GENE (STICK) MICHAEL holds the unique distinction of contributing to one of the best and one of the worst eras in Yankees history. As a light-hitting infielder, Michael was a regular on the woeful Yanks of the early 1970s. As a general manager and executive in the early '90s, he drafted and developed Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, a group that contributed to five World Series wins. He also traded for Yankees stalwarts Tino Martinez and Paul O'Neill. Michael, who managed the Bombers in 1981 and '82 and the Cubs in '86 and '87, had been a special adviser since 2006 for the Yankees. He died at home in Oldsmar, Fla., after a heart attack. He was 79.
