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Sunday, February 1, 2015

Mike Bordick impressed with work habits, saw 14 bigs seasons

Mike Bordick 1990 Tacoma Tigers card
Mike Bordick played his second year as a pro with single-A Modesto and he quickly impressed, according to his hometown Bangor Daily News.

That June in 1987, his manager Tommie Reynolds called him outstanding.

"I can't say enough about the kid," Reynolds told The Daily News. "He's been great. He works hard every day and takes his practices like they're games. With that kind of work habit, he can do nothing but improve."

By April 1990, Bordick had improved enough to make the majors with Oakland. He also improved enough to stay for 14 seasons.

Bordick's career began in 1986, signed by the Athletics as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Maine.

Bordick started with the Athletics at short-season Medford. He hit .257 in 46 games. At single-A Modesto in 1987, Bordick hit .268.

Bordick made AA Hunsville in 1988, then AAA Tacoma in 1989. In April 1990, he debuted in Oakland. In 25 games that year, he got 14 at bats. He picked up one hit.

That October, he had a chance to play in the postseason. Bordick told his hometown Bangor Daily News that he believed he was ready to play.

"I'm definitely ready," Bordick told The Daily News. "I think I'll just have to keep my sights straight on the game and not get carried away in all the hoopla. I can't be overly awed. I've got to stay in the game (mentally)."

Bordick ended up getting into three World Series games, each time as a defensive replacement. He then returned to Oakland for 1991 and got more regular time.

Then in 1992, he played in 154 games and hit .300. After April, Bordick was a top-10 hitter in the league.

"It feels great. It's a big thrill to see my name up there," Bordick told The Daily News then. "Hopefully, it'll last a little big longer up there. It helps my confidence, too."

Bordick stayed with the Athletics as a regular through 1996. The shortstop hit .264 in 1995. He moved to the Orioles in 1997, spending three years there. He hit .277 in 1999.

He moved to the Mets in a mid-2000 trade. He hit .297 over 100 games with the Orioles before the trade. He also made the all-star team.

"I've always taken the approach of trying to improve myself everyday," Bordick told The Associated Press after a hot start in April. "It doesn't matter what you've done in the past."

That fall, Bordick made the World Series with the Mets. He went 1 for 8.

He returned to the Orioles for 2001 and 2002. His final season came in 2003 with the Blue Jays.

In his 14 major league seasons Bordick hit .260 on his career and got into more than 1,700 games.
1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,908
Made the Majors: 878 - 46.0%-X
Never Made Majors: 1,030-54.0%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 375-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:218

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