Cubbage, who had an 8-year major league playing career primarily as a third baseman, was a coach for the New York Mets for seven seasons before joining Houston. He was the Mets first base coach in 1990, then moved to third base in 1991. He was also the Mets hitting instructor in each of those seasons and served as interim manager for the final seven games of 1991 (he had a 3-4 record).

Mike had a 462-305 .602 regular-season record in 6 years in the Mets minor league system. He was manager of the year in 1983 at Little Falls (NYP Lg.) and in 1984 at Lynchburg (Caro. Lg.) His teams finished 1st 5 straight yrs. at Lynchburg (Caro. Lg.) in 1984-85, Jackson (Tex. Lg.) in 1986 and Tidewater (Int. Lg.) in 1987-88. Lynchburg won their playoffs in 1984. At AAA Tidewater in 1987 he reached the playoff finals for the 4th straight year but did not win the championship.

Mike was a 2nd-round pick by the Washington Senators (now the Texas Rangers) in the secondary phase of the 1971 June draft after being an All-ACC shortstop at the University of Virginia where he was the school's first recipient of a baseball scholarship. He also played QB for the Cavaliers and earned a degree in Education. Cubbage graduated from Lane High School in Charlottesville, VA where he was All-State in three sports. As a football quarterback he was All-State as a junior and senior, and helped lead Lane to a state-record 53 consecutive football wins.

After 4 minor league seasons Mike made his M.L. debut for Tex. Sept. 1974. On June 20, 1975 he got his first M.L. hit, a grand slam HR off Bill Singer in Anaheim to break an 0-17 streak. On June 1, 1976 he was traded to Minn. in a 6-player deal. He set a club record for the Twins in 1978 with a .971 fielding pct. at 3B. He hit for the cycle for the Twins against Tor. July 27, 1978. He played in 67 games for the Mets in 1981 and finished his pro playing career at AAA Tidewater in 1982.