Mike Jorgensen

First baseman / Manager

Born: August 16, 1948 (age 68)
Passaic, New Jersey

Batted: Left

Threw: Left

MLB debut

September 10, 1968, for the New York Mets

Last MLB appearance

October 6, 1985, for the St. Louis Cardinals

MLB statistics

.243

426

Games managed

143

Win–loss record

62–81

Winning %

.434

Teams

As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

As player

As manager

Michael Jorgensen (born August 16, 1948) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who currently works in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. The New York Mets drafted him in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft. In a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career spanning from 1968 to 1985, he played primarily with the Mets and Montreal Expos and had brief stints with the Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics. He also has served as a manager for the Cardinals.

Jorgensen made his major league debut with the New York Mets as a September call-up in 1968. He played the entire 1969 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, 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 preceded Steve Garvey, who won the award from 1974-77. In 1974, he broke the Expos' single season record for on-base percentage with .444, on the way to setting career highs in batting average (.310), slugging percentage (.488) and adjusted OPS (156).The next year, he set more career highs with the bat—clubbing 18 home runs, and driving in 67 runs.