Mike Bruhert: Gil Hodges Son-In-Law & Former Fordham U Pitching Coach (1978)

Michael Edward Bruhert was born June 24, 1951, in Jamaica Queens, New York. He grew up south of the Long Island railroad and those who knew him said he was one of the nicest guys around. 

The tall 6’ 6’ right-handed pitcher was originally drafted by the hometown New York Mets, in their pitching rich days of 1971.  

Marriage to Gil Hodges Daughter: The local New York boy, would soon start to date Mets manager Gil Hodges' daughter, Irene Hodges. Mike & Irene soon got married & Mike entered the Hodges family.

After the untimely death of Gil Hodges, Bruhert was drafted away by the Philadelphia Phillies in December 1972. But in 1973 he was returned back to the Mets for an earlier pick.

Buhert was both a starter & reliever in the minor leagues, spending a total of 12 seasons there. He went 11-9 with a 4.10 ERA, at AAA Tidewater in 1977, good enough in those days, to get him a spot on the 1978 Mets staff.

Mets Career:  On April 9th, he made his MLB debut in the fourth game of the 1978 season, starting the second game of a double header at Shea Stadium. He pitched well allowing three runs over six innings, but his team was shut out Montreal’s Ross Grimsley 5-0. 

Bruhert got his first career win in his next outing at St. Louis, beating the Cardinals 3-2 in six innings of work. On May 7th he pitched seven innings at Cincinnati allowing just two runs on two hits but got no decision.  The Mets would go on to win the game later on a 9th inning John Stearns RBI single. 

He lost his next four decisions over the next two months and was put in the bullpen to straighten things out. He got back into the ’78 Mets rotation by the end of August.

Bruhert ended up losing five of his last six decisions in the month of September allowing 19 runs in 35 innings of work. On September 17th he pitched his best game, a complete game four hit shutout striking out five Phillies at the old Veterans Stadium. 

1978 was Mike Bruhert's only season in the major leagues. He went 4-11 with 56 strike outs, 34 walks & a 4.78 ERA in 133 innings pitched over 27 games (22 starts). He allowed 71 earned runs on 171 hits & in 27 outings allowed at least one earned run in 25 of them.

At the end of the season, he was sent to the Texas Rangers along with Bob Myrick, for veteran pitcher Doc Ellis who went 3-7 for the 1979 Mets. 

Minor League Career: Bruhert never cracked the Rangers roster & pitched in the minor leagues through 1982. He posted a lifetime 62-73 minor league record with 445 strike outs in 1163 innings pitched over 278 games.

Retirement: After his playing days, Bruhert was the long time pitching coach at Fordham University in the 1980’s & 1990’s. There he coached two future MLB pitchers, the Mets Pete Harnisch and Miguel Jimenez.

Bruhert coached Harnish during the Fodham Rams 1987 ECAC Championship season, as Harnisch was the MAAC Player of the Year.

Family: Mike & Irene Bruhert eventually divorced. Mike remarried has two daughters & was recently living out in Baldwin, Long Island.