Books and articles about Jim McAndrew

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McAndrew was called up by the Mets in July 1968 when the Mets were short of pitching for a doubleheader. In the words of reporter Jack Lang, he was a "sacrificial lamb": he opposed the Cardinals' Bob Gibson, that season's Cy Young winner, and lost 2-0. McAndrew then proceeded to set new standards for bad luck, with considerable help from the Mets' weak offense. He lost five of his first seven starts by shutout, including a ML-record four in a row. He had to shut out St. Louis and Steve Carlton, 1-0, to record his first win, but Carlton returned the favor in McAndrew's next start, beating the Mets 2-0. McAndrew finished the year 4-7 with a 2.28 ERA. Despite generally respectable pitching through most of his career, his only winning season came in 1972 (11-8, 2.80), and although he was on the postseason roster in both 1969 and 1973, he wasn't used. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 31, 1968: It is a tough month for Mets P Jim McAndrew, as he takes his NL-tying 5th shutout loss. Steve Carlton wins for the Cards 2–0. McAndrew gave up just six runs in the four losses, losing 2–0 to Bob Gibson on July 21, and to the Dodgers and Mike Kekich, 2–0 on August 4. On August 10th and 17th, he narrowed the margin to 1–0 losses, to the Giants and Houston respectively. The four losses are McAndrew's first ML decisions. » September 11, 1968: New York's Jim McAndrew finally wins one, beating the Cubs 1–0, on two hits. It is Fergie Jenkins' (17-14) 5th 1–0 loss of the season, which ties a ML record. Despite the loss, Jenkins will win 20 for the 2nd straight year, using a club record-tying 40 starts to do it. Alexander, in 1920, had 40 starts. » June 24, 1969: Richie Allen is fined $2,500 and suspended indefinitely when he fails to appear for the Phillies twi-night doubleheader game with the Mets. Allen had gone to New Jersey in the morning to see a horse race and got caught in traffic trying to return. He will stay suspended until July 20. Allen picked up a $1000 fine in May when, for two straight days, he reportedly arrived at the ballpark after the game had started. Without Allen, the Phils drop a pair, 2–1 and 5–0. Larry Hisle's homer in the opener off Tom Seaver is the only Phils score. Jim McAndrew is the winner in the nitecap, allowing two hits in eight innings. » September 10, 1969: Meanwhile the Mets sweep the Expos, 3–2 and 7–1. Ken Boswell's single in the 12th wins the opener. Taylor in relief of Jim McAndrew, who pitches the first 11 innings, is the winner. Mike Wegener matches McAndrew for 11 innings, striking out 15 Mets. In the night cap, the Mets score six runs in the 3rd to knock out starter Howie Reed. The winner is Nolan Ryan (6–1), who gives up three hits and fans 11. The Mets' two wins puts them into first place by a game, the 1st time ever the team has been atop the NL. The Cubs' loss drops them out of first after 155 days atop the NL. Chicago will continue to swoon and finish the month with a 9-17 record. » July 6, 1970: Tommie Agee hits for the cycle to pace the Mets to a 10–3 win over the Cardinals. Jim McAndrew is the WP. » July 21, 1970: Clay Kirby has a no-hitter going for eight innings, but with two outs in the 8th and trailing 1–0, Padres manager Preston Gomez lifts him for a pinch hitter Cito Gaston. Gaston fails to get a hit off Mets' starter Jim McAndrew, and reliever Jack Baldschun gives up two runs in the 9th. The Padres lose 3–0. Gomez will repeat the mistake on September 4, 1974. » July 28, 1970: Donn Clendenon sets a club record by driving in seven runs as the Mets beat the Giants, 12–2. A sac fly and a pair of 3-run homers does it. Jim McAndrew is the winner. » June 5, 1989: The Orioles select Louisiana State University pitcher Ben McDonald (14–3) with the first pick in the annual amateur draft. He'll sign August 19 and debut September 6, missing by three days being the first in this draft to debut. The Jays John Olerud, picked on the 3rd round, will debut September 3, singling in his first at bat. The next three picks are high schoolers: the Braves take Tyler Houston; the Mariners pick Roger Salkeld; and the Phillies choose Jeff Jackson. The White Sox get Frank Thomas with the 7th pick, while the Angels take Kyle Abbott with the 10th, and Chad Curtis on the 45th round. The Dodgers use their 1st round pick on Jamie McAndrew, son of former Mets P Jim McAndrew. Mo Vaughn goes to Boston on the 23rd pick and Chuck Knoblauch to the Twins on the 25th (he had been picked on the 18th round by the Phils in 1986, but did not sign). On the 4th round, the Twins select and sign P Scott Erickson, who was drafted but not signed in the previous three drafts.