View source for Mike Matheny

{{short description|American baseball catcher and manager (born 1970)}}
{{for|the jazz musician and journalist|Mike Metheny}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mike Matheny
|image= MikeMathenyphotoday2013.jpg
|image_size=250px
|caption=Matheny with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013
|position=[[Catcher]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|team=
|number=
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1970|9|22}}
|birth_place=[[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 7 
|debutyear=1994
|debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 31
|finalyear=2006
|finalteam=San Francisco Giants
|statleague = MLB
|statyear=
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.239
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=67
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=443
|stat4label=Managerial record
|stat4value=756–693
|stat5label=Winning %
|stat5value={{Winning percentage|756|693}}
|teams=
'''As player'''
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|1998}})
* [[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|1999}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2006}})
'''As manager'''
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2018}})
* [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2022}})
|highlights=
* 4× [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Award]] (2000, 2003–2005)
}}

'''Michael Scott Matheny''' (born September 22, 1970) is an American former professional [[baseball]] player and former [[Manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for 13 seasons as a [[catcher]] for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[Toronto Blue Jays]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]], and [[San Francisco Giants]]. Matheny later spent seven seasons as the manager of the Cardinals. One of the most accomplished defensive players of his era, he won four [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Awards]]. As manager of the Cardinals, his teams won one [[2013 National League Championship Series|National League (NL) pennant]] and three [[National League Central|NL Central]] division titles. He also managed [[Kansas City Royals]].

From [[Reynoldsburg, Ohio]], Matheny was selected by the Brewers in the eighth round of the [[1991 Major League Baseball draft|1991 MLB draft]] from the [[Michigan Wolverines baseball|University of Michigan]]. He made his MLB debut as a member of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] on April 7, 1994. Matheny established major league records among catchers for consecutive games played without committing an [[Error (baseball)|error]] (252), and consecutive [[Total chances|chances]] fielded without an error (1,565). He is one of three catchers in major league history with an errorless season of at least 100 games, and in 2005, set a Giants single-season team record for catcher's [[fielding percentage]] at .999. Matheny made two [[World Series]] appearances, both with the Cardinals. He was a catcher in [[2004 World Series|2004]] and a manager in [[2013 World Series|2013]]. He retired from playing in 2006 due to persisting symptoms of [[concussion]], and has since become an advocate for its prevention and for improved catcher safety.

After his playing career, Matheny coached [[Little League Baseball]]. The Cardinals hired him to [[List of St. Louis Cardinals managers|manage]] after the 2011 season although he had no professional [[Coach (baseball)|coaching]] or managerial experience. In 2012, the Cardinals were [[Major League Baseball wild card|wild card]] winners, and from 2013–15, claimed three consecutive NL Central titles, including winning a career-best 100 games for Matheny in 2015. He became the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to the [[Major League Baseball postseason|playoffs]] in each of his first four seasons and the fifth to a [[League Championship Series]] appearance in each of his first three. In 2018, he became the fourth Cardinals manager to manage the club in 1,000 games. The Cardinals fired him during that season after missing the playoffs the two previous years.

==Early life and amateur career==
Matheny grew up in [[Reynoldsburg, Ohio]], a suburb of [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]. He graduated from [[Reynoldsburg High School]], where he captained the baseball and [[American football|football]] teams.<ref name="Matheny bio">{{cite web |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=stl&coachorstaffid=118414 |title=Managers and coaches: Mike Matheny |publisher=stlous.cardinals.mlb.com |access-date=August 17, 2013 |archive-date=October 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013195513/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=stl&coachorstaffid=118414 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He received little attention from nearby [[Ohio State University]] but accepted a scholarship offered by [[Michigan Wolverines baseball|University of Michigan]] coach [[Bud Middaugh]].<ref name=blue>{{cite news |last=Wasserman |first=Daniel |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/trading-blue-gold-mike-mathenys-path-and-michigan?page=0,1 |title=Trading in blue for gold: Mike Matheny's path to and from Michigan |newspaper=[[The Michigan Daily]] |date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref> 

Out of high school, Matheny's defensive and throwing skills drew the notice of major league [[Scout (sports)|scouts]], and the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] drafted him in the 31st round of the [[1988 Major League Baseball Draft]]. They waited two days until after the draft ended to tell him of his selection and initially refused to disclose which round they had selected him in. Two days before he was due to attend his first class at Michigan, Blue Jays [[List of Toronto Blue Jays owners and executives|general manager]] [[Pat Gillick]] appeared at Matheny's home to convince him to sign. Gillick was ready to offer a deal normally reserved for second-round picks. At the time, teams held the right to negotiate with their draft picks until the moment they entered their first classroom in the following academic year. The Blue Jays called Matheny frequently until the morning of his first class, hoping he would sign. However, Matheny was convinced that he would not be a very good professional player at that point, so he chose to attend college instead. Before proceeding to his first class, he called the Blue Jays from his dormitory room to inform them of his decision.<ref name="blue" />

