Randy Sterling: 1969 Mets First Round Draft Pick (1974)

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Randall Wayne Sterling was born on April 21st, 1951, in Key West, Florida. His father Clayton Sterling was a minor league first baseman who batted .284 in three seasons (1941/ 1948-1949).

Randy attended Key West High School where his team won the 1969 State Championship.
In 1969, Randy Sterling was the Mets first round draft pick (4th pick overall) in the teams Championship season. The six foot two, right hander was another fine arm in a long line of quality young Mets pitching prospects in the early seventies.

By the time Randy got to AA Memphis in 1972 he was the staff’s leading pitcher going 12-11 with a 3.47 ERA just ahead of Bob Apodaca. The next season he was pushed up to AAA Tidewater going 10-7 second in wins on the staff to John Glass. In 1974 Randy was only one of two pitchers (the other being Hank Webb) to reach double figures in victories for the Tides. Sterling's twelve wins led the staff as he was 12-11 with a 3.39 ERA.

MLB Debut: On September 16th, 1974, Sterling was called up & debuted at Jarry Park in Montreal facing the Expos. That night Gary Carter was also making his MLB debut. 

Sterling became the first Met pitcher to pitch five no-hit innings in his MLB debut. In the top of the 6th, he hit Larry Parrish with a pitch then pinch hitter Willie Davis singled spoiling the no hit bid.

Trivia: In 2006, Brian Bannister would be the second Mets pitcher to pitch five no hit innings in his debut.

Sterling pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits earning his only career victory in the 3-2 Mets win. 

In his next start he got hammered for five runs & six hits in just 1.2 innings at Philadelphia in a 6-3 loss. On September 28th, he made an 8th inning relief appearance at Shea Stadium in a loss to the NL Eastern champion Pittsburgh Pirates. It was his third & last MLB game.

Randy remained in the Mets organization for another season where he went 10-11 at AAA Tidewater.

Career Stats: In his MLB career Sterling was 1-1 with two strike outs & three walks posting a 4.52 ERA.

Retirement: After his playing days, Sterling became director of parks & recreation in Key West Florida. He also competes in fishing tournaments with his son Randy Jr. around the Key West area.

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