season.

The MVP award proved he was ready for the majors.

His performance that year impressed Yankees scouts and management, and they considered him for a call-up.

After his MVP season, Klutts made his MLB debut on July 7, 1976, with the Yankees at just 21.

His call-up was a direct result of that exceptional minor league season.

MLB Career Highlights

Mickey Klutts played eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1983, mostly at third base.

He finished with a .241 batting average, 14 home runs, and 59 RBIs across three teams.

He found his most consistent playing time with the Oakland Athletics in the early 1980s.

Debut with New York Yankees

Klutts made his MLB debut on July 7, 1976, with the New York Yankees at 21.

He got called up from Syracuse after batting .319 with 24 home runs and 80 RBIs.

His performance in Syracuse earned him shared International League Most Valuable Player honors with Rich Dauer and Joe Lis.

This recognition sped up his path to the majors.

Klutts played for the Yankees from 1976 to 1978, mostly as a utility infielder.

He played under manager Billy Martin, who would later become a big part of his career.

The Yankees didn’t use Klutts a ton in those early years, but he gained experience playing with seasoned veterans on a competitive team.

Oakland Athletics Years

Klutts spent most of his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics from 1979 to 1982.

Those years were his most productive as a pro.

Oakland gave him regular playing time, especially in the early 1980s.

He mainly played third base, but he also filled in at second and shortstop.

The Athletics let him get more at-bats than he’d had with the Yankees, and he finally got to show what he could do.

Klutts reunited with Billy Martin during part of his time in Oakland.

Martin liked Klutts’ work ethic and flexibility, just like he had in New York.

His steady defense and ability to play multiple spots made him valuable to the Athletics.

Final Season with Toronto Blue Jays

Klutts wrapped up his MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983.

His last appearance came on July 26, 1983, closing out his eight-year run in the majors.

The Blue Jays brought Klutts in to give their infield some veteran depth.

He mainly served as a backup during his short time there.

Klutts didn’t play in many games for Toronto in 1983, mostly coming off the bench.

He also spent time back with the Syracuse Chiefs that year, splitting duties between the minors and majors.

Playing Under Billy Martin

Billy Martin really shaped Klutts’ career, managing him with both the Yankees and Athletics.

Martin appreciated Klutts’ versatility and steady play.

Martin loved players who could do a little bit of everything, and Klutts fit that mold.

He could play second base, third base, and shortstop without missing a beat.

The manager’s trust in Klutts helped him keep roster spots on both teams.

Martin’s endorsement definitely carried weight when it came to making decisions.

Their working relationship lasted several years across two teams, giving Klutts some stability in his career.

Martin emphasized fundamentals and flexibility, and Klutts brought those qualities to the field.

Performance and Career Statistics

Mickey Klutts put up modest but respectable numbers during his eight years in the majors from 1976 to 1983.

His .241 batting average matched what you’d expect from a utility infielder, but his ability to play different positions brought value to every team he joined.

Batting Average and Key Metrics

Klutts finished with a .241 batting average over 199 career games.

He posted a .289 on-base percentage and a .371 slugging percentage.

His OPS of .660 was below average for his era, but he had his moments.

His most productive season came in 1981 with Oakland, when he batted .370 in 48 plate appearances.

That year, he showed what he could do with a bit of consistent playing time.

In 1982, Klutts struggled, hitting just .178 in 170 plate appearances.

That was his lowest mark in any season where he played regularly.

Season	Team	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
1981	OAK	.370	.396	.696	1.092
1980	OAK	.269	.313	.401	.714
1982	OAK	.178	.222	.229	.451

Home Runs and RBI

Klutts hit 14 home runs and drove in 59 RBIs over his career.

He was more of a contact hitter than a power guy, but he had a few flashes.

His best power showing came in the shortened 1981 season, when he hit 5 home runs in just 46 at-bats.

If you stretch that out, he was on pace for about 18 homers in a full season.

His top RBI mark was 21 in 1980, and he picked up 11 RBIs in his brief but solid 1981 run.

Career Power Numbers:

• Total home runs: 14
• Total RBIs: 59
• Best HR season: 5 (1981)
• Best RBI season: 21 (1980)

Positional Versatility

Klutts played third base, shortstop, and second base throughout his career.

His defensive flexibility made him a handy bench player for all three teams.

He spent the most time at third base, logging plenty of innings with both the Yankees and Athletics.

His fielding percentage changed a bit depending on the position and year.

At third base, he handled 579 total chances with a .969 fielding percentage.

He didn’t get as many opportunities at shortstop, but he still played steady defense.

The Toronto Blue Jays mostly used him at third base during his last season in 1983.

Because he could move around the infield, Klutts stuck in the majors longer than his hitting stats alone might have allowed.

Retirement in 1983 and Legacy

Mickey Klutts finished his Major League Baseball career in 1983 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

That wrapped up an eight-year journey that started with the Yankees in 1976.

After baseball, Klutts kept a pretty low profile.

Still, his reputation as a reliable utility infielder and favorite of manager Billy Martin stuck with teammates and coaches.

Final MLB Season

Klutts joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983, which ended up being his final season in Major League Baseball.

At 28, he played in 22 games for the Blue Jays. He picked up 11 hits in 43 at-bats, landing at a .256 batting average.

He hit three home runs and drove in five runs that year. The veteran infielder kept showing his versatility, playing multiple positions like shortstop and designated hitter.

That year closed out a career spanning eight years across three American League teams.

Klutts wrapped things up with a career batting average of .241, 14 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 199 total games.

His short stint with Toronto marked his third and last team change. He came off his most productive years with the Oakland Athletics from 1979 to 1982.

Post-Retirement Life and Recognition

After he retired from Major League Baseball, Klutts mostly faded from the public eye.

He didn’t jump into coaching or broadcasting like some players do. Instead, he chose a quieter, more private life.

People remember him as a dependable utility guy who could handle several infield spots.

Billy Martin clearly trusted Klutts, bringing him along to both New York and Oakland during his career.

Klutts went to El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California. The Yankees drafted him in the fourth round of the 1972 amateur draft.

His path from high school hopeful to major league veteran really was the stuff of childhood dreams.

He never made it to the Hall of Fame or became a household name, but Klutts showed the value of those role players who quietly hold teams together year after year.

Resources and Statistical References

You can find Mickey Klutts’ career statistics and records in official MLB databases. There are also plenty of historical baseball archives that track his career.

These resources offer comprehensive data on his eight seasons, from 1976 through 1983.

Baseball Reference and Retrosheet

Baseball-Reference.com is the go-to for Mickey Klutts’ career stats and biographical details.

The site lists his complete MLB record—.241 batting average, 14 homers, and 59 RBIs in 199 games.

They combine official MLB records with Retrosheet data for a pretty thorough look at his career.

Retrosheet focuses on digitizing historical baseball game data, including play-by-play from Klutts’ playing days.

It’s worth noting that fielding stats aren’t always perfect, since different systems kept records over the years.

The data shows Klutts played multiple positions, like third base, shortstop, and second base, while with the Yankees, Athletics, and Blue Jays.

Further Reading and Research Tools

ESPN and StatMuse dig deeper into Klutts’ career stats. You can check out season-by-season breakdowns and compare his numbers with other 1980s players there.

The Baseball Cube keeps a solid archive of minor league stats and draft details. According to their info, the New York Yankees picked Klutts in the 4th round of the 1972 draft, 86th overall.

BR Bullpen adds some interesting background, mentioning his co-MVP award in the International League back in 1976 with the Syracuse Chiefs. This site gives more insight into his minor league journey, so you get a sense of his growth beyond just the numbers.