Michael Thomas Heath (born February 5, 1955, in Tampa, Florida) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees (1978), Oakland Athletics (1979–1985), St. Louis Cardinals (1986), Detroit Tigers (1986–1990), and Atlanta Braves (1991).
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 1083 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 2nd round of the 1973 MLB amateur draft, Heath made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees on June 3, 1978. 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 Oakland A's in a ten-player trade that sent Dave Righetti to the Yankees. Heath 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.
Famous quotes containing the words mike and/or heath:
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”
—Calder Willingham, screenwriter, Buck Henry, screenwriter, and Mike Nichols. Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman)
“We are the trade union for pensioners and children, the trade union for the disabled and the sick ... the trade union for the nation as a whole.”
—Edward Heath (b. 1916)