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

Mike Andrews spent eight seasons in professional baseball, hanging up his cleats after 1973. His last year? Honestly, it turned into one of the most controversial moments in World Series history.

He was born in Los Angeles in 1943, and carved out a solid career as a second baseman for three teams. He even played for the Boston Red Sox’s legendary 1967 “Impossible Dream” team, and later joined the Oakland Athletics’ championship run.

Andrews’ career ended suddenly after a wild incident in the 1973 World Series. Oakland owner Charlie Finley tried to stash him on the disabled list after two costly errors in Game 2 against the New York Mets. This move infuriated teammates, fans, and baseball officials. Eventually, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn made Finley put Andrews back on the roster.

Outside all that drama, Andrews put up respectable stats: a .258 average, 66 home runs, and an All-Star nod in 1969. His story really spans the highs of championship baseball and the headaches of tough ownership. After baseball, he gave back to the community through charitable work.

Baseball Career Overview

Mike Andrews played in the majors from 1966 to 1973, mostly as a second baseman. He started with the Boston Red Sox, then went to the Chicago White Sox, and finished with the Oakland Athletics. Along the way, he picked up All-Star honors and a World Series ring.

Early Life and MLB Debut

Andrews was born July 9, 1943, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Torrance and went to South High School, where he played baseball, football, and basketball.

He first accepted a football scholarship to UCLA, but went to El Camino College to finish up some language requirements. There, he earned Junior College All-American as a wide receiver.

The Boston Red Sox spotted his baseball talent and signed him as an amateur free agent on December 1, 1961. His signing bonus? $12,000.

Andrews spent five years in the Red Sox farm system. He started out as a shortstop but had trouble defensively, racking up errors. In 1966, they moved him to second base with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he responded well.

He debuted in MLB on September 18, 1966, facing the California Angels at Fenway Park. He went 0-for-4 but managed to score a run. Six days later at Yankee Stadium, he picked up his first big league hit—a single off Fritz Peterson.

Teams Played For

Andrews suited up for three MLB teams:

Boston Red Sox (1966-1970)

• Played his first five seasons with Boston
• Became the regular second baseman in 1967
• Made the All-Star team in 1969
• Shared the field with future Hall of Famers

Chicago White Sox (1971-1973)

• Traded to Chicago on December 1, 1970, with Luis Alvarado for Luis Aparicio
• Struggled at the plate, hitting .237 in Chicago
• Released on July 16, 1973, batting just .201 that season

Oakland Athletics (1973)

• Signed with Oakland on July 31, 1973
• Dick Williams, his old manager, wanted him on the squad
• Appeared in the ALCS and World Series
• Landed in the headlines during the 1973 World Series

Career Achievements

Andrews hit .258 for his career, with 66 home runs and 316 RBIs in 893 games. His best year was 1969, when he made his only All-Star team.

But the 1973 World Series really stands out. In Game 2 against the Mets, Andrews made two crucial errors in the 12th inning, helping the Mets win 10-7.

Charlie Finley, Oakland’s owner, forced Andrews to sign a bogus injury report, making him ineligible for the rest of the series. His teammates taped his number “17” to their uniforms in support.

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in and ordered Finley to put Andrews back on the roster. When Andrews pinch-hit in Game 4, Mets fans actually gave him a standing ovation.

Even with all the controversy, Andrews got a World Series ring when the A’s won in 1973. He was released on November 1, 1973, and never played another major league game.

Role as a Second Baseman

Andrews proved himself as a steady middle infielder, shifting from shortstop to second early in his pro career. His defensive skills and reliability made him a good fit for all three teams he played for.

Transition to Second Base

Andrews started out as a shortstop in the Red Sox minors. He switched to second base during winter ball, thanks to manager Dick Williams.

Rico Petrocelli already had shortstop locked down in Boston, so second was Andrews’ best shot at the big leagues.

The move paid off in 1966 with Triple-A Toronto. He played solid defense and led the International League in runs scored with 97.

That defensive boost earned him a September call-up. He debuted for the Red Sox on September 18, 1966, against the Angels.

Defensive Skills and Playing Style

Andrews turned into a solid defensive second baseman, giving his teams steady play up the middle. He and Rico Petrocelli made a great double-play combo in Boston.

After a back injury threatened his 1967 season, Andrews’ range actually improved. He could turn double plays well and had reliable hands.

