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Baseball Bio, Mickey “D”
General Manager /Field Manager
Mickey D. has been the managing the Stars since 1985, taking over from Marty Nellis who skippered the club from 1981 through 1984.
The stars record under Mickey D stands, going into the 2011 summer season at a record of:
Wins: 923
Losses: 303
Ties: 4
Under Mick’s watch the Stars have won numerous league championships along with tournament championships. The Stars success website page exhibits some of the victories that have been accomplished.
The Stars have competed internationally along with local and national competition. Cuba’s #1 team was played in 1985 in Palm Springs and again in the Grand Forks, Canada International Tournament. Japan – Taiwan, Australia, Russia, and Canada are among some of the competition the Stars have faced. In 2001 Taiwan ventured to Stars Field.
The Stars have competed numerous times, at the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series in Wichita, KS. A major victory for the Stars came when winning over Team USA in the National Tournament, their best finish being 3rd place.
In 1984, Mickey teamed up with Marty Nellis and Pete Jurnagan (Big Leaguer) and took on the position of a coach of the semi-pro San Diego (Santee) Stars. Winning the Western Baseball League title in 1984 gave the Stars a berth in the prestigious National Baseball Congress (Semi-Pro World Series in which the Stars finished 5th. This was Mick’s introduction to the collegiate and professional levels of baseball.
1988 was the introduction to Grossmont College where Mick was offered a coaching position in 1989-90 by his mentor Ed Olsen. In Mick’s words, I wasn’t really a knowledgeable coach when I arrived but I was at the end of my 10-11 years with the skipper. I will never be able to repay him for passing on to me his knowledge, love and respect of the game.
1995- Mick took on building a ball field. Stars Field. A baseball complex developed at Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside, CA. The Barona Band of Mission Indians granted the Stars enough land to build their own ball field. Words can never express our appreciation. This complex has and will always be “a work in progress”.
In 1990, Mick was signed by the Atlanta Braves to an associate scout position. During his scouting career he has assisted in the signing of many local players to professional contracts, a few of them have gone on to play major league ball.
Mick has also been instrumental in lending a helpful word or two concerning players continuing their education and assisting them with potential scholarships and college placement.
Through the years with the Stars, there have been many players pas through the Stars gates to move on to success. (Marcus Giles, David Cortez, Mike Frank, Jacques Jones, Mike Jacobs), plus many more in minor league and independent pro ball.
There have been many ex-pro ball players who have contributed to Mick’s knowledge as a manager, coach and student of the game, such as Rick Lysander, Dan Boone, Greg Chamberlin, Eddie Williams, Jimmy Tatum, plus many more.
Current: The Stars remain a highly recognized talent within the baseball community, locally, nationally and internationally. Four international championships, defeating Team USA, state and local league championships and many earned appearances in the NBC World Series.
Mick also operates “The San Diego Baseball Academy”, a training-coaching program for ball players and coaches of all ages for all levels to get ready for the next level of their baseball career.
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