Mitch Lyden

Mitchell Scott Lyden

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
• High School Beaverton High School
• Debut June 16, 1993
• Final Game October 3, 1993
• Born December 14, 1964 in Portland, OR USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Catcher Mitch Lyden played very briefly in the majors with the Florida Marlins in their inaugural season, 1993.

Originally selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 1983 amateur draft, Lyden was signed by scout Whitey DeHart. He spent eight seasons in the Yankees organization and showed some power, hitting 17 home runs for the Prince William Yankees in 1988 and equaling that tally with the Albany-Colonie Yankees two years later. He was in the Detroit Tigers system in 1991 and smashed 18 homers for the Toledo Mud Hens while being named an International League All-Star.

After spending a year in the New York Mets chain in 1992, Lyden signed with the Florida Marlins following the season as they were assembling their first roster after having been created through the expansion of 1993. He spent the majority of 1993 with the AAA Edmonton Trappers but was called up to the majors in June when backup backstop Bob Natal was injured. Stuck behind Benito Santiago on the depth chart, he finally made his big league debut on June 16th. Starting that day against the Chicago Cubs, he hit a solo home run off Jose Bautista in his first at bat. "I couldn't have scripted it any better," Lyden said. "Wrigley Field. The mystique. But it could have been more sweet if we had won the game." He appeared in only one more game before returning to Edmonton but was back with the Marlins in September. Overall, he was 3-for-10 in 6 games for Florida.

Lyden was back with the Trappers in 1994 and moved on to the Kansas City Royals organization in 1995. He then played several seasons in the independent leagues and in Taiwan and managed the Elmira Pioneers in 2002 and 2003. In sixteen seasons in the minor leagues, he hit 214 home runs.

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2002	Elmira Pioneers	Northern League East	54-38	2nd	Independent Leagues	Lost in 1st round
2003	Elmira Pioneers	Northern League	42-46	5th	Independent Leagues

Further Reading

• Gordon Edes: "Catcher Lyden is latest Marlin miracle", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 13, 1993. [[1]
• Ed Giuliotti: "Homer could help Lyden keep job", South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 17, 1993. [2]