Philip Anthony Mankowski (born January 9, 1953, in Buffalo, New York) is a former professional baseball third baseman. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers (1976–79) and New York Mets (1980, 1982).

Baseball career[edit]

After a four-year varsity career at Bishop Turner High School in Buffalo, New York, Mankowski was drafted in 1970 at the age of 17 in the ninth round by the Detroit Tigers.^[1]

Mankowski was never an everyday player, but the Tigers platooned him at third base with Aurelio Rodríguez in 1977 and 1978. His most productive season was 1977 when he hit .276 with career highs in games played (94), at bats (286), hits (79), triples (3), and RBIs (27). The only other season in which Mankowski had at least 100 at bats was 1978, when he hit .275, scored 28 runs, hit four home runs, and drove in 20 runs. On April 7, 1978, Mankowski hit a home run to help Mark Fidrych get the win in a five-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. On October 31, 1979, the Tigers traded Mankowski and Jerry Morales to the Mets for Richie Hebner.

In 269 major league games, Mankowski hit .264 with 195 hits, 72 runs scored, 64 RBIs, 55 bases on balls, 23 doubles, eight home runs, four triples, and three stolen bases.

Mankowski played Hank Benz in the 1984 movie "The Natural".

References[edit]

1. ^ http://buffalosportshallfame.com/member/phil-mankowski/

External links[edit]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Philip Mankowski at the Internet Movie Database