Mike Mayers was never considered a star pitcher during his time in the majors. From 2016 to 2019, he posted a rough 7.03 ERA over 80.2 innings with the St. Louis Cardinals. But for those who recall his rocky start, his eventual turnaround is a true underdog story worth celebrating.
At age 33, former Cardinals pitcher Mike Mayers announced his retirement from professional baseball in a heartfelt Instagram post.
For Cardinals fans, one moment of Mayers’ early career remains especially unforgettable — and painful. On July 24, 2016, Mayers made his MLB debut on national television, starting a Sunday Night Baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium. The pressure was intense, with friends and family in the stands and millions watching. Unfortunately, the outing quickly unraveled.
After allowing the first three batters to reach base, Mayers gave up a grand slam to Adrian Gonzalez — and things only got worse. By the end of his outing, Mayers had surrendered eight hits, nine earned runs, and recorded just four outs. It was one of the roughest debuts in recent memory.
Most wouldn’t have been surprised if that appearance had marked the end of his big-league career. But Mayers refused to give up. After being claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, he began to rebuild himself as a reliable bullpen arm. In 2020 and 2021, he posted a strong 3.34 ERA over 105 innings, with an ERA+ of 135 — well above league average.
Though he struggled again during his final two MLB seasons (with the Angels and Royals), and spent his last professional year with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Mayers can walk away from the game proud. He could’ve been remembered for one disastrous debut — instead, he carved out a respectable career, forming lifelong friendships and creating memories that far outshined his rocky start.
While his turnaround didn’t happen in St. Louis, it’s a redemption story that Cardinals fans can still appreciate — and one that proves perseverance sometimes writes the best endings.
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