Former Italian / American Jersey Born Mets Pitcher Turned GM: Jerry Dipoto (1995-1996)
Gerald Peter Dipoto was born on May 24, 1968, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is one of three children. The Dipoto Family lived in a Jersey City apartment next door to his grandparents before briefly moving to Point Pleasant & then settling in Toms River, New Jersey. There he went to high school at Toms River High North. The big six-foot two right hander attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played baseball, getting drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 1989 draft. He spent parts of five seasons in the minors, going 12-4 in his second year at A ball & the promotion to AA. In 1993 at AAA, he posted a 1.93 ERA in 34 games with a 6-3 record, getting him up to the big leagues. MLB Career: Dipoto was a pleasant rookie surprise for sixth place Cleveland in 1993, going 4-4 with 11 saves and posting a 2.40 ERA. In 1994 he struggled with injuries pitching in only seven games posting a 8.07 ERA. That November he was traded along with Paul By