| Mike Cubbage | |
| Position: | Third baseman |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 21 July 1950 |
| Birth Place: | Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 7 |
| Debutyear: | 1974 |
| Debutteam: | Texas Rangers |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | October 3 |
| Finalyear: | 1981 |
| Finalteam: | New York Mets |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .258 |
| Stat2label: | Home Runs |
| Stat2value: | 34 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 251 |
| Teams: | As player
As manager
As coach
|
Michael Lee Cubbage (July 21, 1950 – August 11, 2024) was an American third baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6inchesft0inchesin (ftin), 180lb, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Cubbage was the son of Lindy and Marge Cubbage and came from a baseball family, as his cousins Larry Haney and Chris Haney played in the major leagues. Cubbage attended University of Virginia, where he played for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball and football teams.[1]
Cubbage originally was selected by the expansion Washington Senators in the fifth round of the 1968 MLB draft, but did not sign. He then was drafted again by Washington in the second round of the 1971 entry draft, and spent parts of four seasons in the minor leagues before joining the Texas Rangers on April 7, 1974, in a game against the Oakland Athletics.[2] While appearing in nine games with the Rangers in 1974, he did not collect his first major league hit until being called up in 1975, in a game on June 20 against the California Angels, when he went 3-for-5 with four RBIs.[3]
Cubbage was traded along with Roy Smalley III, Bill Singer and Jim Gideon from the Rangers to the Minnesota Twins for Bert Blyleven and Danny Thompson on June 1, 1976.[4] On July 27, 1978, he hit for the cycle against the Toronto Blue Jays.[5] In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Cubbage hit a 1–0 pitch to right field, and was thrown out at third trying to leg out a triple; he was therefore credited for a double on the play. He subsequently hit a home run (4th inning), single (5th inning), and triple (7th inning) to complete the cycle.
Cubbage later signed as a free agent with the New York Mets for the 1981 season. Throughout his playing career, he was considered somewhat of a utility player, playing mostly third base, but with stints at the first and second bases and designated hitter positions. Although he spent most of his playing time at shortstop in high school, Cubbage did not receive any playing time at this position in the major leagues.
In his MLB career of eight seasons, Cubbage appeared in 703 games, batting .258 with 34 home runs and 251 RBIs.
Cubbage managed in the minor leagues for seven seasons. Beginning in 1983, Cubbage led the Little Falls Mets, moving up to the Lynchburg Mets for the next two seasons. He then managed the Mets' AA Texas League affiliate Jackson Mets for the 1986 season, taking them to their league playoff finals. Cubbage was then promoted back to his home state to manage the AAA level Tidewater Tides for their 1987–1989 International League seasons.
Cubbage then served as Mets' third base coach in the early 1990s, and was named interim manager in September 1991.[6] He managed the Mets in seven games, finishing with a career managerial record of three wins and four losses (.429).
During spring training in 2002, Cubbage served as the interim manager of the Boston Red Sox after previous manager Joe Kerrigan was fired. Cubbage remained on the staff as third base coach after the Red Sox hired Grady Little as Kerrigan's full-time replacement.[7]
Cubbage died on August 11, 2024, at the age of 74.[8]