| Mike Bruhert | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 24 June 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Jamaica, New York, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 9 |
| Debutyear: | 1978 |
| Debutteam: | New York Mets |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | September 29 |
| Finalyear: | 1978 |
| Finalteam: | New York Mets |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat3value: | 56 |
| Stat1value: | 4–11 |
| Stat2value: | 4.78 |
| Teams: |
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Michael Edwin Bruhert (born June 21, 1951) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the former son-in-law of former New York Mets manager Gil Hodges.[1]
Bruhert attended Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Queens where he won only one game as a pitcher in four seasons.[2] After high school, he worked scooping ice cream at a local Carvel and played for a local sandlot team. Bruhert found enough success in the Queens-Nassau Summer League[3] to land a tryout at Shea Stadium, after which he signed with the New York Mets.[4]
Shortly after joining the Mets, he began dating Gil Hodges' daughter, Irene. The two were engaged by the time Bruhert was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule 5 draft on November 27, .[5] Following Spring training, he was returned to the Mets.
After seven seasons in the Mets' farm system, in which he went 38–51 with a 3.69 earned run average, Bruhert made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader with the Montreal Expos on April 9, . He pitched six strong innings, allowing only one earned run (two unearned), however, he took the loss.[6] He earned his first win in his next start against the St. Louis Cardinals.[7] His finest performance was a complete game shutout of the Phillies on September 17, in which he struck out five and allowed just four hits.
For the season, Bruhert went 4–11 with a 4.78 ERA and 56 strikeouts. He was traded to the Texas Rangers in along with Bob Myrick for star pitcher Dock Ellis. Bruhert went 9–10 with a 5.58 ERA in the Rangers' farm system, but never reached the majors.
He spent the and seasons with the New York Yankees' International League affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, going 11–7 with a 3.69 ERA, before retiring. Shortly afterwards, he became pitching coach at Fordham University.
He served in the United States Army Reserve in the early 1970s.[2]