Ray Sadecki
From The Met Wiki
Ray Sadecki was a left-handed pitcher for the Mets during the 1970s. He started 62 of the 165 games in which he pitched for the team, winning 30 while losing 25. Ray pitched 13 complete games and recorded 380 strikeouts as a Met.
Sadecki joined the Mets after ten seasons with the Cardinals and Giants. He was acquired with Dave Marshall in a trade with San Francisco for Jim Gosger and Bob Heise on December 12, 1969. In five years in New York, Ray was a reliable starter and reliever.
Ray had a record of 8-4 in 1970, his first season with the Mets. He pitched a complete game for the win in the Mets' 4-1 victory over the Braves at Shea Stadium on June 13. Sadecki's eighth win came against the Phillies on September 9 in a game in which he struck out 12 batters.
Sadecki had his most productive Mets’ season in 1971. He posted a 2.92 ERA in 34 games (20 starts, 5 complete games) and recorded 120 strikeouts. On July 26, he struck out 10 in one game against the Cardinals in a losing effort to Bob Gibson. He also pitched two shutouts during the year on May 23 (vs. Braves) and July 5 (second game of doubleheader vs. Expos.)
In 1972, Ray made two starts in 34 appearances on the year. His first start came against the Giants at Shea in Willie Mays’ first game as a Met on May 14. Ray became the winning pitcher in the game after Willie's home run in the fifth inning put the Mets ahead to stay. Ray’s other ’72 start was in the second game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia on May 20. He got a no-decision in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Phillies. Sadecki also pitched three scoreless innings of relief and got the win in a 3-2 Mets victory over the Phillies in 18 innings in a doubleheader opener on August 1 at Shea.
Ray posted a 5-4 record for the Mets in the pennant-winning 1973 season. He started 11 games and made 20 relief appearances during the year. Ray pitched eight shutout innings and earned the win in a 5-1 Mets victory over the Pirates on August 2 at Shea. He pitched his only complete game of the season for a 2-1 win against the Dodgers at Shea on August 21. Sadecki was also the winning pitcher with four innings of 2-hit relief in a game against the Pirates on September 20 during the pennant drive. In the World Series, Ray appeared in four games against the Athletics and recorded a save in Game 4.
Sadecki had three complete games wins in 1974. He pitched a 1-0 shutout in Atlanta on August 25, driving in the only run of the game with a fifth inning single to score Gosger. Ray defeated the Braves with another complete game on August 30 at Shea Stadium. He also went the full nine innings to defeat the Expos on September 9 at Shea for his last win as a Met.
On October 13, 1974, Sadecki was traded back to his first team, the Cardinals, with Tommy Moore in exchange for Joe Torre. Ray spent time with the Cardinals, Braves, Royals and Brewers over the next two seasons. He returned to the Mets in 1977, appearing in the last four games of his career.