That ’67 season showed off his clutch defense. In the last game against Minnesota, he made a key tag on Bob Allison at second to finish a big double play.

He had a knack for the “tag ’em out, throw ’em out” double play, especially in high-pressure moments. In the ninth inning of that season finale, he helped keep Boston’s pennant hopes alive.

Andrews’ defense really showed up when it mattered most. He gave his teams the kind of steady fielding every manager wants up the middle.

1973 World Series Incident

Mike Andrews found himself at the center of one of baseball’s most controversial incidents during the 1973 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. After two crucial errors in Game Two, owner Charlie Finley made Andrews sign a false disability statement, sparking outrage from teammates, fans, and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Errors in Game Two

Game Two at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum turned into a 12-inning slog. Andrews, picked up by Oakland in July as a backup, filled in for regular starter Dick Green.

The big moment came in the 12th inning with the Mets up 7-6. Andrews made two errors that flipped the game.

First, John Milner hit a bases-loaded grounder that slipped through Andrews’ legs, letting Tug McGraw and Willie Mays score.

Right after, Jerry Grote grounded to second. Andrews fielded it cleanly but threw wildly past Gene Tenace at first, letting another run score.

The Mets took the game 10-7 after 4 hours and 13 minutes. Those two errors in one inning led directly to three Mets runs.

Charlie Finley’s Actions

Charlie Finley, the A’s owner, lost his cool after the game. He decided to yank Andrews from the World Series roster.

Finley made Andrews sign a false affidavit saying he was disabled and couldn’t play. The document claimed a shoulder injury kept Andrews out for the rest of the Series.

This was basically firing a player in the middle of the World Series. No owner had ever tried something like that before.

Manager Dick Williams pushed back hard against Finley’s move. Williams had asked for Andrews to join the team and backed him all the way.

Finley wanted to use the fake injury to swap Andrews out for another player. The whole thing was a mess.

Reinstatement by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in as soon as he heard what Finley was up to. Kuhn checked out the situation and saw Andrews wasn’t hurt.

He ordered Finley to put Andrews back on the roster, saying the injury claim was bogus.

Kuhn made his ruling before Game Four at Shea Stadium. He made it clear that owners couldn’t play games with the roster during the World Series.

Andrews officially rejoined the team and was available for the rest of the Series. But his relationship with Finley was finished.

The commissioner’s fast action stopped a dangerous precedent. He protected players from being scapegoated in big moments.

Team and Public Support

Andrews’ teammates had his back through the whole ordeal. The A’s players taped his number 17 to their uniforms during practice at Shea Stadium.

Some of his biggest supporters:

• Reggie Jackson – Spoke out for Andrews and slammed Finley’s decision
• Dick Williams – Fought Finley from the start
• Team veterans – Rallied around Andrews

When Andrews pinch-hit in Game Four, the Shea Stadium crowd gave him a standing ovation. New York fans made it clear they didn’t like how Finley treated him.

The press piled on Finley too, calling it one of the worst moves in World Series history.

Andrews later sued Finley for libel and slander over the fake injury claim. The whole incident became a turning point for how players and owners interacted.

Statistical Highlights and Playing Record

Mike Andrews finished with a .258 career average, 66 home runs, and 316 RBIs in 893 games over eight seasons. He did his best hitting with the Boston Red Sox, where he became known as a reliable infielder with a knack for scoring runs.

Batting Average and Offensive Production

Andrews kept a steady .258 batting average from 1966 to 1973. He racked up 803 hits in his 893 games.

His offense was consistent, if not flashy. He drove in 316 runs and crossed the plate himself 441 times over his career.

He focused on making contact and getting on base. In his last season with Oakland in 1973, his numbers dropped off—he hit just .190 in 18 games.

Home Runs and Runs Scored

Andrews hit 66 home runs in the majors. For a middle infielder of his era, that’s decent but not eye-popping.

He scored 441 runs over his eight seasons, showing he could get on base and make things happen near the top of the order.

His run production stood out most during his Boston years. He helped spark the offense as a table-setter and run scorer.

His best power numbers came in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The drop-off in 1973 played a part in his decision to retire.

Notable Seasons and WAR

Andrews debuted in the majors on September 18, 1966, with the Red Sox at age 23. He passed rookie limits in 1967.

He put up his best numbers with Boston before being traded to the White Sox. He wrapped up his MLB career with the A’s in 1973.

