The Mets' Young Pitchers Won
Seaver, Koosman,Gentry and Tug Led the Mets to the 1969 Championship
Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain are expected to complete their first full major seasons, but for three consecutive years, the Mets added a great young pitcher.
New York has three young pitchers, each of whom is predicted to have a great future, but many years ago, New York's other team had three young pitchers who helped them win the 1969 World Series. Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain are expected to complete their first full major seasons with the Yankees in 2008, but for three consecutive seasons, starting in 1967, the Mets added an outstanding young pitcher.
Seaver Pitched 251 Innings as a Rookie
The Mets lost 120 games in their first season and continued to lose, but what was worse, the players weren't upset when the team lost. In 1967, Tom Seaver joined the Mets and one of the first things he said was that is was not acceptable to lose. The 22 year old Seaver started 34 games, completed 18, won 16, lost 13, pitched 251 innings, and had a 2.76 ERA. He was selected the National League Rookie of the Year, but he couldn't do it alone. The Mets lost 101 games as they once again finished tenth.
Koosman Was the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year
In 1968, Seaver was joined in the starting rotation by 25 year old left hander Jerry Koosman. Seaver again won 16 games, starting 35 games with a 2.20 ERA, but Koosman did even better. Jerry was 19-12 in 34 starts with a 2.08 ERA in 263 2/3 inning. He became the second consecutive Met to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, as the Mets finished ninth, cutting their losses to 89, which was a pretty decent improvement.
Gary Gentry Became the Third Starter at Age 22
In 1969, the Mets added a third young starter who became a vital piece in the run that led to the division title blown by the Cubs. Gary Gentry, who like Seaver, was a 22 year old rookie, started 35 games, pitched 233 2/3 innings, won 13 games while losing 12, and had a 3.43 ERA, which considered a little inflated in that era.
Seaver Never Had Arm Problems
It is difficult to imagine a young pitcher in 2008 being allowed to work 250 innings, but in the late 1960s, it was not unusual. Seaver never had arm problems until late in his career, but Koosman suffered arm miseries in 1971 and 1972, although he went on to win 222 games. Gentry was traded to the Braves in one of the best trades the Mets ever made. Gary and relief pitcher Danny Frisella were sent to Atlanta for second baseman Felix Millan and lefty George Stone. Gentry suffered from elbow problems as a Brave and never reached his potential.
A Young Pitching Staff
The 1969 Mets also had 22 year old Nolan Ryan, 24 year old Tug McGraw, and 25 year old Jim McAndrew. Ryan threw harder than either Seaver or Koosman, while McGraw relied on a screwball as his primary pitch. The only veteran starter was Don Cardwell and joining young McGraw, who worked 100 innings (he made 4 starts) were 28 year old Cal Koonce, 31 year old Ron Taylor, and 26 year old Jack DiLauro. It was a young, inexperience staff but it was good enough to win the pennant and World Series with an offense that batted .242 and averaged 3.90 runs a game.
The Yankees Offense Should Help Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain
No team has ever won the World Series relying heavily on three such inexperienced pitchers as Hughes, Kennedy, and Chamberlain. Tom Seaver had two seasons under his belt and Jerry Koosman had one entering 1969. Nolan Ryan had worked 134 innings with the Mets in 1968 and McGraw had shuffled between the majors and minors for a few seasons. But it is an entirely different game in 2008. It is possible that if the Yankees' offense lives up to its billing, mistakes that young pitchers make may not be as costly as they would be with an offensively challenged team. The Yankees had better hope that will be the case.
