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Ray Sadecki
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 172 of 1252 players
Raymond Michael Sadecki
Born: December 26, 1940 at Kansas City, Kan.
Died: November 17, 2014 at Mesa, Ariz. Obituary
Throws: Left Bats: Left
Height: 5.11 Weight: 185

Ray Sadecki has been the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup 10 times, most recently on May 2, 2024.

First Mets game: April 10, 1970
Last Mets game: April 23, 1977

Share your memories of Ray Sadecki HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: jack Yogi Berra called Sadecki a staff saver. He was jusified because during his stay with the Mets Sadecki started when needed, was the long man in the bullpen and at times was the short man. I admired Ray for his versatility. EG March 17, 2001 I have no idea why, but he was one of my favorite Mets when I was young. Had good career with the Mets after some big years with Cards and Giants. Was a big bonus baby. I think he won a WS game in 64 Series against the Yanks. srm December 27, 2001 Ray was a solid, dependable, workhorse-type pitcher who was an important part of the staff at a time when the Mets were struggling to stay competitive. Larry Burns June 13, 2002 Although I was too young to really remember, Ray was a favorite of mine growing up. He was not great (I was not that young to know that) but he was the ultimate team player. He started, came in for long relief, made a few short relief appearances. He was kinda the "Whatever you need, Skip" type players. Think about any present day player having that type of attitude. That is a reason sports have gone down. The world needs more Ray Sedeckis! Feat Fan June 22, 2002 Not only did he break up Jack Hamilton's no hit bid on May 4, 1966, but, later in the year hit a home run as a Giant on July 3. The significance? That was the day that Braves hurler Tony Cloninger hit two grandslams in a 16-3 win. Also, as proud poppa Felipe played 1b that day, Moises Alou was born. Oh, Sadecki was a pretty decent pitcher, former 20 game winner with the Cards. Tim February 3, 2003 As a young kid in '66 I adored Sadecki. He had been acquired by SF in exchange for Orlando Cepeda. Big expectations. He was pretty much a bust that year, 3 - 8 with an ERA of over 5.00. In those days, you just didn't have an ERA of over 5.00. Anyway, I loved him, because the Giants fans were horrible to him that year. Then Cepeda had a big year in 67 when the Cards won the pennant. Metsmind February 7, 2003 I seem to remember Sadecki as a clutch hitter for the Mets, but while he hit over .200, he only had 1 extra base hit in the years he was here. He started like a starter (long starts-- threw a few shutouts here), relieved like pro, and carried an ERA always in the low 3.00's. Nowadays a vet like him (supposedly the type of player Mendoza has been for the Yanks, except Ray had already been a proven starter), healthy and lefty, could be paid off the charts. You can't find a guy today who can match that -- Hitchcock? Mulholland? Remlinger? Someone help me-- is there a current pitcher who was as flexible AND good as Sadecki? FRED of Nyack March 26, 2003 There is a baseball card of Ray Sadecki as a Cardinal wearing glasses. It was the only time I had seen with such though I understand he was a prankster and a great teammate. Like another classy lefthander who also pitched for the Cardinals Alvin Jackson, he was a two time born again Met. I was a little annoyed that he was given number 33 (perhaps the first to wear it after Ron Hunt) which has since become a staple for back-up catchers, bullpen lefties and ornery switch hitting Hall of Famers. It should be retired. As mentioned he was a very reliable starter and reliever. He was traded, as most know, for Orlando Cepeda in what was regarded as a one-sided deal in the manner of Milt Pappas for Frank Robinson and Ernie Broglio for Lou Brock. Sadecki didn't do great as a Giant and Cepeda led the Cardinals to two pennants. What many people don't remember is that Cepeda was traded to the Braves for Joe Torre. Later Sadecki, as a Met, was traded to the Cardinals for Torre which made everything come full circle. Sadecki for Cepeda, Cepeda for Torre, Torre for Sadecki. The hit he got off Jack Hamilton in his one-hitter in 1966 was a bunt that wasn't played and didn't go foul. Nathan May 27, 2003 When I was maybe 7 or 8 I went to Shea with my Dad for my first game, they brought Sadecki in the game. The Mets won the game. I related to him because he was a lefty like me and since that day he has always been one of my favorite players. Steven Gallanter June 5, 2003 Ray Sadecki was an example of a type of pitcher who is now sadly extinct; the pitcher who is used in several roles because they are GOOD, as opposed to those who are used in several roles because they aren't good enough! Back in the Swingin' 70's