Matheny co-captained the Wolverines.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olsen |first=Drew |date=April 30, 1997 |title=Matheny makes the plays: Catcher's hit, tag key in close victory |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5acaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6136,10762126&dq=mike+matheny&hl=en |access-date=April 4, 2012 |work=The [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Matheny |url=http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/matheny.htm |access-date=April 4, 2012 |publisher=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers}}</ref> He was also was a member of the 1989 [[Amateur baseball in the United States#National Youth Baseball Championship|Connie Mack championship]] team.<ref name="Matheny bio"/> In 1990, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] with the [[Cotuit Kettleers]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] and was named a league all-star.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Cape League Baseball | pages = 34 | work= The Cape Codder | location = Orleans, MA | date = July 20, 1990 | url = https://snow-library.com/viewer/5136?medianame=1990_thecapecodder_vol45_issue58-1_orleans_000034 }}</ref>

==Playing career (1991–2006)==

===Minor leagues, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays (1991–99)===
The [[Milwaukee Brewers]] selected Matheny in the eighth round of the [[1991 Major League Baseball Draft]], and he spent three years climbing the [[Minor league baseball|minor league]] system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thebaseballcube.com/draft/rounds.asp?Y=1991&R=8&P=June-Reg |title=1991 Major League Baseball Draft 8th Round |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |access-date=January 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mathen001mic |title=Mike Matheny minor league statistics |publisher=baseball-reference.com |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> He made his major league debut with the Brewers on April 7, [[1994 Milwaukee Brewers season|1994]], at the age of 23. He became their starting catcher early in the [[1995 Milwaukee Brewers season|next season]].<ref name="Mike Matheny statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mathemi01.shtml |title=Mike Matheny statistics and history |publisher=[[Baseball-reference.com]] |access-date=January 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=mathemi01&t=b&year=1995 |title=1995 Mike Matheny batting log |publisher=baseball-reference.com |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>

During a game against the [[1998 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] on May 26, [[1998 Milwaukee Brewers season|1998]], Matheny was batting in the bottom of the ninth when he took a pitch from [[Rich Loiselle]] off his face. Remaining upright, Matheny placed his hand on his hip as Pirates catcher [[Jason Kendall]] and home plate [[Umpire (baseball)|umpire]] [[Jerry Crawford]] motioned wildly for the Brewers trainers. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he walked off the field.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cosentino |first=Dom |url=http://deadspin.com/that-time-mike-matheny-took-a-fastball-to-the-face-and-1451042467 |title=That time Mike Matheny took a fastball to the face and barely flinched |publisher=[[Deadspin]] |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref> At the end of that season, he became eligible for salary arbitration, and the Brewers granted him free agency a few months later.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haudricourt |first=Tom |title=Bando heading to meetings in search of pitching help |work=The [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |page=8 |date=December 11, 1998 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=erwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6894,1142641&dq=mike+matheny+traded+to+blue+jays&hl=en}}</ref>

Ten years after they drafted him, the Toronto Blue Jays signed him on December 23, 1998, for the [[1999 Toronto Blue Jays season|1999]] season. He served as [[Darrin Fletcher]]'s understudy. Toronto released him after the season.

===St. Louis Cardinals (2000–04)===
Matheny signed with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] on December 15, 1999. He barely made the Cardinals roster out of [[spring training]] but went on to earn the starting catcher's role in [[2000 St. Louis Cardinals season|2000]].<ref name="Matheny Signs 3-Year Extension Worth Around $9 Million">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EC734E7CDFF2648&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Matheny Signs 3-Year Extension Worth Around $9 Million |publisher=nl.newsbank.com |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> He posted a career-high .261 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and provided exceptional defense for the Cardinals, with a .993 [[fielding percentage]] and throwing out 53 percent of attempted [[stolen base|base stealers]], well above the 32 percent league average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mathemi01.shtml#standard_fielding::none |title=Mike Matheny fielding statistics |publisher=baseball-reference.com |access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> Matheny helped the Cardinals improve from their fourth-place finish in [[1999 St. Louis Cardinals season|1999]] to winning the [[National League Central]] Division title, and claimed his first [[List of Gold Glove Award winners at catcher|Gold Glove award]] in the process.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#2000 |title=2000 Gold Glove Award winners |publisher=baseball-reference.com |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> After the season, the Cardinals signed him to a three-year, $9 million contract.<ref name="Matheny Signs 3-Year Extension Worth Around $9 Million"/>

After teammate [[Darryl Kile]]'s sudden death in the summer of [[2002 St. Louis Cardinals season|2002]], Matheny showed that he was an inspirational leader, helping the team to cope and make it to the [[2002 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]. After the [[2003 St. Louis Cardinals season|2003]] season, the [[St. Louis]] and [[Houston]] chapters of the [[Baseball Writers' Association of America|BBWAA]] voted for Matheny as the inaugural winner [[Darryl Kile Award|of an award]] established in Kile's honor.<ref name="Matheny bio"/>

