" Give it up for Swannie !!"
Okay so far we have Felix Millan at number 50 and Cliff Floyd at number 49. Both men made impacts with the Mets in their relatively short careers. But I doubt either of them had the double whammy of being one of the best players on one of the Mets worst teams. Yes folks that is right, your choice for number 48 is none other than the best hard luck pitcher the Mets had ever had – Craig Swan !!
Swan broke into the majors with the Metsfirst as a rookie in 1973. He made he made his debut with the Mets, pitching in three games. He would make brief appearances with the Metsin ’74 and ’75, but in 1976, Swan made the team as a fifthstarter. He posted a record of 6-9 with a ERA of 3.54 ERA . His first victory of the season when he pitched a five-hit complete game shutout in which he recorded 11 strikeouts.
By 1978, Swan was the Ace pitcher on a Mets team that would finish with a record of 66-96 , but Swan was one of the few bright spots. In his first start of the season, Swan pitched a five-hit complete game shutout. By the end of the ’78 season, season’s end, Swan had the best ERA in the National League . His ERA was only 1.67 at Shea Stadium. Despite his excellent statistics, he finished with a record of 9-6.
Swan was the kind of pitcher who pitched well enough to lose – due to a team that suffered from poor offense. He would later suffer through a variety of injuries that would keep him sidelined throughout his career, including fractured ribs and a torn rotator cuff. He never did bounce back after rotator cuff surgery and was released by the Mets after 10 horrendous appearances during the ’84 season. In his 12 year career with the Metshis record stands at 59-71with a ERA of 3.72. But we all know his record if he was ion a better team probably would have been the reverse.
Tomorrow we shall reveal number 47 – one of the better Mets hitters of the ’90′s
And now with that said …. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday include :
Today would have been Jesse Gonder’s 75th birthday (1936). He was the Mets catcher from ’63-’65.
Sadly on this date , the Mets lost two members of their family. Middle reliever from the ’70 team Ron Herbel in ’00 and Mets pitching coach from the ’04 season Vern Ruhle in ’07.
The New York Mets signed free agent reserve outfielder, Karim Garcia of the New York Yankees on January 20, 2004. Between his lackadaisicalplay in the outfield and his off the field altercations with the Port St LuicePolice Department with teammate Shane Spencer, it is no wonder why Mets fans were not upset to see him go after the season ended.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Jose Parra on January 20, 2004.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Tom Martin on January 20, 2009.
The New York Metssigned free agent reserve outfielder, Cory Sullivan of the Colorado Rockies on January 20, 2009. Sullivan was one of the few decent outfielder that the Mets used to plug up their injury plagued outfield that season.
And while you stay awake at night wondering who will be number 11 on this countdown, just remember that there are just 71 more days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and 78 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn thinks he resembles Samuel L Jackson !!!!!
9 comments
kingman 26
1/20/2011-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
Ah Craig Swan….I remember when he led the NL in ERA and I remember when he signed the 5 year, 3 million dollar deal—damn that seemed like a HUGE contract back then.
One of the most forgotten really good pitchers in team history; if not for injuries, would have had a great career.
Am loving this series Rusty—seriously looking forward to each day….
njstuckintx
1/20/2011-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
He’s not related to Lynn, is he?
kistics
1/20/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
That would be very interesting to find out…
kingman 26
1/20/2011-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Well, he’d need another “n”….
metsfan4decades
1/20/2011-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
Swan was on my 50 list. It wasn’t too hard to remember the one or two decent players on some of those awful Met teams. If Swan was on a better team, not sure how much longer his career would have lasted (due to injuries) but I’m sure he would have had a better record. To me, after ’73 the next decent year the Mets had was ’84. Sure was not a fun decade to be a Mets fan.
Ceetar
1/20/2011-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
okay, okay, commenting. Don’t bad mouth me to Rubin!
I dont’ really have any memories of Swan though. too young. What’s he doing in Nelson Figueroa’s number?
stickguy
1/20/2011-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
I liked Swan. Winning an ERA rown is no small feat.
They could really use a guy like this to come out of the minors right about now, that is for sure.
Prismo
1/20/2011-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Only since Rusty pestered me.
Uhhh. I wasn’t alive when Swan played. I don’t know what to say.
rustyjr
1/20/2011-5:24pm at 5:24 pm (UTC -4)
INFIDEL !!