The 1973 World Series was his last big stage. He pinch-hit in Game 2 against the Mets and grounded out in the eighth.

His final game came on September 29, 1973, at age 30. He walked away with a World Series ring from his time with Oakland.

Post-1973 Career and Retirement

Mike Andrews’ baseball career wrapped up after the drama of the 1973 World Series. He played briefly in Japan before officially retiring from the game.

Final MLB Games and Attempts to Play in Japan

Andrews’ MLB career pretty much ended in dramatic fashion during the 1973 World Series. In Game 2 against the New York Mets, he made two costly errors, and Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley pushed him to sign a false injury affidavit.

His teammates weren’t having it, so they slapped his number “17” on their uniforms with athletic tape. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in and told Finley to bring Andrews back for Game 4.

When Andrews came up as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, Mets fans actually gave him a standing ovation. He grounded out, and that turned out to be his final MLB appearance.

The Athletics let Andrews go on November 1, 1973, just eleven days after they won their second straight World Series. Over eight seasons, he hit .258, with 66 home runs and 316 RBIs.

Retirement from Baseball

Andrews tried to keep his playing career going by signing with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league in 1975. He played just one season, batting .231 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.

After wrapping up his stint in Japan on October 4, 1975, Andrews officially retired from professional baseball. He was 32 and had spent 14 years playing the game.

After hanging up his cleats, Andrews joined Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and started a new chapter. This move marked the end of his playing days, but it also kicked off his deep dive into charitable work that would really shape his later years.

Philanthropic Work and Legacy

Mike Andrews turned his post-baseball life into something pretty remarkable for charitable giving. For over three decades, he dedicated himself to cancer research fundraising.

His work with the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute raised millions, and honestly, his baseball legacy still inspires a lot of people.

Involvement With the Jimmy Fund

Andrews kicked off his philanthropy in 1979, when Ken Coleman, a former Red Sox commentator, asked him to help with the Jimmy Fund. What started as a side gig quickly took over his life.

At first, he thought he’d juggle charity work and his insurance job. But after a few months, he realized fundraising for cancer research was what he really wanted to do.

He and Coleman managed to raise $1 million in their first year together. That early win set the stage for some massive growth.

With Andrews at the helm, the Jimmy Fund really took off. He launched big fundraising events like the Boston Marathon Walk, the NESN/WEEI telethon, and a bunch of golf tournaments across New England.

The radio telethon turned into one of New England’s most successful charity events. Andrews also took the golf tournament program from 20 scattered events to more than 150 tournaments.

By 2009, the Jimmy Fund brought in $64 million in a single year. That’s a wild 6,400% jump from Andrews’ first year.

Association With Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Andrews served as Chairman of the Jimmy Fund for 30 years, stepping down in 2009. His daily interactions with Dana-Farber patients and staff kept him motivated.

He first connected with Dana-Farber back during his playing days. He’d volunteer sometimes, visiting patients and learning about the mission to cure cancer.

Andrews built relationships with so many families facing cancer. Over three decades, he saw heartbreaking losses and some truly amazing recoveries.

“There are so many stories over that period of time, so many relationships you develop, so many kids and adults we lost, so many that were saved and are living a wonderful life now,” Andrews said.

Dana-Farber recognized his impact by creating the No. 2 Fund in his honor. This permanent endowment supports pediatric cancer research at the institute.

“That was by far the most meaningful gift they could give me,” Andrews said. “I was very moved by that, and it was the perfect thing they could have done for me.”

Enduring Baseball Legacy

Andrews built his charitable work on the foundation of his baseball career. Being a former Red Sox player opened doors for him with families and donors.

As a member of the 1967 Impossible Dream team, he saw firsthand how much influence athletes could have on patients. He’d nudge active players like Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield to get involved and give their time.

“I’ve told players they might not realize just how much of an impact they make, but honestly, the stories I’ve heard and seen when they’re around are incredible,” Andrews said.

His tough 1973 World Series experience with Oakland showed how resilient he could be. That same grit helped him push through the tough times in his charity work.

Andrews always said his philanthropic work meant more to him than anything he did in baseball. “I’ve got really fond memories of baseball, but they’re nowhere near, not even in the ballpark, compared to what I’ve done with the Jimmy Fund,” he admitted.

His mix of baseball fame and real compassion left a mark that goes beyond sports. Andrews showed that athletic success can actually be the start of something even more meaningful in the community.