Former Yankees executive Gene 'Stick' Michael dies at 79

Betallsports · Sep 7, 2017

Gene "Stick" Michael, the New York Yankees executive who helped build the club's late-1990s dynasty teams, has died. He was 79.

Michael served as Yankees manager in 1981-82 and as their general manager from 1991-95.

During his time as GM, he restocked the farm system and built the Core Four of Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada via the draft or free agency. He also traded for Paul O'Neill to shape the group that helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Betallsports · Sep 7, 2017

RIP Stick

NewYorkKnight · Sep 7, 2017

Others got headlines ... He built the team.

Rest In Peace

dpmj · Sep 7, 2017

RIP

he was the architect

Betallsports · Sep 7, 2017

Gene "Stick" Michael, who played a crucial role in the development of the New York Yankees' most recent dynasty, has died, USA TODAY Sports has confirmed.

Michael, 79, was installed as the Yankees' general manager in August 1990, the final act by owner George Steinbrenner before the Boss served a 2 1/2-year suspension from Major League Baseball for paying a gambler to "dig up dirt" on Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield.

Freed from Steinbrenner's well-intended but impetuous meddling, Michael let the Yankees' finest homegrown prospects develop, a group that eventually included Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. Michael's regime drafted Derek Jeter sixth overall in 1992, and four years later, Jeter began a two-decade run as the Yankees' shortstop and franchise bedrock.

“He was the best,’’ Yankees president Randy Levine told USA TODAY Sports. “A man of character and integrity, and central to the success of the New York Yankees.’’
Michael also engineered one of the Yankees' finest trades since they acquired Babe Ruth: Dealing Roberto Kelly to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul O'Neill in November 1992. O'Neill batted .303 with an .869 OPS in nine years with the Yankees, and played on all four of their World Series championship teams.

Michael was fired as Yankees GM after the 1994-95 labor dispute, but his handiwork was complete: The Yankees made the playoffs for 13 consecutive years after Michael's dismissal.

Michael eventually returned to the Yankees in 1996, and served as a valued lieutenant in myriad front office roles under GM Brian Cashman in the years since.
"Stick was a great man with enormous heart and integrity," Levine said in a statement. "One of the greatest baseball executives of our time. He was central to the success of the Yankees."

Contributing: Bob Nightengale