is a storyteller, and if you listen to him long enough, the tales will eventually lead to the lessons he learned from former Yankees executive Gene Michael in surviving the spotlight of his first big leaguer managerial job with baseball’s most recognizable franchise.
He told some of those stories on Thursday morning, hours after he learned of Michael’s death at the age of 79 of a heart attack in Florida, but the words didn’t come out as easy, his voice breaking several times talking about one of his biggest mentors.
Showalter, whose Orioles team ends a three-game series with a makeup game against the Yankees on Thursday afternoon, was informed of the passing of Michael – the player, coach, manager, general manager, scout and special advisor with the Yankees who was often simply referred to by his nickname, “Stick”– while driving to Camden Yards on Thursday.