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

Mike McQueen’s baseball career is the story of a promising young pitcher whose time in Major League Baseball ended too soon because of injuries and setbacks. Born in Oklahoma City in 1950, McQueen made his MLB debut at just 19 years old with the Atlanta Braves in 1969. He actually became the youngest player in the majors that season.

McQueen pitched in the big leagues for five seasons, from 1969 to 1974, splitting time between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds before he retired due to ongoing injury problems. He showed early promise—Hank Aaron once compared him to Hall of Famer Warren Spahn—but those persistent injuries just derailed what looked like it could’ve been a much longer career.

His story is really about the challenges so many athletes face when serious injuries strike. In McQueen’s case, a devastating car accident in 1972 caused him to lose an entire season. From his amateur days and professional debut, to career highlights and the struggles that ended his career early, McQueen’s journey gives a real look at how unpredictable pro baseball life can be.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Michael Robert McQueen was born on August 30, 1950, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Baseball was really cementing its place as America’s pastime during that era.

His journey to the majors started at Spring Branch High School in Houston, Texas. There, his left-handed pitching caught the eyes of pro scouts.

Family Background and Early Years

McQueen came into the world in Oklahoma City on August 30, 1950. His family later moved to the Houston, Texas area, and that’s where he spent his formative years.

That move to Texas ended up being huge for his baseball growth. Houston’s warm weather meant he could work on pitching almost year-round. The city’s strong baseball culture and tough high school leagues gave young athletes like McQueen a real shot to show off their talent.

Growing up as a left-handed pitcher definitely gave McQueen an edge. Lefties have always been prized for the different looks they give right-handed hitters.

Spring Branch High School Achievements

McQueen went to Spring Branch High School in Houston, where he turned into a standout on the baseball team. The school’s program gave him a place to work on his pitching and get noticed by scouts.

His left-handed style made him especially attractive to evaluators. Spring Branch High had a reputation for producing solid baseball players, and McQueen fit right in.

The competitive Texas high school baseball scene really prepared him for what came next. He faced top competition, which let him test his skills against other rising stars.

Path to the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft

McQueen’s strong high school career got the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. His youth, left-handed arm, and raw talent made him a real prospect.

The Atlanta Braves saw his potential and picked him in the fourth round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft. They took him straight out of Spring Branch High, skipping the college route that a lot of players take.

Draft Details:

• Year: 1968
• Round: 4th
• Team: Atlanta Braves
• Age: 17 years old

Getting picked in the fourth round showed scouts thought McQueen had real professional potential. The Braves clearly believed he could become a major leaguer if he developed in their system.

Professional Debut and Path to the Majors

Mike McQueen’s climb from high school star to Major League pitcher started with the Braves drafting him in 1968. He moved through the minor leagues fast, showing off his left-handed talent, and made his MLB debut just a year after being drafted.

Draft Selection by Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves picked Mike McQueen in the fourth round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 67th overall pick. Braves scouts watched him at Spring Branch High in Houston.

At just 18, McQueen impressed with his left-handed pitching. The Braves liked what they saw and used a fourth-round pick on him. That draft spot meant the team saw him as a legit MLB prospect.

The Braves were building their farm system at the time. McQueen joined a team that had only recently moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. They were looking for young talent to build around.

Years in the Minor Leagues

McQueen started his pro career right after being drafted. He joined the Magic Valley Cowboys in the Pioneer League, getting his first taste of pro ball.

His minor league stint didn’t last long, but it was eventful. McQueen did well enough with Magic Valley to get a quick promotion. The Braves bumped him up to Double-A faster than most guys.

The Braves showed real confidence in McQueen by moving him to the Double-A Shreveport Braves. That was a big jump, since Double-A is where the competition gets tougher.

McQueen’s minor league experience was brief because of his rapid advancement. Most players spend years in the minors, but his quick rise showed the Braves really believed in him.

Promotion through Farm System

The Braves moved McQueen through the farm system in a hurry. He went from rookie ball to Double-A way faster than most prospects. The team saw something special in his left arm.

McQueen kept earning promotions with his performance at each level. Coaches helped him refine his pitching, and his natural lefty delivery impressed everyone.

The quick promotions reflected both his talent and the Braves’ needs. Teams often fast-track guys who show immediate potential, and McQueen definitely fit that mold.

Impact with Magic Valley Cowboys

McQueen’s time with the Magic Valley Cowboys was short but important. That rookie league gave him a first look at what pro baseball was all about.

The Cowboys played in a league meant for first-year pros. McQueen learned the basics of the pro game, from travel to working with coaches.