Bolstering his growing reputation as a top defensive catcher, Matheny again won Gold Gloves with the Cardinals in 2003 and [[2004 St. Louis Cardinals season|2004]]. His defensive contributions helped St. Louis reach the postseason in four of his five years with the team, including claiming the [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennant]] in [[2004 National League Championship Series|2004]].<ref name="For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense">{{cite magazine |author=Vass |first=George |date=May 2005 |title=For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense |url= |access-date= |work=Baseball Digest}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/playoffs/2004-10-21-houston-cardinals-game7_x.htm |title=Cardinals win NLCS, advance to World Series |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=October 22, 2004 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref> Between August 1, [[2002 St. Louis Cardinals season|2002]], and August 4, 2004, Matheny played in 252 games without committing an error, establishing a new Major League record for catchers.<ref name="Giants catcher Mike Matheny announces retirement">{{cite web |author= |date=February 1, 2007 |title=Giants catcher Mike Matheny announces retirement |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070201&content_id=1792021&vkey=pr_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504235710/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070201&content_id=1792021&vkey=pr_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |archive-date=May 4, 2013 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |work=MLB.com}}</ref>

Matheny set another Major League record for catchers in 2004 by fielding 1,565 consecutive [[Total chances|chances]] without an error.<ref name="Giants catcher Mike Matheny announces retirement"/> During his playing days in a Cardinal uniform, Matheny caught 611 games, accumulating 4,938.1 [[Inning (baseball)|innings]] and committing just 14 errors.<ref name="Matheny bio"/> His .996 fielding percentage leads all catchers who have caught at least 2,000 innings for St. Louis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=c&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=2000&type=0&season=2013&month=0&season1=1882&ind=0&team=28&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=20,d |title=St. Louis Cardinals leaderboards ›› catchers ›› fielding statistics, Fielding percentage |work=[[Fangraphs]] Baseball |access-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref> He became a free agent after the [[2004 World Series]], primarily due to the emergence of rookie catcher [[Yadier Molina]], whom he would eventually manage.

===San Francisco Giants (2005–06)===
[[File:Mike Matheny.jpg|upright|thumb|Matheny playing for the [[San Francisco Giants]] in {{Mlby|2006}}.]]
Matheny signed a three-year contract with the [[San Francisco Giants]] on December 13, 2004. [[2005 San Francisco Giants season|The next season]], he displayed a rare power surge, amassing career highs with 13 [[home run]]s, 34 [[Doubles (baseball)|doubles]], a .406 [[slugging percentage]], and 59 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBIs). Matheny continued his defensive excellence, compiling a team-record .999 fielding percentage and leading [[National League (baseball)|National League]] catchers with 13 double plays, 77 assists, and 39 [[Stolen base|base-stealers]] [[caught stealing]], earning his fourth Gold Glove.<ref name="Mike Matheny statistics"/><ref name="Matheny bio"/><ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 30, 2005 |title=Sports Illustrated Players' Poll: Who is the best defensive catcher in the major leagues? |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1111481/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014065508/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1111481/index.htm |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |access-date=April 3, 2012 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> He also took home the [[Willie Mac Award]] that year, accorded annually to a Giant player for spirit and leadership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/willie_mac_award.shtml |title=Willie Mac Award Winners |publisher=Baseball Almanac |access-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

Matheny landed on the [[disabled list]] on May 31, [[2006 San Francisco Giants season|2006]], after a series of [[foul ball]]s caromed off his mask, resulting in a serious [[concussion]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea |first=John |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/article/Matheny-knows-it-s-time-to-quit-Catcher-felled-2652504.php |title=Matheny knows it's time to quit: Catcher felled by concussions |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref> In July, the Giants announced that he would not return for the remainder of the season and that his career status was in doubt. Giants [[Sports journalism|beat writer]] Rich Draper wrote that Matheny's career was likely over due to continued struggles with [[post-concussion syndrome]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Draper |first=Rich |title=Giants mailbag: Steep price for Zito? |url=http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/1774532 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160317001748/http://m.giants.mlb.com/news/article/1774532 |archive-date=2016-03-17 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

===Retirement and career statistics===
On February 1, 2007, Matheny announced his retirement from Major League Baseball at the age of 35 due to ongoing symptoms of post-concussion syndrome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/giants-matheny-forced-to-retire-1.687736|title=Giants' Matheny forced to retire|work=CBC|date=February 1, 2007|accessdate=October 12, 2021}}</ref>

In his 13-year major league career, Matheny played in 1,305 games, accumulating 925 hits in 3,877 at bats for a .239 career batting average, along with 67 home runs, 443 RBIs, and an [[on-base percentage]] of .293.<ref name="Mike Matheny statistics"/> He led National League catchers twice in fielding percentage, ending his career with a .994 average, which was four points above the league average during his playing career.<ref name="Mike Matheny statistics"/> His fielding percentage is tied for 24th best all-time among major league catchers, {{As of|2024|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_c_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Fielding Percentage as Catcher |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=3 April 2012}}</ref> Matheny also twice led National League catchers in baserunners [[caught stealing]].<ref name="Mike Matheny statistics"/>

==Managerial career==
===St. Louis Cardinals===
====Hiring====
[[File:IMG 9783 Mike Matheny.jpg|upright|thumb|right|Matheny as manager of the Cardinals in June 2012.]]

