Mike Gates

Michael Grant Gates

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.
• School Pierce College, Pepperdine University
• High School Cleveland High School (Reseda)
• Debut May 6, 1981
• Final Game July 30, 1982
• Born September 20, 1956 in Culver City, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Mike Gates was one of eight players who appeared in at least 10 games at second base for the 1982 Montreal Expos who went 86-76 on the year.

Gates, who had come up in 1981 for one game, appeared in 36 games at second base in 1982, more than anyone else except 31-year-old Doug Flynn, who appeared in 58 after coming over from the Texas Rangers. The young Tim Raines also appeared in 36 games at second base in-between two stints as a starting outfielder. Gates was brought up from the Wichita Aeros to play second base when Terry Francona suffered a season-ending injury on June 16th; Raines went back to left field, and Gates became the starter for six weeks, until the Expos brought up Bryan Little and purchased Flynn at the end of July.

Gates was at Pepperdine University in 1978 and 1979. He was an All-American in 1979 (chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association), along with Tim Wallach at first, who also ended up with the Montreal Expos. Wallach went in the first round of the 1979 amateur draft, while Gates went in the seventh round.

Gates hit .309 for the Denver Bears in 1981, and .331 for Wichita in 1982. In 1984 he hit .297 for the Indianapolis Indians. As a base-stealer, he stole as many as 23 bases in Double A in 1980.