He pitched well enough for Magic Valley that the Braves promoted him quickly. Those early outings helped him move up the ladder and set up his MLB debut in 1969.

Major League Career Overview

Mike McQueen pitched in the majors for five seasons, from 1969 to 1974. He made his debut at 19, one of the youngest players in the league that year. His time with the Atlanta Braves started with promise, but injuries and a short stint with the Cincinnati Reds led to a final record of 5-11 and a 4.66 ERA.

Atlanta Braves Tenure

McQueen kicked off his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves on October 2, 1969. He pitched three innings that day, gave up one run on two hits, and struck out three.

He showed some promise in 1970. McQueen started the year with Triple-A Richmond, but the Braves called him up in June. He mostly worked out of the bullpen, but by September, he got a shot in the starting rotation.

His best year came in 1971, when he won four games—a personal high. That spring, Hank Aaron even compared him to Warren Spahn. But injuries limited him to just 17 games.

Key Braves Statistics:

• Games Played: 63
• Wins: 5
• Losses: 6
• Primary Role: Relief pitcher and occasional starter

The 1972 season was a tough one. McQueen went 0-5 in 23 games. Then, a car accident on December 20, 1972, near Uvalde, Texas, left him with a dislocated hip and cost him the entire 1973 season.

Cincinnati Reds Stint

The Cincinnati Reds picked up McQueen in the Rule 5 draft on December 3, 1973. This move gave him another shot after the Braves took him off their 40-man roster.

He pitched in 10 games for the Reds during the 1974 season, all out of the bullpen. His ERA was 5.40, and honestly, he didn’t quite meet expectations in Cincinnati.

The Reds sent McQueen back to the Braves on July 1, 1974. That marked the end of his time in Cincinnati and the final stretch of his big league career. His last MLB appearance came on June 15, 1974, against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Role as a Pitcher in MLB

McQueen mostly worked as a relief pitcher in the majors. Out of his 73 games, he started 19 times, showing he could handle different roles.

He threw and batted left-handed, stood 6 feet tall, and weighed 188 pounds. Over five seasons, he struck out 140 batters.

Career MLB Statistics:

• Win-Loss Record: 5-11
• Earned Run Average: 4.66
• Strikeouts: 140
• Games Pitched: 73
• Starts: 19

His fastball was his best pitch, but injuries kept him from reaching his full potential. Multiple tough seasons really limited what he could do.

Rule 5 Draft and Trades

The Rule 5 draft changed the course of McQueen’s final season. The Reds claimed him after the Braves took him off their 40-man roster.

Under Rule 5, the Reds had to keep McQueen on their major league roster or send him back to Atlanta. After he struggled, Cincinnati returned him to the Braves on July 1, 1974.

The Baltimore Orioles picked up McQueen from the Braves on August 7, 1974. Atlanta traded him for a minor league pitcher, which ended up being his last move as a player.

He appeared in just four games for Baltimore. The Orioles released him after the 1974 season, and that was it for his major league career at just 24.

Season Highlights and Career Achievements

McQueen’s five-year MLB career had some memorable moments, even though injuries cut it short. Being the youngest player in the majors in 1969 and getting praise from Hank Aaron stand out, but a complete game victory was probably his biggest achievement.

Notable Performances and Complete Game Victory

McQueen’s top performance came in 1970, when he threw a complete game victory over the Cincinnati Reds. That was the high point of his MLB career.

His debut on October 2, 1969, made him the youngest player in the majors that year at 19. He tossed three innings in that last regular season game for Atlanta.

The 1970 season was his best overall. He started the year in Triple-A Richmond, got called up in June, and by September, he was starting games.

That complete game against the Reds really showed what he could do when healthy and prepared.

Career Milestones and Key Statistics

McQueen finished with a 5-11 win-loss record and a 4.66 ERA over 73 career games. He struck out 140 batters in his five years.

He won a career-high four games in 1971, even though injuries limited him to just 17 games. He showed flashes of his potential in those outings.

Career Statistics	Totals
Games Played	73
Wins	5
Losses	11
ERA	4.66
Strikeouts	140
Saves	3

McQueen started 19 games and also worked out of the bullpen. That versatility let him help his teams in different ways.

Comparisons to Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn

Hank Aaron actually compared McQueen to Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn during spring training in 1971.

That comparison really set the bar high for the young left-hander.

Aaron’s endorsement meant a lot inside the Braves organization.

Spahn was one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history, so the comparison packed some extra punch.

Aaron thought McQueen had some of Spahn’s mechanics and potential.

