‘One of Maine’s best sports stories’ Mike Bordick achieves prestigious honor as university retires ‘No. 3’

ORONO – The man who was able to replace major league baseball iron man and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., establish an MLB record for errorless chances (544 straight), play in a record 110 straight games without making an error, and play 14 seasons in the majors suddenly found himself unable to do something.

While addressing the fans, players, school officials, and media representatives on hand for a ceremonial retiring of his University of Maine baseball jersey at Mahaney Diamond on a bright, balmy Saturday afternoon, Mike Bordick was unable to speak.

Choked with emotion and fighting back tears, the Hampden Academy graduate paused to collect himself before continuing on as he acknowledged the people who helped him on his way to becoming a big league All-Star.

“It’s not anything I did,” Bordick managed to say with a cracked voice. “I was pretty rough around the edges when I got here, but with help from people like John Winkin, Walt Abbott, Jack Butterfield, Wes Jordan, Al Hackett, and Bobby Whalen… They gave me the opportunity not only to play baseball, but to get my education and become a man.”

Winkin, who coached the Black Bears from 1975 through 1996, called Bordick “one of Maine’s best sports stories.”

“He worked very hard, at every level, to make something of himself,” said Winkin, now coaching at Husson College. “He symbolizes what athletics and college can mean.

“He’d been involved in some antics and stuff as a kid and got himself thrown off his high school team, but I had seen him play and there was something about him that I really liked, so I wrote him a letter and told him he really should go to college because he was a good player and had a chance to make something of himself. I’m proud that he’s come from that and made himself such a quality person.”

Michael Todd Bordick was one of 30 former UMaine players at Mahaney to play in the annual alumni game and fundraiser for the baseball program. He became just the fourth man to have his baseball jersey (No. 3) retired, joining Jack Butterfield (21), John Winkin (5), and Bill Swift (8).

Bordick is the only former Black Bear player who can say he played in both the College World Series (1984, ’86) and Major League World Series (1990, 2000).

Not bad for a self-described “pretty rough kid” from Winterport.

“You know what it is? It’s the people here who made a difference for me,” Bordick said. “They helped me change my life around. I learned how to win, humility, the right way to go about your business, sacrifice, and commitment… Those are the things that I take with me.

“They gave me an opportunity and I was fortunate enough to take advantage of that and move forward. The things I learned here are the things I carry on with my family and take into daily life.”

Family is a big thing for the 41-year-old retired major leaguer as he and wife Monica recently expanded theirs.

“I just had my sixth child last week… That’s it! For everybody out there, that’s it!” Bordick said with a big laugh. “Right now, I like being around my family. I’ve spent a lot of time on the road and I feel good I can be around them right now.”

Bordick is often rumored as a coaching candidate for various major league clubs, but for now, the only coaching he’s interested in doing is for his sons’ youth baseball team in Maryland.

After playing 14 seasons for four big league teams – Oakland A’s (1990-96), Baltimore Orioles (1997-2002), New York Mets (2000), and Toronto Blue Jays (2003) – Bordick has acquired a treasure trove of baseball memorabilia, but when asked about his favorite items, his first thoughts were of items that had nothing to do with his career.

“I do have a Rickey Henderson spike. He gave me one and signed it for me,” Bordick said. “Most of my baseball stuff is here in Maine. I have a home in Rangeley, but it’s full of Red Sox stuff more than anything else.

“I have a World Series championship poster, a poster of Rick Burleson and the great outfield of Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, and Dwight Evans. Those are the guys I followed.”

Burleson, whose nickname was “The Rooster,” was Bordick’s favorite player.

“Rick Burleson was the guy I tried to emulate. He had a fiery attitude, great attitude, and played the game right,” said Bordick. “In 1994, he was one of the coaches with Oakland and I got to hang out with him. That was like a dream come true.”

It’s been a dream career for Bordick, who admitted that being back on the UMaine campus brought out some feelings.

“It’s weird. You get that feeling, you know?” he said. “This is a special place. Even just driving on campus, your emotions start up and you remember what it was like when you were here.”

UMaine coach Steve Trimper got a huge turnout from alumni. Some players were attending the weekend festivities for the first time.

“This is the first one of these I’ve been back for, but I do try to get back up as often as I can,” said Clemson coach Jack Leggett, who starred on UM’s 1976 College World Series team. “I just love it up here.”

Leggett was especially pleased to witness the ceremony honoring Bordick.

“He’s one of those guys who, as you can tell, is a class person,” Leggett said. “He appreciates his roots and appreciates what people have done to help him along the way. What he’s accomplished didn’t happen because it was handed to him.”