there were still weekday day games and scheduled doubleheaders so Sadecki would pitch as a spot starter and reliever. I seem to recall Yogi calling Ray a "lifesaver" in 1973. His Strat-O-Matic cards were quite good as well. It is too bad that Ray Sadecki is often cited as being part of one of the worst trades ever when he was dealt for Orlando Cepeda. Sadecki was an above-average pitcher for quite some time. Pat April 15, 2005 He was one of my FAVORITE Cardinals back in 1964! I loved hearing the stories of his clubhouse pranks with Tim McCarver. Does anyone know what he's doing now? Joel December 23, 2005 Sadecki was a pretty good hitter for a pitcher and was always very popular with his teammates because of his good humor and clubhouse pranks. Also Sadecki was the winning pitcher that afternoon in May 1972 when Willie Mays playing his first game ever as a Met (at 1st base) hit a home run off of Giants pitcher Dan Carruthers. Sadecki was good friends with Jerry Koosman. Jamey Bumbalo December 31, 2006 1964 Ray Sedecki Topps baseball card As other people have observed, Ray Sadecki was the type of pitcher who did it all, starting and relieving. This type of pitcher is now all but extinct. He appeared in 563 games over his 17-year career, 268 as a starter, and averaged under four innings per appearance. He'd be worth millions today. Jamey Bumbalo January 11, 2007 I've already posted about Sadecki's versatility, but here's a follow-up on him being a prankster. Look at his 1964 Topps card. In the background is the word "ass," which is presumably part of a sign that said "glass." Jim Tagariello January 1, 2008 I feel that the trade the Mets made to get Ray Sadecki never gets the recognition it deserves as one of the team's best. I mean all they gave up off a world championship team to get him was Bob Heise and Jim Gosger. They also received Dave Marshall. What Sadecki did for the Mets from 1970 to 1974, is not even done by today's modern day pitchers. Joel February 18, 2011 Sadecki was a very popular guy with his teammates and was a valuable relief/swing starting pitcher. I remember that he was the winning pitcher during the famous game in September 1973 against the Pirates when David Augstine hit a fly ball off of him that bounced off the top of the fence that Cleon Jones caught, threw to Wayne Garrett who then threw to Ron Hodges to get a runner out at home plate. The Mets won the next inning (Sadecki got the win) and wound up I believe in a first place tie with Pittsburgh. Tom Seaver won the next night and the Mets were alone in first place. I also remember in 1971 Sadecki starting the second game of a double header v. Montreal (Nolan Ryan lost the first game) and pitching a 3-hit shutout. Sadecki was also the starting and winning pitcher in Willie Mays's first game as a Met (Mays hit a home run in his first at bat) which was against the Giants. In his career he was a teammate of Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal and Tom Seaver. Kornicus August 29, 2011 The 1971 card of Sadecki, mid-windup, from behind home at Shea, is one of my all-time favorite cards. Jonathan Stern March 31, 2012 I remember reading an issue of Mets Inside Pitch some time ago (late 90's) that featured an alumni interview with Ray Sadecki. At the time, he was a pitching coach in some team's organization. He said, among other things, that he was confused about today's pitchers - specifically the way teams baby their arms, have pitch counts, etc., only for the pitchers' arms to fall off anyway. Sadecki pitched many complete games in his distinguished if not exactly Hall of Fame career and suffered few injuries. He said he believed in running them out there and having them keep throwing. He stopped just short of mentioning steroids as a possible factor. COLONEL77 November 19, 2014 RAY SADECKI, who died on Monday 17 November, was a very nice gentleman who always had time to speak with fans and sign autographs ... He probably deserved a better overall MLB career W - L record although he always did his best and many others would attest to that ... Sadly, 73 years seems like way too young an age to depart the scene nowadays ... Ray will long be remembered by all those of us who met or knew him.? Mike November 19, 2014 I was at the Hamilton one hitter as a young Cardinal fan. The Cardinals started 1966 with 12 games in old Sportsmen Park (Busch I) Our folks surprised us by picking us from school early to make the two hour drive to St. Louis to be at one of those last 12 games. The Mets dominated but I still have the image of Sadecki laying down the bunt and the third baseman just watching it, hoping it went foul. Great Cardinal. Only 20 game winner on 1964 champs. RIP Ray. Jm Snedeker July 10, 2023 I always liked Ray. He was quietly effective. My dad admired him, too. He called him "an old pro."

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