Bob Myrick: Former 1970's Mets Relief Pitcher (1976 - 1978)

Robert Howard Myrick
was born October 1, 1952, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

In high school Myrick was a star athlete in baseball, basketball & football. He received pro attention & turned down offers as well as one from the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.

The six-foot left-hander chose to attend Mississippi State University on a baseball scholarship.

He was eventually drafted by the New York Mets in the 24th round of the 1974 draft. 

In his second year in the minors, he went a combined 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA between AA & AAA Tidewater. Myrick started to become a full-time relief pitcher at the AAA level. That year the Tides finished first under manager Joe Frazier who would become the Mets manager the next year. He would bring up many of his players from Tidewater, Myrick included.

In the bicentennial year, Myrick started out the year 2-0 at Tidewater before getting the bog league promotion.

MLB Career: Myrick made his big-league debut at Shea Stadium, pitching to one batter on May 28th, 1976, in a 6-0 Mets loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He appeared in 21 games as middle reliever for New York the rest of the bicentennial year.

On July 27th, he pitched three scoreless relief innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, earning his first career win. 

In that game he came to bat against the Phillies Tom Underwood in the 5th inning with two men on. Underwood threw a wild pitch scoring a run, then Myrick grounded to third baseman Mike Schimdt scoring Bud Harrelson with the go ahead run.

 On September 28th, the Montreal Expos beat him up for four runs (two earned) & five hits in the 4th inning of a 4-2 Mets loss. Overall, he made 29 appearances posting a 3.25 ERA in 27 innings with 11 strike outs, finishing off four games. His control was an issue as he issued 13 walks. 

Trivia: Myrick helped Mets coach Joe Pignatano tender his tomato plants in the Met bullpen for the most part of his three years at Shea Stadium.

1977: Myrick saw a career high 44 appearances. He wet going 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 87 innings.

On August 5th, he earned his first win when Lenny Randle doubled home Doug Flynn in the 8th inning, for the Mets winning run. He earned his next victory on September 11th, pitching 3.2 innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. During the final two weeks of the season, he earned two saves, in games against the Chicago Cubs & St. Louis Cardinals. 


1978:  Myrick began the season with the dismal Mets, he went 0-3 getting credit for two holds, finishing up seven games, posting a 3.28 ERA . He allowed nine earned runs & issued 13 walks in 24.2 innings. 

In mid-May, he was sent back to AAA Tidewater. Myrick never resurfaced at the major league level, pitching in the minors through 1981.

In 1979 he & Mike Bruhert were traded to the Texas Rangers for veteran Doc Ellis, who's best days were way behind him. 

In three MLB seasons, Bob Myrick was 3-6 with two saves and a 3.48 ERA, he walked 59 & struck out 73 in 139 innings pitched over 82 appearances.

Retirement: After baseball, he returned to his hometown in Mississippi. There he helped run a family building supply business with his brother & some cousins.

Passing: In August of 2012 he suffered a heart attack & passed away at age 59.

Family: Bob Myrick’s great uncle was two-time A.L. All Star & former batting champion, Buddy Meyer. Myer played 17 MLB seasons, as an infielder, mostly at second base. He spent 15 seasons with the Washington Senators & two with the Boston Red Sox. 

In 1928 Meyer won the stolen base crown, swiping 30 bases while with the Boston Red Sox. In 1935 he won the A.L. batting title batting .349 with 215 hits.

Meyer hit over .300 eight times in his career & was a lifetime .303 hitter with a .389 on base percentage. 
At second base Meyer twice led the league in fielding. 

Comments

Unknown said…
Thanks to all of his fans. My dad was awesome in all that he did. Daniel Myrick
Anonymous said…
Thanks to all of his fans. My dad was awesome in all that he did. Daniel Myrick
Anonymous said…
Yes hi th3re i dont know who is going to see this but i found a signed 1977 card of bob myrick and i was trying to find out a price for my card so if anyone dont mind email me and let me know the price rang please and the card is in excellant conditionmy email is boydcarter1978@gmail.com and my phone number is 606-854-9245 and thanks and god please bless our world

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