Jesse Hudson: 1969 Amazing Mets Pitcher That Made Just One Appearance (1969)

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Jesse James Hudson was born July 22, 1948 in Mansfield Louisiana. The tall left hander was drafted by the New York Mets in the 11th round of the 1967 draft.

In the Rookie league in 1967 he was an impressive 7-1 with a 2.07 ERA, moving up to AA in 1968. He went 11-13 between Mankato & the Visalia Mets that season.

In 1969 he was 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA at A ball Pompano Beach, moving up to AA Memphis where he was 3-2 with a 1.38 ERA. It was tough to crack the 1969 staff the tall lefty managed to get into one game, the only MLB appearance of his career.

 On September 19th, 1969, Hudson made his debut. He faced ten batters, in the last two innings of an 8-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Hudson with Pitching Coach Rube Walker
He gave up two hits, two walks, two runs and struck out three, getting no decision. At least He can say he struck out Hall of Famer Willie Stargell at Shea Stadium in 1969. 
Quotes- Jesse Hudson: “I was scared to death, Really, it was just a spur of the moment thing. ... When I was warming up, and I knew was going in, I said, ‘Well, this is it; it’s either do or die.’
“The thing that really excited me, in the minor leagues, we never played in a large arena like Shea Stadium. Seeing 40,000 people, wow, that was exciting. As far as the game itself, you know I’m a pitcher; that’s what I do, I pitch. It was just like me against the batter.” 
While on the Mets he became friends with Tommie Agee & Cleon Jones. They as well as Donn Clendenon looked out for the youngster.
Jesse was pitching at AAA Tidewater in 1970 putting up a 2.86 ERA going 6-7 with the Tides, on a staff led by Jon Matlack (12-11). He finished his career after the season at age 22.

 2019: During the 50th Anniversary celebration of the 1969 team, the Wilpon ownership screwed up once again. The Mets wrongly put a notice on the Citi Field scoreboard that Jesse Hudson & team mate Jim Gosger were both deceased.  Hudson remarked- “No, I didn’t see that, I haven’t heard that I was deceased.”

 “I was just glad I was just able to be a part of that back in 1969,” he said. “It was just really exciting to be there with the pro ballplayers, and also with the manager Gil Hodges and the rest of the staff.”


Comments

Searching for Hudson said…
Well,what happened? Nothing but success in the minors,at 22 he was certain to get another shot in the majors.Especially as a lefty,its hard to believe he would've had nothing but endless opportunities,and more likely the opposite of one of shortest careers ever : pitching into 1990,before Orosco,this lefty Jesse could've been a four decade player.
December 22, 2012 at 7:22 PM
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