Mike Easler

Michael Anthony Easler (born November 29, 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who enjoyed a 14-year major league career from 1973 to 1987 with the Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. He is currently is a minor league hitting instructor in the New York Mets organization.

Easler played first base, outfield and designated hitter. He was nicknamed "Hit Man" during his playing career and hit a career high .338 in 1980. After his major league career, he played two seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese Leagues in 1988-89 and one season with the West Palm Beach Tropics of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

After his retirement, he managed the independent league team Miami Miracle in 1990. He was the hitting coach for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992, the Boston Red Sox in 1993, and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1999-2001. He returned to independent baseball in 2004, managing the Florence Freedom for part of the season.

He was the hitting coach for the Jacksonville Suns in 2006 and was the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s in 2007.

On January 22, 2008, Don Mattingly, who had been announced as Joe Torre's hitting coach, chose not to take on the position citing personal reasons. The Dodgers named Easler, their Triple-A coach, as the new hitting coach on Torre's staff.

Easler was dismissed as the Dodgers' hitting coach on July 9, 2008 when it was announced Mattingly would be returning to his role after dealing with turmoil in his marriage. Easler returned to his role as a minor league hitting instructor for the remainder of the season and then left the organization.

In 2011, Easler began his first season as hitting coach of the Buffalo Bisons in the New York Mets' organization.

1. ^ "Mike Easler". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved November 10, 2013. 
2. ^ Associated Press (July 26, 2001). "Easler sues Cardinals for wrongful termination". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 10, 2013. 
3. ^ http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/roster/page.jsp?ymd=20110201&content_id=16545816&vkey=roster_t422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422