On January 24, 2008, Matheny returned to the St. Louis Cardinals as a special adviser for the first two weeks of [[spring training]]. They announced him as their new manager on November 14, 2011, following [[Tony La Russa]]'s retirement, making him the youngest manager in the major leagues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Strauss |first=Joe |title=Cards hire Matheny as manager |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cards-hire-matheny-as-manager/article_59a7b250-0e4c-11e1-a0d3-0019bb30f31a.html |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=November 14, 2011}}</ref> Matheny's other prior coaching experience included [[Little League Baseball]], and other interviewees included [[Terry Francona]], [[Ryne Sandberg]], [[José Oquendo]], [[Chris Maloney]] and [[Joe McEwing]], all of whom already had managerial or coaching experience in the major leagues.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7230926/st-louis-cardinals-name-mike-matheny-new-manager |title=St. Louis Cardinals name Mike Matheny new manager |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=December 23, 2013}}</ref>

====First season as manager (2012)====
On April 4, [[2012 St. Louis Cardinals season|2012]], Matheny won in his managerial debut against the [[2012 Miami Marlins season|Miami Marlins]] in the inaugural game at [[LoanDepot Park|Marlins Park]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Langosch|first=Jenifer|title=Matheny doesn't have to break sweat in first win|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120404&content_id=27934096&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> Twenty days later, Matheny was ejected from a game for the first time for arguing a pivotal safe/out call by umpire [[Bill Welke]] in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 3–2 loss to the [[2012 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cubs win in 10 to end Cards' run of 13 straight winning series|url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320424116|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161709/http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320424116|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2012|access-date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>

Matheny's first season as Cardinals manager was a success, finishing the regular season with an 88–74 record before winning the [[2012 National League Wild Card Game|Wild Card game]]. The [[2012 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] defeated the Cardinals in the [[2012 National League Championship Series|NLCS]].<ref name=manager>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mathemi01.shtml |title=Mike Matheny managerial record |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref>

====2013–14====
[[File:Mathenycard2014.jpg|thumb|right|Matheny presents the Cardinals lineup card on May 12, 2014.]]
On February 14, 2013, the Cardinals picked up Matheny's 2014 option.<ref name="Mgr">{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130214&content_id=41627006&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217024235/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130214&content_id=41627006&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |title=Cards extend Mozeliak, pick up Matheny's option |work=MLB.com |date=February 14, 2013}}</ref> He surpassed the success of his first season by guiding the club in [[2013 St. Louis Cardinals season|2013]] to an NL-best 97–65 record and his first [[National League Central]] division title. The Cardinals defeated the [[2013 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] 3–2 in the [[2013 National League Division Series|NLDS]] and the [[2013 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] 4–2 in the [[2013 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] for his first NL pennant. The [[2013 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] defeated the Cardinals in the [[2013 World Series|World Series]] in six games, with many similarities to 2004, when Matheny was also a catcher for St. Louis. As in the Cardinals finished with the best record in the NL, and the Red Sox likewise defeated the Cardinals in the World Series. However, in 2013, St. Louis lost four key players to season-ending injuries, including [[Chris Carpenter]], [[Rafael Furcal]], [[Jaime García (baseball)|Jaime García]], and [[Jason Motte]], and rookies comprised half of the World Series pitching staff.<ref name=bauman>{{cite web |last=Bauman |first=Mike |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/stl/mike-bauman-extending-manager-mike-matheny-is-a-st-louis-cardinals-no-brainer?ymd=20131120&content_id=64078084&vkey=news_stl |title=Extending Mike Matheny's contract is a St. Louis Cardinals no-brainer |work=MLB.com |date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> On November 20, 2013, the Cardinals extended Matheny's contract for three more years through 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nowak |first=Joey |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/stl/cardinals-extend-manager-mike-mathenys-contract-through-2017-season?ymd=20131120&content_id=64072326&vkey=news_stl |title=Cardinals extend manager Mike Matheny's contract through 2017 season |work=MLB.com |date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

Making his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] appearance as a major leaguer, Matheny was the NL manager in the [[2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2014]] game, which he lost.<ref name=2014as>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS201407150.shtml |title=NL All-Stars (3) at AL All-Stars (5) |website=Baseball-Reference |date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=August 30, 2015}}</ref> The Cardinals won the NL Central division title in [[2014 St. Louis Cardinals season|2014]], their second consecutive title, and third consecutive playoff appearance with Matheny as manager.<ref name=Petrella>{{cite web |last1=Petrella |first1=Steve |title=With postseason clinched, Cards head to Wrigley |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_09_22_slnmlb_chnmlb_1&mode=preview |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP |access-date=October 7, 2014}}</ref> More trends continued as they eliminated the [[2014 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]] from the playoffs for the second consecutive season, this time in the [[2014 National League Division Series|NLDS]]. Just like in 2012, the [[2014 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] eliminated the Cardinals in the [[2014 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] before winning the [[2014 World Series|World Series]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2014.shtml |title=2014 St. Louis Cardinals batting, pitching, & fielding statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