He noticed things in McQueen’s pitching that reminded him of the Hall of Famer.

But injuries kept McQueen from ever reaching that early promise.

The comparison ended up as a reminder of what could have been.

1973 Season and Missed Opportunity

McQueen missed all of the 1973 season after he dislocated his hip in a car accident on December 20, 1972, near Uvalde, Texas.

His teammate, Jim Breazeale, got hurt too in that head-on collision.

Another driver tried to pass a semi-trailer and smashed into their car.

That accident completely derailed McQueen’s career at a really bad time.

He’d already struggled through an injury-filled 1972, finishing 0-5 in 23 games.

Missing 1973 wiped out any chance he had to recover and get back on track.

McQueen tried to come back in 1974 with the Cincinnati Reds after they picked him in the Rule 5 draft.

He pitched in 10 games, had a 5.40 earned run average, and then Atlanta took him back.

Injuries, Challenges, and Retirement

Mike McQueen’s baseball career started with so much promise, but injuries and bad luck in the early 1970s changed everything.

That car accident in December 1972 left him with a dislocated hip and forced him to sit out the entire 1973 season.

He retired from Major League Baseball in 1974.

Injury Setbacks in the Early 1970s

McQueen’s career hit a rough patch in 1972 when injuries started to pile up.

He struggled all season, going 0-5 in 23 games for the Atlanta Braves.

He just couldn’t get wins, and it was clear the injuries were making things tough on the mound.

The pain limited what he could do, whether he started games or came out of the bullpen.

That year was a big drop from his earlier potential.

People had once compared him to Warren Spahn when he broke into the majors at just 19.

Traffic Collision and Hip Dislocation

Everything changed in December 1972.

McQueen and his Braves teammate Jim Breazeale got into a serious car crash.

The head-on collision left McQueen with a dislocated hip that needed a lot of medical care.

He spent two months in the hospital trying to recover.

That accident ended his 1973 season before it even started.

His hip injury was just too severe for him to play any baseball that year.

Final MLB Appearances and Exit from Baseball

McQueen tried to make a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds in 1974 after missing all of 1973.

But it just didn’t work out.

He pitched his last Major League game on June 15, 1974.

The hip injury and everything else he’d been through made it impossible for him to get back to his old self.

His career numbers showed the toll the injuries took.

He finished with a 5-11 record in 73 games over five seasons from 1969 to 1974.

Recurring injuries and the aftermath of that car accident forced him to retire at just 24.

Post-MLB Career and Legacy

After his last MLB appearance in 1974, McQueen tried one more comeback with the Houston Astros in 1977.

That didn’t last, and he retired from professional baseball for good.

He spent his later years in Arkansas, and passed away in 2017 at age 67.

People still remember him as a talent whose career was cut short by injuries.

Minor League Comeback Attempts

McQueen didn’t play at all in 1975 or 1976 after the Baltimore Orioles released him.

His big league days were basically over when the Orioles let him go after a short stint in 1974.

In 1977, McQueen decided to give baseball one last shot.

He signed with the Houston Astros and started out in Single-A with the Cocoa Astros.

He actually pitched pretty well in Cocoa, posting a 1.93 ERA over 28.1 innings.

That earned him a promotion to Double-A Columbus.

Things fell apart in Columbus.

He struggled there, ending up with a 6.50 ERA in 14 games.

The difference between Single-A and Double-A showed just how much his injuries were still holding him back.

After that tough stretch in Columbus, McQueen chose to retire from baseball for good.

His short comeback with the Astros was the end of his playing days at age 27.

Later Life and Passing

After baseball, McQueen mostly stayed out of the spotlight.

He settled down in Arkansas and lived quietly for decades, away from the game.

He still cared about baseball, even if he never got back into it professionally.

Not much public info is out there about what he did after baseball.

On October 9, 2017, McQueen died in Batesville, Arkansas, at 67.

His life was shaped by both the promise and the challenges of a brief but memorable major league career.

Recognition within Baseball

People mostly remember McQueen’s career for its unfulfilled potential, not for big achievements. He finished with a 5-11 record and a 4.66 ERA over 73 games, which tells you injuries really got in the way.

Back in spring training in 1971, Hank Aaron actually compared McQueen to Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. That kind of praise set the bar pretty high for the young pitcher.

Being the youngest player in the majors when he debuted at 19 in 1969 is still a pretty cool accomplishment. He played for both the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, so he got a taste of that competitive National League scene in the early ’70s.

The Triple-A Richmond Braves kept popping up in his career, marking both his time developing and his later attempts to get back to the majors.