2013 Yawkee League Hall of Famer Mike Powers.

By David Treska

Mike Powers has been a part of the Yawkey Baseball League since 1988, spanning over 25 years and in that time he has one of the most distinguished careers in the leagues history.

A 5 time All Star Player and a 12 All Star Coach, his playing career started with the Cambridge Bucs and after a season there he joined the Somerville Highlander Alumni Baseball Club in the 1990 season.

Mike was the starting and winning pitcher in the team’s first game and was for the early part of the team’s existence their best pitcher and a standout outfielder.  Powers was a force in the old fall tournament, the Bill Stewart Memorial Cup leading the teams to 2 titles in 1991 and 1992 – being named the events Most Valuable Player in 1992. In 1993 Mike was the winning pitcher at the very first YBL All Star Game at Fenway Park.

Once the Alibrandis Club started to make the playoffs Mike was a mainstay in the middle of the order and had a knack to always come up with big hits, evidenced by his status as the team’s career leader in grand slams and was recognized by his peers winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2001.

At the same time Mike began to lead the team off the field as its field manager starting in the 1997 season.  In that role Mike set himself apart as the winningest coach in the history of the Yawkey Baseball League posting a 316-79-3 record in the regular season, being named Manager of the Year in 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2003 and was the head coach at Fenway Park 6 times and lead the Yawkey League to our firsts victory against the U.S. Military All Stars in 2008.

In these 12 seasons as the manager he won 10 Yawkey Baseball League Championships, posting a record of 106-30 and highlighted by a record 9 titles in row from 1999 to 2007.

Since his retirement from his career in uniform, he has worked behind the scenes with the team as general manager of the Alibrandis Club and with the Yawkey League in leading the All Star Committee – highlighted by teams that defeated the US Military All Stars and took home our first EMass All Star Classic Championship both in 2013.