Researching Mike Heath

While Heath played most of his games as a catcher, he started his professional baseball career as a shortstop and played every position except pitcher during his major league career. He played 1,083 games at catcher, 142 games in right field, 79 games in left field, 39 games as a DH, 38 games at third base, four games each at first base and shortstop, and one game each at second base and center field.

Drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, Heath made his major league debut with the New York Yankees on June 3, 1978, at the age of 23. He hit .228 in 33 games with the 1978 Yankees and appeared in one game of the 1978 World Series.

On November 10, 1978, Heath went to the Texas Rangers in a ten-player trade that sent Dave Righetti to the Yankees. The following June, after never playing at the major league level for Texas, Heath was traded to the Oakland A's where he got substantial playing time in seven seasons with the A's. Heath hit .333 for the A's in the 1981 American League Championship Series.

While with the A's, Heath caught Mike Warren's no-hitter on September 29, 1983.

Heath was known for his strong throwing arm. In 1989, playing with the Detroit Tigers, Heath led the AL's catchers with 66 assists and 10 double plays.

Heath singled in his last plate appearance vs. the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, 1991.

In 1325 games over 14 seasons, Heath posted a .252 batting average (1061-for-4212) with 462 runs, 173 doubles, 27 triples, 86 home runs, 469 RBI, 54 stolen bases and 278 bases on balls. He finished his career with an overall .981 fielding percentage. In nine postseason games, he batted .190 (4-for-21) with 2 runs, 1 home run and 2 RBI.