Gallery
When a statue of Henry “Hank” Aaron was unveiled at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Michael commissioned a “Hammerin’ Hank” Plaque detailing Aaron’s signing of his first professional baseball contract in Buffalo’s Offermann Stadium. At the time, Aaron was playing for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League. The plaque also noted that Aaron was the only Major League Baseball Hall of Famer to play in all three of Buffalo’s baseball parks—Offermann, War Memorial Stadium and Pilot Field.
Pictured with Michael is Greg Peterson, Esq., a recognized sports historian and “the architect” behind the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, a collegiate summer baseball team. Following the unveiling of the Hank Aaron statue, Michael and Greg presented the “Hammerin’ Hank” Plaque to Aaron’s widow, Billye.
Motion picture actor, Bill Fichtner, a graduate of Maryvale High School and the first person to receive a star on the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival’s Walk of Fame, loves going to a Bison game whenever he’s back in town.
In 1988, when Pilot Field (now Sahlen Field) opened as the “crown jewel” of America’s minor league ballparks, many celebrities came to town. Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas joined in the celebration with Bison owners Bob and Mindy Rich. National radio and television personality, Larry King, spoke to the crowd before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.
Post-game concerts were highlights of the Bison’s schedule both at War Memorial Stadium and in the new downtown ballpark. Shown here, is Gloria Estafan circling the field in style while her Miami Sound Machine band rocked the ballpark. And the great Huey Lewis gets a personal escort onto the field for his performance.
Buffalo finally got its major league baseball team—well sort of. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons the Toronto Blue Jays called Sahlen Field home due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing travel restrictions between Canada and the United States.
Veteran television journalist, Harry Smith (l), came to Buffalo during the COVID-19 pandemic to tell the story of the Toronto Blue Jays calling Sahlen Field their “home” for two seasons. Harry’s story also included a visit to War Memorial Stadium to reminiscence about the filming of the 1983 movie, The Natural, that took place there.
While filming, Harry took the opportunity to swing the “Wonderboy” bat used in the movie by the main character, Roy Hobbs (played by Robert Redford). The bat was crafted by Western New York’s own, Kevin Lester, seen here alongside a Life Magazine Cover of Redford from the movie. The photo was taken at John Boutet’s Buffalo Sports Museum.
During the Buffalo Bisons’ 1983 season, the first played under the ownership of Robert E. Rich Jr., the movie, The Natural, was filmed at War Memorial Stadium. Robert Redford played the aging ballplayer, Roy Hobbs, who used his “Wonderboy” bat to hit the memorable home run that shattered the ballpark’s outfield lights.
One of the highlights of Michael’s career with the Bisons was being a part of Major League Baseball’s ‘Old-Timer Games” at War Memorial Stadium and Pilot Field. Buffalo native and Hall of Fame pitcher, Warren Spahn (l), was on the mound for the game in War Memorial Stadium, while legendary New York Yankees great, Joe DiMaggio, was the fan’s favorite when he was introduced at the game in the new downtown ballpark.
One of the most memorable times in Michael’s Bisons career was the day in 1988 when tickets went on sale for opening day at Pilot Field. The game sold out in less than an hour.
On September 17, 1992, Michael was involved in a near-fatal bicycle accident in Southern Ontario, Canada.
He credits the medical team at the Erie County Medical Center, the bike helmet he was wearing, and The Power of Prayer for the miracle that saved his life. As a result of the accident, then-New York State Governor, Mario Cuomo, signed a law making it mandatory for anyone under the age of 14 to wear a bicycle helmet.
In 1996, Michael was selected to be one of the local torch bearers when the Olympic Torch came through Western New York en route to Atlanta, Georgia. He carried it through his former hometown of Kenmore, New York.
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