====2015====
After defeating the [[2015 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] 10–9 on May 4, [[2015 St. Louis Cardinals season|2015]], the Cardinals had an MLB-best 19–6 record and the best 25-game start for the club since at least 1900.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Cards off to best start in modern franchise history |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/122423684/cardinals-off-to-best-start-in-franchise-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507172001/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/122423684/cardinals-off-to-best-start-in-franchise-history |archive-date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |work=MLB.com}}</ref> The seven game win streak was a career-high for Matheny.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Langosch |first1=Jenifer |last2=Muskat |first2=Carrie |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Wild 1st sets tone as Cards win 7th straight |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/122323382/wild-first-inning-sets-tone-as-cardinals-outslug-cubs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507171940/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/122323382/wild-first-inning-sets-tone-as-cardinals-outslug-cubs |archive-date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |work=MLB.com}}</ref> The Cardinals defeated the Cubs again the next game, 7–4, extending the win streak to eight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201505050.shtml |title=Cubs (4) at Cardinals (7) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref> A 3–1 victory over the [[2015 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] on May 17, 2015, secured the 300th win of his managerial career.<ref name="matheny300">{{cite web |author= |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Cardinals top Tigers for Matheny's 300th win |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/cardinals-top-tigers-for-mathenys-300th-win/ |access-date=July 30, 2015 |work=[[FOX Sports]]}}</ref> In August 2015, ''[[Baseball America]]'' published that fellow NL managers and coaches rated Matheny the second-best manager in the league.<ref name=babesttools>{{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/cards-prospect-reyes-sweeps-tools-triple-crown/article_f54b08b2-e6e9-5e9d-83cb-b41769b3a5bd.html |title=Cards prospect Reyes sweeps 'Tools Triple Crown' |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 12, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015}}</ref> On September 19, the Cardinals became the first team in the majors to qualify for the playoffs. Matheny became the first manager in MLB history to guide his club to the postseason in each of his first four full seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-reach-playoffs-but-fall-to-cubs/article_2c57a4d8-5278-5fe2-a530-e1af518fa61f.html |title=Cards reach playoffs, but fall to Cubs, 5–4 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 19, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="4consplayoffs">{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |date=September 19, 2015 |title=Cards become 1st team to clinch postseason spot |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/150519226/with-giants-loss-cardinals-back-in-postseason |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923000050/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/150519226/with-giants-loss-cardinals-back-in-postseason |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}}</ref> With an 11–1 win over the [[2015 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] on September 30, the Cardinals won 100 games for the first time in Matheny's managerial career, while clinching their third consecutive NL Central division title. The Pirates, who had kept close for most of the season, had already won 96 games, while clinching a wild card berth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singer |first1=Tom |last2=Langosch |first2=Jenifer |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cards-rout-bucs-in-game-2-to-clinch-central-c152489984 |title=Cards rout Bucs in Game 2 to clinch Central |work=MLB.com |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-clinch-third-consecutive-division-title-win-th-game/article_8bf3b8f1-46a0-52c2-9468-ecbac72d0b93.html |title=Cards clinch third consecutive division title, win 100th game |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> However, the Cubs, the second wild card team, defeated the Cardinals in the [[2015 National League Division Series|NLDS]] in four games.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=October 13, 2015 |title=On to NLCS: Cubs finish off Cardinals at Wrigley Field |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-game-4-cubs-cardinals-live-blog-20151013-htmlstory.html |access-date=October 15, 2015 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Matheny finished second in the NL [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year Award]] voting,<ref name="2015moy">{{cite web |last=Berry |first=Adam |date=November 18, 2015 |title=Matheny runner-up for NL Manager of the Year: Skipper overcomes challenges to lead club to third straight division title |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/157533286/cards-mike-matheny-2nd-for-nl-manager-of-year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119152059/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/157533286/cards-mike-matheny-2nd-for-nl-manager-of-year |archive-date=November 19, 2015 |access-date=November 19, 2015 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> and was a co-winner of the [[J. G. Taylor Spink]] St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year Award.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |date=December 18, 2015 |title=Matheny, Rosenthal to be honored at St. Louis BBWAA dinner |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/159992292/mike-matheny-to-be-honored-at-bbwaa-dinner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221031140/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/159992292/mike-matheny-to-be-honored-at-bbwaa-dinner |archive-date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=December 19, 2015 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

====2016−2018====
On May 27, [[2016 St. Louis Cardinals season|2016]], Matheny gained his 400th career win in a 6–2 defeat of the [[2016 Washington Nationals season|Washington Nationals]]. In 2016, Matheny's contract was extended to 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/garcia-piscotty-muscle-cards-past-nationals/article_45471233-fdae-5655-a7c6-fb8f4147d82a.html |title=Garcia, Piscotty muscle Cards past Nationals |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=May 27, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>

