Posted 09:00 a.m. PST;
Friday, 12/ 3/1999

by Seattle Times staff

  Mike Budnick, a former major-league pitcher and Seattle Rainier who ran for King County sheriff in 1962, died yesterday of cancer at Swedish Medical Center-Ballard. He was 80.
   Budnick signed with the Class AAA Rainiers after graduating from Queen Anne High School in the late 1930s.
   During World War II he was selected to participate in a baseball tour to entertain troops and returned to pitch for the New York Giants in 1946 and 1947. His record as a Giant was 2-3 in 1946 in 35 games. He appeared in seven games in 1947 before going back to the Pacific Coast League, where he played for San Francisco, San Diego and the Rainiers before retiring from baseball in 1950.  Budnick became a deputy sheriff in King County and unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 1962. He remained in the department until retiring in 1971. He later operated four downtown bars and taverns, including the "Hit and Run Room" at Second and Stewart.
   Budnick is survived by his wife, Marjorie; son Michael Jr. of Manson, Chelan County; brothers Gus of Cathlamet and Dom of West Seattle; and grandsons Will of Edmonds and Scott of Bothell.
  The family plans a memorial service after the holidays.