Rest in Peace Jim McAndrew
By Jay Horwitz
Fluke injuries and really just bad luck plagued Jim McAndrew during his Mets career. He certainly was a much better pitcher than the 36–49 record he compiled during his six years in Flushing (1968–1973). First of all, his ERA over that period was a respectable 3.54.
Jim passed away at 80 after a short illness last Wednesday at Scottsdale Shea Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ.
He had the misfortune to pitch on the best staff in baseball in 1969, one that featured Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan and Gary Gentry. He mainly made his starts when doubleheaders piled up and manager Gil Hodges needed an extra hurler.
In one stretch in 1969, Jim tossed three straight complete games, which included a stretch of 23 straight scoreless innings. Over a nine-start period, he compiled a minute 1.60 ERA in 73 innings.
On September 10, he pitched one of the Mets’ key games of the year. In the afternoon the first place Cubs lost their seventh straight game. That night Jim went 11 solid innings, and the Mets would defeat the Expos, 3–2, in 12 innings, and go into first place.
In 1968, Jim went 4–7 with a sparkling 2.28 ERA for the ninth-place Mets. In five of those losses his team was shut out.
Because of the Mets’ depth, Jim did pitch in the postseason. If he was on another team, he for sure would have had a bigger role.
Jim was a modest man who always tried to downplay his career. Even though he lived in Arizona, he closely followed the Mets and always came to see us play the Diamondbacks.
Every time we spoke, we always reminisced about the magical year 1969. I will miss our talks.
