Former big league player and coach Mike Brumley passed away yesterday in a car accident, as initially reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman (X link). Brumley was 61 years old.
A second-round pick for the Red Sox in the 1983 draft, Brumley played in 295 big league games over parts of eight seasons from 1987-1995. The early years of his pro career were defined by his inclusion in a pair of trades involving future Hall-of-Famers — the Red Sox traded Brumley and Dennis Eckersley to the Cubs for Bill Buckner in May 1984, which led to Brumley making his MLB debut in a Chicago uniform in 1987. The Cubbies then dealt Brumley and Keith Moreland to the Padres in February 1988 in the swap that brought Goose Gossage and Ray Hayward to Chicago.
Overall, Brumley was traded four different times as part of his journeyman career. He saw action with six different teams at the Major League level, and his 92 games with the Tigers in 1989 marked the most playing time he received in a season. Besides the Cubs and Tigers, Brumley also played with the Mariners, Red Sox, Astros, and Athletics, and he was a member of four other organizations (Padres, Orioles, Angels, Marlins) without ever appearing with any of those teams in a big league game. He hit .206/.261/.272 over 697 plate appearances while playing mostly shortstop, and also bouncing around the diamond as a second baseman, third baseman, and all three outfield positions.
Brumley moved into a long coaching career after his playing days ended, including stints as a minor league manager with Angels and Dodgers affiliates, while also working as a roving instructor for the Dodgers and as a field coordinator in the Rangers’ organization. His work in a big league dugout came with two of his former teams — Brumley was a third and first coach with the Mariners from 2010-13, and then an assistant hitting coach with the Cubs during the 2014 season.
Brumley went on to work as a minor league hitting coordinator with the Braves in 2021, and built some lasting bonds with several members of Atlanta’s organization that lasted well beyond his lone season in the role. Austin Riley today spoke at length about his friendship with Brumley, crediting him behind only Riley’s father as his greatest “role models in my baseball career.”
We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Brumley’s family, friends, and colleagues.
RIP Mike.
Thoughts and prayers to your family and friends.
I’m just going to give a huge f-you to Mark Bowman (Twitter source) for when he leaked this info. He said he wasn’t going to leak the info out of respect for Riley, then does it anyways because he worded his tweet so bad that he had to say it.
Not sure who he is. But may he rest in Paradise. Condolences to his friends and family. And anyone who was close to him.
RIP Mike…..
Must’ve been graded pretty highly to be a key piece in those trades.
RIP.
Thoughts and prayers to the family. Rest in Peace in the arms of our Savior.
RIP Mike. Thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time.
I remember Mike working hard to get his swing right as the starting shortstop of the New Britain Red Sox. He had tons of talent, but Beehive Field made that work all the more harder. It was like hitting and fielding in a swamp.
Still he persevered. Rest in peace Mike.
Saw him play with Oakland in early April one year and he got a couple hits. Thought he might be a steal.
RIP Mike.
Wow. So young and a tragic way to go.
RIP Mike and my thoughts are with his family at their sudden loss.
I remember him with my Tigers. He had that scrappy, middle infielder vibe. Wasn’t much at the plate but was always on his toes and “all in” when in the field. I’m sorry to hear this news. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.
I usually don’t engage in the comment section but I felt the need to tell people who Mike is from my own perspective. Mike has been my brother-in-law for over 40 years so on behalf of my family I want to say thank you for your kind comments.
Mike was a huge bonus to kid who already had 3 older siblings who were also great role models themselves. He came into my life when I was a 12 year old boy who in every waking moment dreamed of being a big league ball player. You’d could imagine how much I looked up to Mike at that time. But he was someone that even brought so much more to my life than baseball. He and my sister introduced me to Jesus and are the reason I became a Christian and that spread through my family and more. Every time they would come visit or home for the holidays it would leave me so inspired to be a better person and this NEVER stopped. Even in adulthood, though my career path was so much different from his, he lifted me up and inspired me to handle things and be a better adult, a better dad and a better Christian.
Although we didn’t see him but a few times a year, it was comforting knowing he was a rock that would always be there. I’m 54 now but man I’m going to miss him like I’m that little kid forever.
Well written. Condolences to you and your family. God bless you and comfort you at this time with a peace that surpasses all understanding, brother.
I remember Mike from his single year with the Mariners as a super enthusiastic, scrappy player which made him a fan favorite. We’ll miss you, Mike.