On May 1, 2018, Matheny became the fourth person, following [[Red Schoendienst]], [[Whitey Herzog]], and Tony La Russa, to manage 1,000 Cardinals games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ortíz |first=José de Jesús |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jose-de-jesus-ortiz/ortiz-matheny-has-come-a-long-way-in-games-as/article_f405437b-f6f0-5774-adb1-d859f1118eac.html |title=Matheny has come a long way in 1,000 games as Cardinals manager |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018}}</ref> However, the Cardinals fired him on July 14, following middling performance and clubhouse issues, including Matheny's poor communication with [[Dexter Fowler]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/cardinals-fire-manager-mike-matheny/article_58647912-6ef0-5712-9051-735398041663.html|title=Cardinals fire manager Mike Matheny|last=Goold|first=Derrick |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=July 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cardinals dismiss manager Matheny |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-dismiss-manager-mike-matheny/c-285883856 |publisher=MLB |access-date=July 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Baccellieri |first=Emma |date=2018-07-15 |title=Poor On-Field Decisions, Clubhouse Issues Led Cardinals to Change Course From Mike Matheny |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/07/15/cardinals-fire-mike-matheny-tactical-errors-clubhouse |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref> His [[2018 St. Louis Cardinals season|2018]] record was 47–46, and his career in St. Louis over 1,065 games was 591–474 (.555).<ref name="managerial record">{{cite web |title=Mike Matheny |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/mathemi01.shtml |access-date=May 2, 2018 |website=Baseball Reference}}</ref> The Cardinals did not make the postseason in his final three seasons as manager.<ref name=":0" />

===Kansas City Royals===
On October 31, 2019, Matheny was hired as manager of the [[Kansas City Royals]] following the retirement of [[Ned Yost]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Flanagan |first=Jeffrey |date=October 31, 2019 |title=Royals name Mike Matheny manager |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/mike-matheny-to-be-royals-new-manager |access-date=October 31, 2019 |website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Matheny had previously been a special advisor for player development for the Royals.<ref>{{cite web |author=Acquavella |first=Katherine |date=Nov 23, 2018 |title=Royals hire former Cardinals manager Mike Matheny as a special adviser for player development |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/royals-hire-former-cardinals-manager-mike-matheny-as-a-special-adviser-for-player-development/ |website=CBSSports.com}}</ref> The Royals exercised a contract option on March 31, 2022, retaining Matheny through the 2023 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kansas City Royals exercise option to keep manager Mike Matheny through 2023 season |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33639269/kansas-city-royals-exercise-option-keep-manager-mike-matheny-2023-season |access-date=March 31, 2022 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=March 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Anne |title=Royals pick up Matheny's option for 2023 |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/mike-matheny-s-2023-option-picked-up-by-royals |access-date=March 31, 2022 |work=MLB.com |date=March 31, 2022}}</ref> On October 5, 2022, the Royals fired Matheny following the dismissal of general manager [[Dayton Moore]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Anne |title=Royals part ways with manager Mike Matheny |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/mike-matheny-will-not-return-to-royals |access-date=October 6, 2022 |work=MLB.com |date=October 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kansas City Royals fire manager Mike Matheny |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34736121/kansas-city-royals-fire-manager-mike-matheny |access-date=October 6, 2022 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=October 5, 2022}}</ref> He did not have a winning season with the Royals, peaking at 74 wins in 2021.

===Managerial record===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Games!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2012 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2012 Major League Baseball season|2012]]
||162||88||74||{{Winning percentage|88|74}}|| 2nd in NL Central || 7 || 6 || {{Winning percentage|7|6}} || Lost [[2012 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] ([[2012 San Francisco Giants season|SF]])
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2013 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2013 Major League Baseball season|2013]]
||162||97||65||{{Winning percentage|97|65}}|| '''1st in NL Central''' || 9 || 8 || {{Winning percentage|9|8}} || Lost [[2013 World Series|World Series]] ([[2013 Boston Red Sox season|BOS]])
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2014 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2014 Major League Baseball season|2014]]
||162||90||72||{{Winning percentage|90|72}}|| '''1st in NL Central''' || 4 || 5 || {{Winning percentage|4|5}} || Lost [[2014 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] ([[2014 San Francisco Giants season|SF]])
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2015 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2015 Major League Baseball season|2015]]
||162||100||62||{{Winning percentage|100|62}}|| '''1st in NL Central''' || 1 || 3 || {{Winning percentage|1|3}} || Lost [[2015 National League Division Series|NLDS]] ([[2015 Chicago Cubs season|CHC]])
|-
![[2016 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2016 Major League Baseball season|2016]]
||162||86||76||{{Winning percentage|86|76}}|| 2nd in NL Central || – || – || – ||
|-
![[2017 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2017 Major League Baseball season|2017]]
||162||83||79||{{Winning percentage|83|79}}|| 3rd in NL Central || – || – || – ||
|-
![[2018 St. Louis Cardinals season|STL]]||[[2018 Major League Baseball season|2018]]
||93||47||46||{{Winning percentage|47|46}}|| Fired || – || – || – ||
|-
! colspan="2"|STL total || 1065 || 591 || 474 || {{winpct|591|474}} || || 21 || 22 || {{Winning percentage|21|22}} || 
|-
![[2020 Kansas City Royals season|KC]]||[[2020 Major League Baseball season|2020]]
||60||26||34||{{Winning percentage|26|34}}|| 4th in AL Central || – || – || – || 
|-
![[2021 Kansas City Royals season|KC]]||[[2021 Major League Baseball season|2021]]
||162||74||88||{{Winning percentage|74|88}}|| 4th in AL Central || – || – || – || 
|-
![[2022 Kansas City Royals season|KC]]||[[2022 Major League Baseball season|2022]]
||162||65||97||{{Winning percentage|65|97}}|| 5th in AL Central || – || – || – ||
|-
! colspan="2" |KC total || 384 || 165 || 219 ||{{Winning percentage|165|219}}|| || – || – || – ||
|-
! colspan="2" |Total <ref name="managerial record" />  || 1,449 || 756 || 693 || {{Winning percentage|756|692}} || || 21 || 22 || {{Winning percentage|21|22}} ||
|}

