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Pedro Martinez: The Mets Years (2005 - 2008)

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Pedro Jaime Martinez was born October 25th, 1971, in Mano Guayabo, Dominican Republic. The five-foot eleven right hander was signed by the Los Angeles dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988. Pedro would pitch two seasons with the Dodgers going 10-5 with a 2.61 ERA in the 1993 season. In November 1993 he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino Deshields. He would pitch four years with the Expos starting out in the strike shortened 1994 season where he was 11-5 for the first place Expos. Trivia: Imperfect Game- On April 13th, 1994, he lost a perfect game bid when with one on in the 8th inning, he hit the Reds Reggie Sanders with a pitch. Sanders charged the mound & a bench clearing brawl erupted. Sanders was ridiculed for thinking a pitcher would surrender a perfect game to hit him with a pitch. That year no post season games were played & the Expos missed out on their second chance at getting to the playoffs. In 1995 he went 14-10 with a 3.51 ERA. ...

Buzz Capra: 1973 N.L. Champion Mets Pitcher (1971-1973)

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Lee William Capra was born October 1, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. Nickname of Buzz:  "I had a little wooden bat & my father would throw the ball to me right outside our building when I was six. I would swing & start spinning around & there was an older man watching us all the time & he told me that I looked like a buzz saw. The Buzz part stuck." In 1969 he helped Illinois State University win the college championship.   The five-foot eleven righty was selected by the New York Mets in the 27th round of that year's draft.  Quotes- Buzz Capra: "The scout is in my home trying to sign me & my father, a proud Italian is trying to get me a few more dollars. But the scout said take it or leave it & I was thinking, please stop talking Dad. I took it." Capra became a favorite of Minor League Director Whitey Herzog. He was another highly touted pitching prospect for the early 1970’s Mets. In his minor league career Capra was 44 -18 with a ...