–Two Wins in One Day. and Then a Career-closing String of 19 Losses–
On this date (May 12) in 1962, the Mets’ Craig Anderson had his best day ever in the big leagues. The 23-year-old righty, in his second MLB season, notched a pair of major-league victories in a single day. It was part of a Mets/Braves doubleheader in New York – with both of his victories coming in relief and both ending with Mets’ “walk-off.” What Anderson didn’t know at the time is that those would be the last two wins of his MLB career.
In the first game, Anderson came on in relief of starter Roger Craig in the top of the eighth with the Mets trailing 2-1. (Craig had been pinch hit for in the bottom of the seventh.) Anderson gave up an inning-opening double to Braves’ starter Warren Spahn, but then got LF Howie Bedell on a grounder back to the mound, 1B Tommie Aaron on a foul pop and RF Mack Jones on a strikeout. The Mets didn’t score in the bottom of the inning, and in the ninth Anderson walked CF Hank Aaron before retiring C Del Crandall on a ground out (Aaron to second); getting 2B Frank Bolling to hit into a fielder’s choice (Aaron out at third); and retiring 3B Denis Menke on a grounder to the mound. In the bottom of the ninth, a single by Mets’ 1B Gil Hodges and a C Hobie Landrith walk-off two-run homer gave Anderson the win.
Did You Know ….
The Cubs’ Ed Reulbach (on September 28, 1908) started both games of a doubleheader against the Dodgers – and threw two complete-game shutouts. Or that the Giants’ Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity started both ends of a double header three times in the month of August in 1903 … and won (and completed) all six games. For these stories and more about pitchers with two complete-game wins in a single day, click here.
Game Two was less of a pitchers’ duel and, when Anderson came on (with one on and no one out in the top of the ninth in a 7-7 game), he was the Mets’ sixth pitcher of the contest. Anderson again stifled the Braves’ offense and when Gil Hodges popped a walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning, Anderson had his second victory of the day.
After that May 12 game, Anderson’s career mark was 7-4 (one save), with a 2.82 ERA in 35 appearances. Over the remainder of his MLB career, he would make 47 more appearances for the Mets and go 0-19, with a 5.98 ERA – to finish at 7-23, 5.10 over four MLB campaigns. That streak of nineteen consecutive L’s in the decision line tied the major-league record at the time. It was later broken by another Met (Anthony Young, who lost a record 27 consecutive decisions). For that story and a look at other “lost” records, click here.
Let’s Shut this Thing Down
Craig Anderson started (and lost) the last MLB game ever played in the Polo Grounds (September 18, 1963). Anderson lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs (all unearned) as the Phillies topped the hometown Mets 5-1 (bringing the Mets record to 49-104. ) Only 1,752 fans attended – the smallest attendance ever at an MLB game at the Polo Grounds.
A little more about Anderson and his career. He was signed by the Cardinals in 1960 – after starring on the mound for Lehigh University. Anderson got off to an auspicious start, going 6-4 with a 1.68 ERA for the Double Tulsa Oilers in 1960. In 1961, he moved up to Triple A (Portland Beavers), where he was 6-3, with a 2.06 ERA – and, by June of that season, he was pitching in the major league. He got in 25 games for the Cardinals (all in relief) that season and went 4-3, 3.26 with one save. His performance (perhaps unfortunately) was noticed by the expansion Mets who selected him in the October,1961 MLB Expansion Draft. (Of course, when we consider Anderson’s record with the Mets, we need to keep in mind the Mets went 40-120 in 1962 and had two twenty-game losers on their pitching staff (Roger Craig (10-24) and Al Jackson (8-20) – and Jay Hook was close at 8-19.)
As you’ve already read, Anderson got off to a good start with the Mets. After that may 12, 1962 doubleheader, he was 3-1, with 2.16 ERA (and probably never imagined he would never again see the MLB win column). As of May 30, of that season, Anderson was still 3-1, had picked up two saves, and had a 2.38 ERA. Then, between May 24 and June 2, he added four appearances and took three losses (and one blown save). As the season progressed and the losses mounted, the Mets even tried Anderson as a starter, which proved to be no favor. (Anderson made 17 starts in his career and was 0-14, 7.05. In 65 relief appearance, he was 7-9, five saves, 3.66 ERA.)
Anderson pitched in his last MLB game on May 31, 1964. He pitched in the minors until 1966. After retiring as a professional baseball player, Anderson stayed with the game he loved – serving more than three decades as a pitching coach and administrators at Lehigh University.
Lehigh Hall of Fame
Craig Anderson is a member of the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh University Athletics Hall of Fame – recognizing his record as a collegiate pitcher (among those accomplishments were a 1.89 earned run average, an 18-strikeout game and a no-hitter); his status as the first Lehigh player to pitch in the major leagues; and his 34 years of service to Lehigh as a pitching coach, Athletics Department Business Manager and Lehigh’s first Director of Athletics Partnership.
The fact is, no matter the final stat line, Craig Anderson pitched at the national pastime’s highest level and on May 12, 1962, truly had a day in the sun – a day which was preceded and followed by many more sunny afternoon and rightly lit nights at the ballpark.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; lehighsports.com
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