Mike Matheny is a former professional baseball catcher who played for 13 seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on September 22, 1970, in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and attended the University of Michigan, where he played college baseball. Matheny was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 1991 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 1994.
Matheny played for the Brewers for five seasons before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1999. He played for the Blue Jays for one season before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000. Matheny played for the Cardinals for five seasons and was a key member of the team that won the National League pennant in 2004. He was known for his strong defensive skills and was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner.
In 2005, Matheny signed with the San Francisco Giants and played for them for two seasons before retiring from baseball in 2007 due to a series of concussions. After retiring, Matheny became a coach and manager. He served as a special assistant to the Cardinals' general manager from 2008 to 2011 before being hired as the manager of the Cardinals in 2012.
As the Cardinals' manager, Matheny led the team to the playoffs in his first four seasons and won the National League pennant in 2013. However, the team struggled in the following seasons, and Matheny was fired in 2018. He then served as a special advisor to the Kansas City Royals before being hired as their manager in 2020.
Matheny's baseball career was marked by his strong defensive skills and leadership abilities. He was known for his ability to handle pitchers and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike. Despite his early retirement due to concussions, Matheny continued to contribute to the sport as a coach and manager, and his legacy in baseball is a testament to his dedication and passion for the game.
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