Remembering Anthony Young & His Record Setting Losing Streak

Anthony Wayne Young was born on January 19, 1966 in Houston, Texas. The tall 6’2” right hander was signed by the New York Mets down in the 38th round of the 1987 draft. He was the AA 1990 Pitcher of the Year for Jackson, in the Texas League going 15-3 with a 1.65 ERA. The next season he was pitching at Tidewater going 7-9 when he got an August call up to the big leagues.


Young began, what would be a memorable but frustrating, hard luck career. He debuted on August 5th, 1991 relieving Pete Schourek at Shea Stadium in a game against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed a run in two innings of work finishing up a 7-2 Mets loss. He got his first start in Atlanta at the end of August, allowing just two runs in six innings but it was enough for his first career loss. In his next start he beat the Houston Astros at Shea Stadium, allowing one run in seven innings with seven strike outs. After a 2-1 victory over the Cubs Young lost his last four starts on the year, finishing his year at 3-5 with a 3.10 ERA.

At the start of the 1992 season, Young won his first start of the year, a complete game win over the Cardinals in St. Louis. He also won his next two decisions, finishing up April at 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA. Then all the bad luck in the world fell upon him. It began with a 5-3 loss in Cincinnati which led to a three game losing streak. In June he lost five straight decisions and was pitching out of the bullpen.

There was a break over the next two months as he would become the teams closer earning 11 saves & two holds. In September he was terrible blowing five saves taking the loss in each one finishing the season at 2-14 with a .125 winning %, 15 saves (10th best in the NL) in 52 appearances & posting a 4.17 ERA. He did not have a winning decision since Mat & was credited with 14 straight losses.
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In 1993 things did not get better for Anthony Young. In the third game of the season he came into a tied game against the Houston Astros & gave four runs including a three run HR to Ken Caminitti taking his first loss. In his next decision the San Diego Padres scored an 8th inning run to break an 8-8 tie earning him his second loss. He took three mores losses in relief & was 0-5 when Dallas Green took over the club at manager. At the start of June Young was put back into the rotation but his misfortunes continued.

In the first start he did not allow any runs in six innings of work but the Mets didn't score any runs so he earned no decision upon his exit. He the lost seven straight games & on July 7th found himself at 0-12. He was then put back in the bullpen where he earned two holds, then had a break on July 23rd when he came in to a 7-5 game at Dodger Stadium in the 8th inning. He pitched two scoreless innings as the Mets scored three runs in the top of the 9th earning him a save. The break didn't last too long, as two days later he went into the record books.

On July 24,1993 Young came in to an 8th inning 4-4 tied game at Dodger Stadium. In the 9th inning he walked L.A.'s Dave Hansen with the bases loaded, scoring the winning run to end the game. The 13th loss of the year also gave him his 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.

This was the infamous night, Vince Coleman threw an M-80 fire cracker out the window of the Dodgers Eric Davis' car in the Dodger Stadium Parking Lot. It exploded near a bunch of fans waiting for autographs, injuring a two year old girl & an 11 year old boy. Coleman was put on probation, suspended & soon traded.

As for Young, in his 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. Former 1960's Mets pitcher Jack Anderson had previously held the club record for consecutive losses. When Young snapped the losing streak & Anderson's record was broken he sent Young a message that read "I hope you win 27 in a row ".


Three days later at Shea Stadium, Young came into a 3-3 tie in the 9th inning, and gave up a run. But the Met's Eddie Murray, doubled in the bottom of the 9th to score two runs and Young got credited with a victory. The win streak didn’t last; he had two more losing decisions during the year to end up at 1-16 with a decent 3.77 ERA.

He made 39 appearances struck out 62 batters walked 42 over 100 innings & earned three saves. In the off season he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Jose Vizciano.

In Chicago he went 7-10 over two years with a 3.80 ERA. In 1996 he signed with the Houston Astros going 3-3 finishing his six year career. Life time he was 15-48 with a respectable 3.89 ERA, striking out 245 batters in 460 innings pitched in 181 appearances.


Retirement: After his playing days he was just 30 years old, he then went to work in a chemical plant for eight years. He missed the game & began to coach youth baseball in Texas.