Doug Henry: Former Mets Mid 1990's Reliever (1995-1996)

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Richard Douglas Henry was born December 10th 1963 in Sacramento, California. The six foot four righthander, attended Arizona State University as a top pitcher. 

 1984 Olympics: Henry pitched for the 1984 USA Olympic team who won a Bronze Medal. He went 2-0 in the Olympic run, playing along side with team mates Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin & BJ Surhoff, all of whom made the major leagues.

Brewers Career: The tall righty was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the round of the 1985 draft.  In his rookie season of 1991 he came in 8th in the Rookie of the Year voting. He saved 15 games for the Brewers, going 0-2 with a 1.00 ERA. He struck out 28 batters in 36 innings pitched. 

 The next year he saved 29 games (8th in the AL), establishing himself as one of the better relievers in the league. He went 1-4 with a 4.02 ERA. The next season he missed time due to injuries, saving 17 games going 4-4. Former Met, Jesse Orosco saved eight for Milwaukee that tear. 

 In 1994, he lost his closer job to Mike Fetters, posting a 4.60 ERA with a 2-3 record. That winter he was traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later, who turned out to be a young, Fernando Vina.


Mets Career: He spent two seasons as a middle reliever with the Mets, appearing in over 50 games both seasons. In the 1995 season in which the Mets although winning just 69 games, finished in second place. Henry he had a decent year, going 3-5 with four saves in 51 appearances (2nd most of the Mets bullpen). He posted a 2.96 ERA, striking out 62 batters in 67 innings pitched. 

 The next year 1996, wasn’t as good for him. He started out with a win in April & a save as well. He blew two saves in May but recover to win an April 11th game, thanks to Rico Brogna's walk off HR. By mid June, he had five blown saves already. 

 On July 23rd, he had the rare bad luck to be the losing pitcher in both ends of a double header, in a game in Colorado. In the first game, the Rockies benefited from two Henry walks & RBI singles from Eric Young Sr. & Quinton McCracken. In the second game, Yong Sr. hit a walk off single to beat New York 11-10.

 In September he was credited with three straight losses. Although he saved nine games on the year, he was 2-8 with a 4.68 ERA. The Mets released him at the end of the season.


Post Mets Career: After the Mets, Henry went to the San Francisco Giants, doing two stints there (1997 & again in 2000). In 1997 he pitched one game in their NLDS loss to the Marlins. He then went to Houston getting to two post seasons there with the Astros.

 Post Season:  In the 1998 NLDS, he allowed one in run in four appearances. That year the Astros lost to the eventual NL Champion San Diego Padres.
In 2000 with the Giants, Henry got to the NLDS again, making three appearances, allowing one run against the eventual NL Champion, New York Mets. In Game #2 he walked Benny Agbayani & got Jay Payton to ground out to end the inning. In Game #3 he gave up an RBI double to Edgardo Alfonzo. In Game #4 he served up two walks in 1.2 innings of work.

 He finished his 11 year career in Kansas City, pitching for the Royals.

 Overall Henry was 34-42 with 82 lifetime saves & a 4.19 ERA. He finished 290 games in 582 appearances with 541 Ks & 341 walks in 665 innings.

 Retirement: After his playing days, Henry coached in the Kansas City Royals & Atlanta Braves organizations.

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