Mike Gallego (born October 31, 1960) is an American former professional baseball infielder and coach who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1985 to 1997, most notably for the Oakland Athletics, with later stints for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

He became a recognizable figure in Oakland during the Athletics’ late-1980s era, contributing as a steady glove man on a team that captured three consecutive American League pennants and won the World Series in 1989.

Mike Gallego was born in Whittier, California, and is of Mexican descent. He attended St. Paul High School and later the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied history.

Before turning professional, he also played for the United States national baseball team at the 1979 Pan American Games, highlighting his early emergence as a player with both athletic and defensive potential. In professional baseball, he was best known for his defensive reliability at second base and shortstop, areas in which he often provided value beyond his batting.

During his major league career, Mike Gallego served as the Athletics’ starting second baseman during their AL pennant runs from 1988 to 1990, including the 1989 World Series championship over their Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Giants.

While his bat was not his strongest attribute, his speed, contact hitting, and particularly his defensive prowess made him a key role player on these strong Oakland teams. Notably, in 1990 he led the American League in sacrifice hits, a testament to his ability to participate effectively in situational offense.

After his playing days concluded, Mike Gallego transitioned into coaching and baseball development roles. He held positions with several organizations, including headlining coaching duties for major league squads and serving in infield and base coaching capacities.

His coaching career included assignments with the Colorado Rockies and later with the Oakland A’s organization, among others, as he remained active in shaping infield play and baserunning strategies.

Over the years, his experience as a veteran infielder and his understanding of in-game defense and contact hitting informed his approach as a coach and instructor at multiple levels of professional baseball.

His career is often remembered for his consistency and versatility in the infield, as well as his contributions to a championship-era Athletics club. His long-standing involvement in the game as both player and coach reflects a commitment to developing defensive fundamentals and helping teams maximize value from their infield positions.