Books and articles about Mike Epstein

Epstein was dubbed Superjew by rival manager Rocky Bridges after he led the California League in batting and home runs in 1965, and was The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year in 1966 when he won International League MVP honors at Rochester (.309, 29 HR, 102 RBI). The burly, lefthanded slugger arrived at spring training in 1967 as baseball's most-heralded prospect, but after the Orioles tried in vain to convert him to the outfield (they already had Boog Powell at first base), they demoted him to Rochester again. The outspoken Epstein refused to report, going home to California instead, and did not play again until the end of May, when he was traded to the Senators with Frank Bertaina for Pete Richert. Later that season, in his'dh)''@@first at-bat against the Orioles, Epstein hit a grand slam.

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Epstein was a capable power hitter in the ML, but never hit quite well enough to offset his frequent strikeouts, poor defense, and big mouth. He hit .278 with 30 HR for the Senators in 1968, but slipped to .256 with 20 HR in 1970 and was one of four players traded to Oakland for Darold Knowles before the 1971 season. With the A's, Epstein hit .270 with 26 HR in 1972, but was 0-for-16 in the WS and was traded back to the Rangers (formerly the Senators) for relief pitcher Horacio Pina in November. He played only 27 games with Texas in 1973, then was traded to the Angels, and after hitting .161 in 18 games for California in 1974 Epstein was out of the ML for good. (SCL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 29, 1967: Orioles 1B Mike Epstein and P Frank Bertaina are traded to the Senators for P Pete Richert. » June 5, 1967: Playing his first game for the Senators, Mike Epstein hits a 200 foot drive down the LF line for an inside the park homer, off New York rookie Thad Tillotson. Mickey Mantle breaks a 2–2 tie in the 8th with a homer of Darold Knowles, and New York wins, 4–2. » May 16, 1969: Despite five home runs -- three by Mike Epstein -- the Senators lose the White Sox, 7–6. Carlos May's 10th homer of the year breaks a 6–6 deadlock. » April 22, 1970: The Yankees and Senators battle for 18 innings before the Nats win, 2–1. The winning run scores on a walk to Ed Stroud, a single by Hank Allen, and a sac fly by Mike Epstein. The run, off Ron Klimkowski, makes a winner of Joe Grzenda. » June 19, 1970: Despite Mike Epstein's eight RBIs, the Senators bow to the Orioles 12–10 in the first game of a doubleheader. Epstein has two homers -- one a grand slam -- and a single. Boog Powell drives in four runs with four hits for the O's. The O's use pitching to take the nitecap, 3–2, in 13 innings. Jim Hardin pitches 10 innings with Pete Richert getting the win with three innings of relief. » June 26, 1970: Frank Robinson belts two successive grand slams during a 12–2 Oriole romp over the Senators, just the 7th major leaguer to ever accomplish the feat. Dave McNally, the winning pitcher, Don Buford, and Paul Blair trot home ahead of him on each blow. They will be Robby's only grand slams for the O's. The Orioles will lose C Clay Dalrymple tomorrow when he breaks his ankle in a home plate collision with the Nats Mike Epstein. » May 8, 1971: The A's trade 1B Don Mincher, P Paul Lindblad, C Frank Fernandez, and cash to the Senators for 1B Mike Epstein and P Darold Knowles. The Nats will sell Fernandez back to the A's in late June, and the A's will trade Frank to the Cubs. » June 16, 1971: First place Oakland's five solo home runs account for all their scoring in a 5–1 win over Washington. Mike Epstein homers his first two times up to give him a record-tying four straight over two games. Vida Blue (14–2) picks up the win. » May 20, 1973: In a 5-player deal, Angels 1B Jim Spencer and Rangers 1B Mike Epstein switch teams. » June 28, 1973: During a 2–0 win over the Angels, White Sox star Dick Allen breaks his leg in a collision with Mike Epstein at 1B. Allen will come to bat only five more times all season.