Mike Paciorek

Michael Paciorek

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
• High School St. Mary's High School

• Born February 10, 1955

Mike Paciorek played five years in the minor leagues. He is the brother of John Paciorek, Tom Paciorek and Jim Paciorek and the uncle of Mack Paciorek, Pete Paciorek, Tom Paciorek Jr., and Joseph Paciorek. Like Tom, Mike was the victim of sexual abuse by a local priest when he was younger and remained quiet about the topic for decades.

Mike was a second-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1973 amateur draft, chosen one slot after Fred Lynn. He debuted with the Ogden Dodgers and hit .218/~.371/.286 in 37 games, striking out 29 times in 91 AB. A shortstop in high school, he became an outfielder and first baseman with Ogden. Primarily an outfielder that year, he would be used at first in the future.

Paciorek split 1974 between the Bellingham Dodgers (.189/~.297/.216 in 32 games) and Orangeburg Dodgers (.214/~.313/.259 in 47 games). In 1975, he began a two-year stint with the Danville Dodgers. He hit just four home runs as the regular first baseman, producing at a .229/~.334/.337 clip in 97 contests. In 52 games in 1976, his batting line read .236/~.351/.362.

Moving to the Greenwood Braves in 1977, Paciorek closed out his professional baseball career by hitting .263/~.381/.434. In clearly his best season at the plate, he hit 30 doubles and 14 home runs while drawing 82 walks. His 23 errors led Western Carolinas League first basemen.

Sources: 1974-1978 Baseball Guides, 2002 CNN transcript