Former Met of the Day: Anthony Young (1990-1993)

Anthony Wayne Young was born on January 19, 1966 in Houston, Texas. The tall 6’2” right hander was signed by the Mets in the 38th round of the 1987 draft. He was the Pitcher of the Year in the Texas League in 1990 and the next August got a call up to the Mets. He would begin what would be a memorable frustrating, hard luck career. After two no decisions and a loss, he won his first two games of September, before losing the last four decisions of the season. At the start of the 1992 season, Young won his first two decisions, then all the bad luck in the world fell upon him. It began with a 5-3 loss in Cincinnati, and then he would take the loss in every other decision on the season, finishing 2-14 with a 4.17 ERA. He ended up in the bull pen, and what everyone forgets is that he did have 15 saves (10th in the NL).

1993 wasn’t much better; he started out losing his first 13 decisions. On July 24, he came in the game in the 8th inning and walked Dave Hansesn of the Dodgers with the bases loaded, to end the game. It was a record 27th straight losing decision. Young was devastated, after the game he could be found by his locker in the usual head in hands sulking position. In the parking lot Vince Coleman threw an M-80 fire cracker out the window of a car driven by the Dodgers Eric Davis. It exploded near a bunch of fans waiting for autographs, injuring a 2 year old girl & an 11 year old boy. Coleman was put on probation, suspended & soon traded. In Young’s defense, seven of his 1993 losses were by two runs or less and four of them were one run games. During the losing streak many fans stood by him, sending him all sorts of good luck charms.

Three days later at Shea Stadium, Young came in the 9th inning in a 3-3 game, and gave up a run. But Eddie Murrays double in the bottom of the 9th scored two runs and Young got credited with a victory. It didn’t last long; he had two more losing decisions during the year to end up 1-16 with a decent 3.77 ERA. He was traded to the Cubs for Jose Vizciano in the off season. In Chicago he went 7-10 over two years finishing his career in Houston. Life time he was 15-48 with a respectable 3.89 ERA.

Retirement: After working eight years in a chemical plant, he missed baseball. He currently coaches youth baseball in Texas.