Early Career
Jorgensen made his major league debut with the New York Mets as a September call-up in 1968 at only 20-years-old. He wasn't part of the 1969 World Series championship team as he spent that entire season in the minors. On April 5, 1972, he was traded with Tim Foli and Ken Singleton to the Montreal Expos for Rusty Staub. It was in Montreal where Jorgensen enjoyed his greatest success. In 1973, he earned his only Gold Glove Award as a first baseman (though he played some outfield also throughout his career). It was also the only time between 1967 and 1977 that a Los Angeles Dodger first baseman did not win the Gold Glove Award. Jorgensen broke Wes Parker's six-year run from 1967-72 (after which season Parker retired from Major League Baseball), and Steve Garvey won the Award from 1974-77. In 1974, he broke the Expos' single season on-base percentage record with .444. In 1975, he enjoyed his most productive season with the bat—clubbing 18 home runs, and driving in 67 runs.
He became expendable when the Expos acquired future hall of fame first baseman Tony Pérez and was traded to the Oakland Athletics at the start of the 1977 season. Following one season with the A's, he signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.
Read more about this topic: Mike Jorgensen
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or career:
“No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)