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Jim McAndrew: 1969 World Champion & 1973 NL Champion Mets Pitcher (1968-1973)

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James Clement McAndrew was born on January 11, 1944, on a farm at Lost Nation, Iowa. The six-foot two right hander, excelled in both basketball & baseball in high school. After suffering a knee injury while playing basketball, he switched full time to baseball. McAndrew attended the University of Iowa where he was spotted by New York Mets scouts, who were there to watch first round draft pick Steve Arlin pitch against McAndrew. The Mets ended up drafting McAndrew in the 11th round of the inaugural MLB draft of 1965, one round after Nolan Ryan was selected. He earned a degree in psychology at college, married his high school sweetheart Lynn & had a son right away.  At first, he thought of quitting baseball when he didn’t reach the majors instantly, but his wife Lynn told him to try to stick it out. McAndrew then credits former Mets GM Bob Scheffing for helping coach him when Scheffing was still director of player development.  In the minors McAn...
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Steve Nogosek: Mets Pitcher (2019 - 2022)

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Stephen James Nogosek was born January 11th, 1995, in Roseville, California in the Sacramento area to his parents Jennifer & Troy.  The six-foot two right hander attended Woodcreek high school in Roseville, pitching for their baseball team, going went 8-0 in his junior year. He then attended the University of Oregon pitching for the Ducks baseball team.   After finishing his junior year, he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. The next year he was selected as a South Atlantic All Star for the A-ball Greenville Drive. On July 31st, he was traded along with Jamie Callahan & Gerson Bautista to the New York Mets for Addison Reed. In 2018 he was a Florida State League All Star with the A-ball St. Lucie Mets before getting promoted to AA Binghamton. In 2019 he started out at AA Binghamton & then was pushed up to AAA Syracuse. There he was 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA & two saves into June. Mets Career: On Ju...
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Bobby Valentine's Playing Career (1969 - 1979)

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Robert John Valentine was Born May 13, 1950, in Stamford, Connecticut. The five-foot ten right hand hitting Valentine was a star baseball & football player at Rippowam, High School in Stamford.  Trivia: Valentine is considered to be one of the best high school athletes in the sports history in the state of Connecticut. He was recruited by the University of Nebraska, Duke, Notre Dame & the University of Southern California, but wound up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team instead in 1969. In 1978 with the Ogden Dodgers he played alongside  Steve Garvey, Bill Buckner & was managed by Tommy Lasorda, who became his mentor & lifelong  friend. Valentine hit immediately, becoming the Pacific Coast League MVP in 1970, at AA Spokane a team managed by future Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda. Valentine hit .340 with 14 HRs & 80 RBIs helping the Spokane Indians to the league championship.  MLB Career: He get a September ...
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