Why this card is awesome: Because there's nothing more appropriate on a New York Mets card than a huge Cincinnati Reds logo in the background.
Cool stat: Leach had a really nice year in 1992 as a 38-year-old. In fact, since 1970, for pitchers at least that old, he had one of the best WHIPs.
9 comments:
He was a submarine-style pitcher, right? I like the shot of him about to uncoil.
Ya know what's wrong with today's players? You never see anyone "Undertake" their first start anymore. Good job Terry.
Finally, the card I've been waiting for. Terry is my father's youngest brother (which makes him my uncle, but when you say, "He's my uncle," people think you're blowing smoke).
Terry was more of a sidearmer, tending towards submarine. Not near as much a submariner as, say Quisenberry or Tekulve. Until a Met throws a no-hitter, Terry holds the distinction of having the best start in team history, a 10-inning one-hitter against Philadelphia right at the end of the 1982 season.
With all due respect to Terry, his performance against Philly in 1982 is far from the best start in team history. His stat line: IP, H, R, ER, BB, K, GS is:
10, 1, 0, 0, 6, 7, 91
Compare that to a whole bunch of Seaver starts:
9, 1, 0, 0, 0, 11, 96
9, 1, 0, 0, 3, 15, 97
9, 2, 1, 1, 2, 19, 96
12, 3, 1, 1, 2, 16, 106
And then there was Cone's finale against the Phils in 1991:
9, 3, 0, 0, 1, 19
Leach, ultimately, came as close to perfection as any Met. But in terms of best start distinction, I could argue for a dozen others (half of which came from Seaver).
Oops, forgot to post Cone's game score. 99.
@david: Yeah, but neither Cone nor Seaver are related to me. :-p~~~
Laugh, good comments all around folks :)
In my memory of following baseball (which does not go as far back as Seaver), it's Cone's game against Philly that I think of as being the "best" start by a Met. How exactly one measures "best" obviously varies.
If you look at "best start" as being a low-hit shoutout, then Uncle Terry is the best, until someone throws a no-hitter or an 11 inning one hitter. Given the propensity to baby pitchers these days, what are the odds anyone will throw 11 innings in a game in the next 5 years. I think Uncle Terry is safe for a while.
By the way, your Uncle Terry autographed some cards for me a few years ago. I appreciate that.
I guess Johan Santana's no hitter takes over the unofficial title of best Mets start now.
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