==Awards and accomplishments==

===Accomplishments===
* First manager in MLB history to guide team to playoffs in each of first four seasons (2012–15)<ref name=4consplayoffs/>
* 100-win season as manager (2015)<ref name=2015moy/>
* MLB record for consecutive games caught without an error (252 from 2002–04)<ref name="Matheny bio"/>
* One of three catchers in MLB history with fielding percentage of 1.000 with at least 100 games caught (2003)
* Three consecutive seasons with fielding percentage of .999 or above, one or fewer errors and at least 100 games caught (2003–05)
* San Francisco Giants' single-season record for catcher's fielding percentage (.999 in 2005)<ref name="Matheny bio"/>
* 1,000 games managed ([[St. Louis Cardinals]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/cards-rally-win-on-yadier-molinas-walk-off/c-274731570 |title=Cards rally in ninth, win on Yadi's walk-off |work=MLB.com |date=May 2, 2018}}</ref>

===Awards===
* 2× ''[[Baseball America]]'' [[Toolbox]] Awards for best manager (2014 – 2nd, 2015 – 2nd)<ref name=babesttools/>
* [[St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders#Darryl Kile Good Guy Award|Darryl Kile Good Guy Award]] (2003)<ref name="Matheny bio"/>
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball All-Star]] ([[2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2014]])<ref name=2014as/>
* [[Missouri Athletic Club]] Sports Personality of the Year (2015)<ref>{{cite news |last=Hummel |first=Rick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/matheny-wins-mac-award/article_f217816c-f722-599e-9c26-82b5b0c3cf95.html |title=Matheny wins MAC award |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref>
* 6× [[National League Central]] division title winner ([[2000 St. Louis Cardinals season|2000]], [[2002 St. Louis Cardinals season|2002]], [[2004 St. Louis Cardinals season|2004]], [[2013 St. Louis Cardinals season|2013]], [[2014 St. Louis Cardinals season|2014]], [[2015 St. Louis Cardinals season|2015]])
* 2× [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[List of National League pennant winners|pennant winner]] ([[2004 National League Championship Series|2004]], [[2013 National League Championship Series|2013]])
* 4× [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] at [[List of Gold Glove Award winners at catcher|catcher]] (2000, 2003–05)
* [[Willie Mac Award]] (2005)

{{smalldiv|1=''Also:''
* National League [[Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year]] voting results: 5th (2012), 4th (2013), 4th (2014), 2nd (2015)<ref name=manager/>}}

==Personal life==
Matheny's wife, Kristen,<ref name=blue/> is a former [[field hockey]] player at the [[Michigan Wolverines field hockey|University of Michigan]]. They have five children. Their oldest son, Tate, played college baseball at [[Missouri State Bears baseball|Missouri State University]] and was drafted by the [[Boston Red Sox]] in the fourth round of the [[2015 MLB Draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2015/02/11/msus-matheny-forging-baseball-name/23234305/|title=MSU's Matheny forging his own baseball name}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/matheny-still-doesn-t-want-cards-to-draft-his-son/article_d66769e6-8361-5bce-86a1-4771da806128.html|title=Matheny still doesn't want Cards to draft his son|first=Derrick|last=Goold|date=13 February 2015 }}</ref> Their daughter, Katie, played [[ice hockey]] at [[Ohio State University|Ohio State]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Katie Matheny Bio |url=http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-hockey/mtt/katie_matheny_851658.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180122033148/http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-hockey/mtt/katie_matheny_851658.html |archive-date=2018-01-22 |access-date=2025-03-14 |work=[[Ohio State Buckeyes]]}}</ref> To date, two of the younger Matheny sons have played college baseball, Luke for [[Saint Louis Billikens baseball|Saint Louis University]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211772558&DB_OEM_ID=27200|title=Luke Matheny Bio|website=slubillikens.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> and Blaise for Missouri State.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://missouristatebears.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5512|title=Blaise Matheny - Baseball|website=Missouri State|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> Matheny majored in [[Sport management|sports management]] and [[communication]]s with an emphasis in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref name=blog>{{cite web |url=http://mikematheny.com |title=About Mike Matheny |work=mikematheny.com |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref>

