Michael Scott Bankhead (born July 31, 1963) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from -. Bankhead also pitched for Team USA in the 1984 Olympic Games. He attended the University of North Carolina.

Early life and education

Michael Scott Bankhead was born on July 31, 1963, in Raleigh, NC. He graduated from Reidsville High School in Reidsville, NC, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1981 and 1982, he played

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

with the Wareham Gatemen of the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousan ...

and was named a league all-star in 1982.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Bankhead was drafted by the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

in the first round, 16th pick, of the

1984 Major League Baseball Draft First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft. Other notable players *Jeff Blauser†, 1st round (secondary phase), 4th overall by the Atlanta Braves * Greg Maddux‡, 2nd round, 31st ...

. He appeared in only 31 games in the minors before being called up by the Royals. He made his Major League debut on May 25, , going four innings, giving up two hits and striking out four while giving up no earned runs to get his first win. He finished the '86 season going 8-9 with a 4.61 ERA in 24 games, 17 for starts.

Seattle Mariners

On December 10, , he was traded by the Royals with

Mike Kingery Michael Scott Kingery (born March 29, 1961), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues, primarily as an outfielder, from 1986–1992 and 1994–1996. Kingery's career high for home runs in a season was 9, set in 198 ...

and Steve Shields to the Seattle Mariners for

Rick Luecken Richard Fred Luecken (born November 15, 1960) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays. Career Luecken attended Texas A& ...

and Danny Tartabull. In his first month with the Mariners, Bankhead went 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA, but he developed tendinitis and ended the season with a dismal 9-8 record and 5.42 ERA. Bankhead established himself as a sharp pitcher in , but it wasn't until , when he went on a hot streak after the All-Star break, that he proved himself a winning pitcher. He finished the '89 season going 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA and was named co-MVP of the team along with Alvin Davis. In his next two seasons shoulder trouble would limit Bankhead to just 21 appearances. On December 20, , he was granted free agency.

Cincinnati Reds

On January 22, , he signed as a free agent with the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. He would revive his career and in just one season he was 10-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 54 games. On April 24, 1992, Bankhead picked up his only MLB career save during a marathon 16 inning victory over the Padres. Bankhead pitched a scoreless 16th inning to close out a 7-6 Reds victory. On October 28, , he was granted free agency.

Boston Red Sox

Bankhead was signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox on December 8, 1992. In two seasons, and with the Sox he went 5-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 67 games.

New York Yankees

On September 1, , Bankhead was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Red Sox but never played for them that season because of the strike. He was granted free agency at the end of the season but re-signed with the Yankees. In , Bankhead went 1-1 in 20 games, including one start. On July 25, he was released by the Yankees.

Oakland Athletics

On August 4, , Bankhead signed as a free agent with the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

but never made an appearance for them at the Major League level. He was released by the A's on September 10.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bankhead, Scott 1963 births Living people All-American college baseball players American expatriate baseball players in Canada Baseball players from North Carolina Bellingham Mariners players Boston Red Sox players Calgary Cannons players Cincinnati Reds players Edmonton Trappers players Kansas City Royals players Major League Baseball pitchers Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Memphis Chicks players New York Yankees players North Carolina Tar Heels baseball players Olympic silver medalists for the United States in baseball Omaha Royals players Pawtucket Red Sox players San Bernardino Spirit players Seattle Mariners players Wareham Gatemen players Baseball players at the 1984 Summer Olympics