The Cardinals lost a dear friend, great coach and baseball icon when Mike Becker passed away in his sleep on Saturday, September 4th. Becker, as he was known to those who knew him best, was one of the most recognizable figures in the New York City baseball community.

 

Mike’s relationship with the Cardinals was long standing. We have created this page so those of you that knew him best can share your thoughts and stories about him, and those that did not know him will get a picture of why he was so dear to us all.

 

“Mike is very, very special. He fought through two strokes, never once even thinking of giving up being around his true love- baseball. I have known Becker for almost twenty years, since I was in grade school, and there is no one that I have met who loves the game of baseball more than Mike. Baseball was his life. Period. Everything and everyone else came second, a very distant second. We should all love the game, love being around the game and the people who play it half as much as Michael Becker did. He had a great attitude, and worked until the very last of his days…. just last Sunday he was at the Team NY Cardinals tryouts, evaluating the talent for the coming summer season. I’m going to miss Mike tremendously, and in his honor would like to ask him now, ‘ What are we doing here?’ May he rest in peace”.

     - Ian Millman

 

“I first met Mike Becker when he was “scouting” one of our high school games. He expressed an interest in a few of our players at Lynbrook High School for his summer PONY League team, the LI Mets. At that time Mike was working for the Mets organization. His dedication to the youth and summer baseball was always above and beyond what anyone could expect. He not only gave these players a chance to play at the next competitive level but he taught them how to behave both on and off the playing field. Mike believed in sportsmanship. Many of his players went on to play competitive college baseball and a few eventually signed professional contracts. Mike was a sportsman, a dedicated coach and a Fatherly figure for many players. He will be missed by many but his baseball “gifts” will be remembered by all. Thanks Mike for all you did for my son and for all of the others you guided on your summer baseball teams.” -Don Roth

“God bless that dear man. You certainly couldn’t help but notice how much he loved all of your/our guys in his odd way. I doubt I have seen a man love the game and all that goes with it as much as Becker. And I must admit, seeing you be thrown out of a game (with all due respect), wasn’t nearly as colorful as Mighty Mike. We will all miss him so. I know you will miss him dearly. And I have decided he can keep the 20 bucks he owes me ….. I’ll get it later.”

     - Dane Johnson

 

“On July 5, l974, I received a letter from the N.Y. Mets for a try-out. It was signed by Mike Becker. I was 16 years old and from that day on my life was changed forever. I played 4 seasons for Mike on the unlimited team called the Long Island Mets, which, at that time, was the best amateur team around. I have so many fond memories of road trips and Alley Pond Park. I have made so many valuable connections from those years of my life. Mike was truly a unique inspiration to me. Today I coach baseball at Holy Cross High School, coach baseball with the Bayside Yankees and I’m an associate scout with the Chicago White Sox. See any connection? For years I lost touch with Mike, but recently we have met up on the baseball field again. Wherever there was a high level of baseball being played, you’d find Mike. With a kind word and a story to tell, he always kept me amused. He remembered every player he ever coached, every position they played and even the number they wore. Only God knows how many thousands of innings and individuals he coached. I was priviliged to be one of those thousands. Mike, you’ll surely be missed.” -Jamie Loeb

“I will very much sitting with Mike, scouting, hearing his stories adn puling his leg. I had to remember which was his good ear so I could sit on that side and not have to repeat things. His hearing was always good enough to hear the Mr. Softee truck from blocks away, and we always got on him for that. His devotion to the game and expertise are things that will go unmatched. I owe a lot of my career to Mike, and I miss him very much. See you later Mike….you are missed.”

     - Hector Garcia