The Time an MiLB Manager Played in the Big Leagues during a Playoff chase.

 Not much is going on in the Baseball world these days, that's for sure. So lets kick in some nostalgia on a random Thursday in 2022. Let's rewind the clock 16+ Years. 

Most remember Mike Mordecai in Marlins lore as the Player off the Bench who sealed the deal in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. The famous 'Bartman Game' took an incredible turn in the 8th Inning and Mordecai's 2 Out Bases clearing Double was the gut punch to the Cubs at Wrigley on a cold October night. 

Mike Mordecai ='s Emergency Catcher

Mordecai, the Utility Middle Infielder/2 time World Series Champion played for 3 different Teams during his 12 year Major League Career and suited up at every Position minus Pitcher on a Big League Baseball Field. Including, as can be seen on the link ⬆️ above, Catcher for the Marlins in 2004. 

That's where our story begins. See the 2004 Season was to be Mike Mordecai's last. His 1 Year (modest $425,000) Contract which he had re-signed with the Fish following '03, was up. Despite being 37 going into '05, the Marlins did call "Mordy" that Off-Season. Only Florida GM at the time Larry Beinfest, instead of offering a Contract to Play, was instead offering a Contract to Manage?!

Mordecai was originally acquired by the Marlins at the Trade Deadline in 2002, part of the Cliff Floyd Trade with the Expos that brought Carl Pavano to Florida. Ownership knew both Players well, as both Pavano & Mordecai were in Montreal throughout Jeffrey Loria & Co.'s tenure with the Expos. 

Mordecai was known as a Team first, attention to detail, Baseball mind who was part of a 2003 Marlins Bench that included future Major League Manager/Coaches Mike Redmond, Lenny Harris, and Andy Fox. So it was only appropriate that Mike Mordecai would be the Manager of the 2005 Jamestown Jammers, the Marlins Low-A Affiliate in the New York-Penn League, at the conclusion of his Baseball Playing Career.

Mike Mordecai Managing the Jamestown Jammers

The New York-Penn League was a short Season in Minor League Baseball. A League usually constituted of Players who were recently Drafted either out of College or even High School. It would usually start in June and end with the rest of Minor League Ball in September. 

Mordecai, serving as a first year Manager in the League, would tell his players on the Jammers "I still feel like a player, (I'm) just off the field". "I told them, I'm one of you". To prove it, Mordecai would take some Batting Practice and some Infield Practice with his Team.

  

A Jamestown Team that constituted of well known future Marlins Gaby Sanchez & Chris Volstad. As well as Players who only had a cup of coffee in the Show, the likes of Sean West (who had a decent Rookie year, even defeating Randy Johnson for his first Big League Win), to Ryan Tucker, Daniel Barone, and Mauro Zarate.

Did somebody say 'Cup of Coffee' ☕

At the conclusion of the Minor League Season, another call from Beinfest would come "Mordy's" way. It wasn't a promotion at the Minor League level, but a promotion to the Big Leagues! This call wasn't a call to Coach at the Major League level either. It was a call to be added to the Marlins Roster, as a Player!! A reward by the Marlins to Mordecai. 

See, to Mike Mordecai, a few weeks on a Big League Roster would add roughly $35,000 to his pension rights. Seeing as Rosters could expand to 40 starting September 1st back then, the Marlins didn't mind adding some Veteran knowledge to their Bench, even if it was not to play. 

"He's an extra guy" Manager Jack McKeon said as the Marlins began a Series with massive Playoff implications for both Teams in Houston that September. "He has an off-field presence with this Club" said McKeon of Mordecai. "He has a great attitude and he helps the young guys out, but he hasn't played all year, it would be tough to stick him in there now"

"Sit on the bench for 3 weeks and get $35,000, what businessman wouldn't do that 😉" - Mike Mordecai  

Forward the clock 1 week. Following a gut wrenching Series loss to the Phillies at Home. One which saw Utility man Damion Easley sprain his ankle on the Football field which the Marlins called their Home. Coupled with Starting Shortstop Alex Gonzalez having already missed 2 weeks with a bad elbow, 21 year old Robert Andino's early struggles at the Big League level, and Starting 2nd Baseman Luis Castillo's hamstring injury. You could see how the Marlins Playoff chances were quickly evaporating. 

So in Queens, as the 79-71 Marlins were preparing to take on the New York Mets. There was still Batting Practice, just like there was earlier that year in Jamestown, New York. Where Manager Mike Mordecai would participate with his players, because as "Mordy" would say "just in case". Where the Low-A Skipper would take Infield Practice because "you never know". About 6 Hours West of Jamestown, at Shea Stadium, on this September night the name Mike Mordecai was written in a Big League Lineup. Batting 7th. Starting at Second Base. 

Mordecai would see action in 2 Games that September, making a couple plays at Second and playing Shortstop the next night. He went to the plate twice, striking out in his 1st AB, followed by hitting a sharp groundball that was fielded nicely by Mets Shortstop and future Marlin Jose Reyes in his second and last trip to the plate. After being eliminated from Playoff contention, the Fish would go on to audition younger guys the final week and a half of the Season. The Marlins however completed their 3rd consecutive Winning Season, the first and only time done by the Franchise. 

Following 2005, Mordecai, an Alabama native, returned home. Continuing to teach the Game of Baseball as he took a Head Coaching Position at a High School in Dothan, AL. 

It's been over 15 years since a Minor League Manager played in the Big Leagues, and while Mike Mordecai the Player may not have returned to the Majors, Mike Mordecai the Coach did. With the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 as a quality control Coach. 

What's "Mordy" up to now a days you ask? What else, Coaching. Only this time from home, Dothan again. Hey, that extra pension may have had it's benefits afterall 😉.