Jim McAndrew, 1969 and 1973 Mets pitcher, dies at 80
NEW YORK — Jim McAndrew, who misplaced his main league debut to Bob Gibson in a 1968 spot begin for the New York Mets when Nolan Ryan was referred to as away to army responsibility, then beat Steve Carlton a month later for his first win, has died. He was 80.
McAndrew died Thursday at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center in Arizona after a quick sickness, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz stated Friday.
A right-hander on the again finish of the Mets rotation from 1968-73, McAndrew began one of the vital important video games in franchise historical past: a win over Montreal in September 1969 that put the lengthy downtrodden staff into first place for the primary time in New York’s eight seasons.
Pitching for the Mets throughout a seven-year main league profession, McAndrew didn’t seem within the postseason for the 1969 World Series champions or 1973 NL pennant winners.
He was 36-49 with 4 saves and a 3.65 ERA for the Mets in 105 begins and 41 aid appearances, then was traded to San Diego and went 1-4 with a 5.62 ERA in two begins and 13 aid appearances. That left his closing massive league report 37-53 with a 3.65 ERA.
McAndrew made his main league debut in a doubleheader opener at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 21, 1968, when Ryan — a future Hall of Famer — was fulfilling his responsibility as a member of the Army reserve. McAndrew’s first batter was future Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who singled, and McAndrew pitched round Roger Maris’ leadoff double within the fourth.
The recreation was scoreless when Bobby Tolan led off the sixth with a drive towards the wall that landed between heart fielder Cleon Jones and proper fielder Larry Stahl. Tolan raced across the bases for an inside-the-park residence run. That was the one run off McAndrew in a 2-0 loss as Gibson pitched a seven-hitter to win his tenth straight begin and get his seventh shutout in a span of 9 begins.
With Ryan resulting from rejoin the staff the subsequent day, McAndrew was despatched again to Triple-A Jacksonville. McAndrew was taken out after 5 excellent innings in his subsequent begin and rejoined the Mets when Ryan once more reported for Army responsibility.
New York didn’t rating a run whereas McAndrew was on the mound as he misplaced his first 4 massive league begins, and he dropped to 0-5 with a 13-3 loss to San Francisco and future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.
McAndrew lastly bought his first win on Aug. 26 at St. Louis, pitching a five-hit shutout to beat Carlton, yet one more future Hall of Famer, 1-0 with the assistance of Jones’ eighth-inning sacrifice fly that adopted Tommie Agee’s leadoff single.
McAndrew was on the mound towards Montreal at Shea Stadium on Sept. 10, 1969. He pitched 11 innings and not using a choice in a 3-2 win that ended with Ken Boswell’s Twelfth-inning single. New York was forward 6-1 after three innings within the second recreation when the Chicago Cubs completed a loss at Philadelphia, transferring the Mets into first place for the very first time in eight main league seasons. What turned often known as the Miracle Mets went on to beat Baltimore within the World Series.
McAndrew was born in Lost Nation, Iowa, on Jan. 11, 1944. He performed baseball and basketball on the University of Iowa however stopped basketball after a knee harm throughout his sophomore season.
He missed his junior season due to an arm harm, then returned for his senior season and was chosen by the Mets within the eleventh spherical of the primary newbie draft in 1965 — one spherical earlier than New York chosen Ryan.
McAndrew pitched at rookie degree Marion, Virginia, and Class A Auburn, New York, that summer time, went to the Florida Instructional League and accomplished his psychology diploma at Iowa throughout the offseason. He returned to Auburn in 1966, reached Double-A Williamsport in 1967 and Triple-A with Jacksonville in 1968.
After his baseball profession, McAndrew labored in coal business gross sales and administration.
He is survived by spouse Lyn, daughter Jana and sons Jamie, Jeff and Jon.
Jamie, additionally a right-handed pitcher, was the twenty eighth general choose by the Los Angeles Dodgers and went 3-4 with a 5.98 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995 and ’97.
