Mike Squires

Michael Lynn Squires (born March 5, 1952 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox primarily as a first baseman from 1975 and 1977 to 1985. Squires was best known as a defensive player, often coming on in late inning situations when the White Sox had a slim lead. He did not have the typical power associated with a corner infielder, never hitting more than two home runs in a season. Nonetheless, he was a valuable member of the White Sox of the early Tony La Russa era, particularly in their 1983 AL West championship run.

On May 4, 1980, Squires became the first left-handed-throwing catcher in Major League Baseball since Chris Short in 1961 when he was shifted from first base in the ninth inning of an 11–1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Comiskey Park.^[1] He would go behind home plate one more time three days later on the same homestand, coming off the bench in the ninth inning of a 12–5 defeat to the Kansas City Royals.^[2] He replaced Bruce Kimm in both instances.

He became the first left-handed-throwing third baseman in at least 50 years on August 23, 1983 when he entered the game for Vance Law in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 10–2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City.^[3] He would play thirteen more games at third base the following season, including four starts at the position.^[4]

Squires currently works as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds.^[5]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise

References

External links

• WHAT'S UP WITH MIKE SQUIRES, by Joe Goddard Chicago Sun-Times, August 19, 2001