Mike Ivie, R.I.P.

Former MLB player Mike Ivie passed away on Friday of "ongoing health issues". He was 70. 

The Atlanta native would be the number one pick in the 1970 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres as a catcher straight out of high school. 

Ivie would have cups of coffee with the Padres in both 1971 and 1974 before becoming a regular player in 1975. By this time, Ivie was playing first base as he had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Ivie was not the only catcher during this period who couldn't throw the ball back to the pitcher. Dale Murphy had a similar problem with the Atlanta Braves before being moved to the outfield and would reward the Braves with back-to-back NL MVPs in 1982 and 1983. 

Alas Ivie would not be so fortunate. The Padres would trade Ivie to the San Francisco Giants prior to the 1978 season for outfielder Derrel Thomas. Ivie would have his best success in a Giants uniform. His most memorable moment as a big leaguer took place on May 28, 1978 when he hit a pinch hit grand slam HR off future Hall of Famer Don Sutton as the Giants battled the Dodgers for the NL West. Ivie enjoyed his best overall season in 1979 when he hit .286 with a career high 27 HR and 89 RBIs in 133 games.

However, Ivie would fall out of favor with the Giants prior to the 1980 season when he injured his hand in a hunting accident. After losing his job at first base to Enos Cabell early in the 1981 season, the Giants traded Ivie to the Houston Astros for Dave Bergman and Jeff Leonard. Ivie would ask for his release early in the 1982 season and would sign as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers where he was primarily used as a DH before being released early in the 1983 season. His MLB career would end at the age of 30. Had he held on one more year, Ivie would have earned a World Series ring with the Tigers. Alas, Ivie finished his 11-year big league career collecting 724 hits in 857 career games for a lifetime batting average of .269 with 81 HR and 411 RBI. 

Ivie was reportedly relieved at his baseball career ending as he had trouble coping with the pressure put upon him. One can only hope the last 40 years of his life were happier than the life he had before and during his MLB career. I leave you with Ivie hitting a HR in a 1979 game against the Montreal Expos. R.I.P.