Early Seventies Pitcher: Steve Simpson (1974)

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Steven Edward Simpson was born on August 30, 1948 in St. Joseph Missouri. The big six foot three, two hundred pound right hander was drafted out of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

He was chosen in the 4th round of the 1970 draft by the San Diego Padres. He won eight games in both 1970 & 1971 at the ball level , then became primarily a reliever by the time he got to AAA. In 1972 he had his brief cup of coffee going 0-2 for the San Diego Padres.

Just five days before Christmas 1973 he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Jim McAndrew. He was issued the same uniform number (43) as McAndrew had worn but was sent down to AA Victoria. There he was 10-7 with 4.78 ERA pitching on the same staff as future Mets Nino Espinosa, Rick Baldwin & Dwight Bernard. Other teammates included classic yearbook prospects Rich Puig, Brock Pemberton & Greg Harts.

By Spring Training of 1975 Simpson retired from baseball. Sadly he passed away from a heart attack in November of 1989 in Omaha Nebraska, at the young age of 41.

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