Mike Santos

Miguel A. Santos (Redhead)

• Bats Left, Throws Leftt
• Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.

• Born March 20, 1945 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Mike Santos grew up with José Morales on St. Croix. His Hispanic name indicates that his parents may have been born in Puerto Rico. Morales remembered Santos as a fine hitter and glove man who opted for family life. Santos spent six seasons from 1964 through 1970 in the minors, with the exception of 1969. A logical guess is that he may have been serving in Vietnam.

Santos signed with the San Francisco Giants organization in 1963 for a new glove and a pair of spikes. His first pro season, 1964, was with Decatur in the Class A Midwest League. One of his teammates was DeGold Francis. The likelihood is high that Alfonso Gerard, then acting as a bird dog for Pedrin Zorrilla, brought both of them to the attention of the Giants, whom Zorrilla served as a scout. The same was true of José Morales.

Santos played the '64 season and the next four at Class A, though he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization starting in 1965. The Dodgers drafted him after he was left unprotected. In 1968, at Daytona Beach, Santos was team MVP.

After his year away, Santos was with the Pittsburgh Pirates chain in 1970, making it as high as Double A for 38 games and Triple A for eight. That was his last pro season, though he remained active in the St. Croix men's recreational league.

In the '60s, Santos also played for the San Juan Senadores in the Puerto Rican Winter League. On at least a couple of occasions, he was part of the Virgin Islands squad that faced Puerto Ricans in the annual exhibition series that took place in those years.

Another Miguel A. Santos played four games for the 1957 Jamestown Falcons, which included Elmo Plaskett. The origins of this player are uncertain.

Related Sites

• Santos Earns Dodger MVP Award, Daytona Beach Morning Journal, August 27, 1968