Matheny routinely chronicles his life experiences and maintains a blog of which topics includes leadership and changing the culture of youth sports.<ref name=mcgregor>{{cite news |last=McGregor |first=Jena |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2013/10/25/the-leadership-smarts-of-cardinals-manager-mike-matheny/ |title=The leadership smarts of Mike Matheny |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 25, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Calcaterra |first=Craig |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/18/mike-matheny-has-a-blog-dedicated-to-changing-the-culture-of-youth-sports/ |title=Mike Matheny has a blog dedicated to changing the culture of youth sports |publisher=NBC Hardball Times |date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> He is a devout [[Christianity|Christian]], often including Bible verse citations when he signs autographs.<ref name="g261">{{cite web | last=Thomasos | first=Christine | title=St. Louis Cardinals Bring Christian Faith on Baseball Field | website=Christian Post | date=2013-06-27 | url=https://www.christianpost.com:443/news/st-louis-cardinals-bring-christian-faith-on-football-field-98920/ | access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://forum.bigleaguebaseballs.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=337 |title=Special offer: Mike Matheny Cardinals '1st Win' Marlins Park |quote=BigLeague Moderator: 'Mr. Matheny signs all items with some form of scripture reference inscription, I'm told.' |work=Big League Baseballs Forums |date=June 7, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref>

===Charity work===
Matheny organized and created Catch-22, a charitable organization (named for his playing position and uniform number) which donated tickets for Cardinals games between 2002 and 2004. In 2005, Matheny opened the Catch-22 Miracle Field at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic complex in [[Chesterfield, Missouri]].<ref name="Matheny bio"/> The field has a completely flat and firm [[Natural rubber|rubber]] surface and other features to allow children with a wide array of physical and mental handicaps to participate.
<ref name="Matheny bio"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Nolen |first=Casey |url=http://www.ksdk.com/rss/article/285811/3/Matheny-called-a-champion-for-kids |title=Matheny loved for his work off the field |publisher=[[KSDK]]}}</ref>

===Real estate===
Unprofitable [[real estate]] transactions left Matheny heavily in debt. In 2005, Matheny founded MPD Partnership with two former professional [[indoor soccer]] players, [[Daryl Doran]] and Brett Phillips. They purchased a block of the WingHaven development in [[St. Charles, Missouri|St. Charles]] and realized a $2.4 million profit in six months. After Doran left the partnership to start a [[gym]], Matheny and Phillips used their money to secure an $11.8 million loan from the Business Bank of St. Louis for an 11-acre tract near [[Interstate 64]].<ref name=hunn>{{cite news |last=Hunn |first=David |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/cardinals-manager-mike-matheny-owes-millions-after-losing-legal-fight/article_0acb85ad-508c-5007-a4c4-b014a052a404.html |title=Cardinals manager Mike Matheny owes millions after losing legal fight |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=January 19, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> That investment lost money, at least partially due to the [[2008 financial crisis]], and Matheny wound up more than $4 million in debt. In May 2010, he wrote to the Business Bank to say that he would not repay the remainder of the loan. The bank sued him one month later.<ref name="jmann@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8315">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/matheny-lost-his-home-in-legal-fight-with-bank-over/article_5c9087aa-c1e7-5fb9-bc25-9f93f8e313c9.html|title=Matheny lost his home in legal fight with bank over business debt|last1=Wagman|first1=Jake|first2=Jennifer|last2=Mann|website=stltoday.com|date=20 November 2011 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/19/new-cardinals-manager-mike-matheny-lost-his-dreamhouse-faces-lawsuit|title=New Cardinals manager Mike Matheny lost his dreamhouse, faces lawsuit|last=Pollout|first=Matthew|date=November 19, 2011|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]}}</ref>

In 2010, he lost a 17-room house in [[Wildwood, Missouri]], following insolvency on two commercial plots in near Chesterfield Valley.<ref name="jmann@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8315"/>

Matheny's [[Attorneys in the United States|attorney]], Robert Blitz, was handling a similar case—Fischer and Frichtel, a homebuilder who also defaulted on assets after sustaining losses over the same time period, contends that they should not be fully liable for what is termed as "deflationary debt". The [[Missouri Court of Appeals|St. Louis appellate court]] deferred the case to the [[Supreme Court of Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wagman |first=Jake |url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/mike-matheny-lost-his-home-in-legal-fight-with-bank/article_5c9087aa-c1e7-5fb9-bc25-9f93f8e313c9.html |title=Matheny lost his home in legal fight with bank over business |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=November 20, 2011}}</ref> In January 2013, a circuit court ruling determined that the Matheny partnership owed the Business Bank $4.4 million.<ref name="hunn" />

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Baseball|Ohio|Biography}}
{{Commons category}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a catcher leaders]]
* [[List of St. Louis Cardinals team records]]
* [[St. Louis Cardinals award winners and league leaders]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mike Matheny}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=118414|espn=|br=m/mathemi01|fangraphs=1169|brm=mathen001mic}}
{{baseball-reference manager|mathemi01}}

{{St. Louis Cardinals managers}}
{{Kansas City Royals managers}}
{{NL C Gold Glove Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matheny, Mike}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from Ohio]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Columbus, Ohio]]
[[Category:Beloit Snappers players]]
[[Category:Cotuit Kettleers players]]
[[Category:El Paso Diablos players]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:Helena Brewers players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Royals managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines baseball players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players]]
[[Category:People from Reynoldsburg, Ohio]]
[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays players]]
[[Category:San Francisco Giants players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals managers]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Stockton Ports players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Fairfield County, Ohio]]