Mike Caldwell pitched in the Valley Baseball League for the Charlottesville Hornets. He enjoyed a standout career at N.C. State before playing in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, and Milwaukee Brewers.
In 1969 Caldwell helped lead N.C. State to the ACC Championship and a trip to the College World Series where the Wolfpack finished third. Caldwell led the ACC with nine complete games and tied for most wins by a freshman with eight. He led the ACC in complete games the next two seasons, led the league in shutouts during his junior and senior years and finished his collegiate career with a 32-10 record and a 2.30 ERA. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 1970 and 1971 and won the ACC Player of the Year award in 1971. In 2009 he was inducted into the N.C. State Baseball Hall of Fame and in 2013, he was inducted into the N.C. State Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team.
Caldwell was selected in the 12th round of the draft by the Padres. He was later traded by the Padres to the San Fransico Giants for future Major League Hall of Famer Willie McCovey.
In 14 major League seasons he compiled a 137-130 record with a 3.81 ERA.
In 1978 he was the American League Comeback Player of the Year when he won a career-high 22 games, led the league with 23 complete games and finished second in the Cy Young voting to Ron Guidry. In 1982 he was the winning pitcher in two games of the World Series for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Following his playing career, Caldwell coached from 1987-91 at Campbell University before having a lengthy career as a minor league coach.