Mike Garcia Biography

Edward Miguel Mike Garcia, born November 17, 1923, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was nicknamed Big Bear and Mexican Mike. During his tenure with the pitching unit known as the Big Four, Garcia achieved a win–loss record of 104 wins against 57 losses. His standout season occurred in 1954, when the Cleveland Indians set a league record with 111 wins. After departing the Indians, Garcia played one season each with the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators. The 1951 Cleveland Indians team included manager Al López and Latino players Minnie Miñoso and Jesse Flores, along with Garcia and Mexican player Bobby Ávila. Garcia concluded the 1950 season with a 11–11 record. By the 1951 season, media sources had assigned the nickname Big Four to the pitching group consisting of Garcia, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn.