Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Rick Anderson

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Memories of
Rick Anderson

Rick Anderson
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 414 of 1252 players

Richard Arlen Anderson
Born: November 29, 1956 at Everett, Wash.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.00 Weight: 175

Rick Anderson was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on January 14, 2019, March 17, 2019, and August 17, 2020.

First Mets game: June 9, 1986
Last Mets game: October 2, 1986

Share your memories of Rick Anderson

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Danny Erickson
December 17, 2000
Rick eventually reached the summit known as "the show", only to be left off the postseason roster. I truly felt bad for the guy. I was happy to see him in uniform during the postseason. It's funny how after Derek Bells' injury, we never seen him in a Mets uniform again.

Denis
January 22, 2001
Rick and his wife lived in the same apartment complex with us when he played for the Tidewater Tides. Since he would drive in early to the games, I would take my wife and his wife to the game. They were both very nice. I was glad a few years later when he finally made it to the bigs. He might not have been the best pitcher on the Tides but he was the hardest worker and one of their most popular.

EG
March 18, 2001
I think everyone felt bad he didn't get on the post- season roster, especially when Randy Niemann did. (It pays to be left-handed.)
He still got a ring. Not too bad.

Joe Beyrer
February 14, 2002
He was such a great story when he broke in. I recently wrote to him and he quickly wrote back and even autographed a card for me. He was a pretty good player a true gentleman.

David Mo
February 3, 2003
The signing of Rick Anderson in 1978 began a "player chain" that continues today! Rick went to the Royals as part of the David Cone deal. Cone was traded for Ryan Thompson (and Jeff Kent); Thompson went to Cleveland in the Mark Clark deal; Clark (and others) went to the Cubs for Turk Wendell (and others), who in turn was traded for Bruce Chen, sent by the Mets last year to Montreal for Scott Strickland. Stay tuned! P.S. Rick may have made the WS roster in '86 if not for the unwritten 24-man roster deal that year.

Mr. Sparkle
April 1, 2004
He was a 30 year old rookie who you had to root for because of his perseverance. I rooted for him to do well after the trade to the Royals. He had a few moments but before long was back into obscurity.

Witz
October 9, 2008
I have a, five years too late, reply to David Mo's comment above--Anderson didnt get screwed by the 24 man rule; Rusty Staub did. When the teams decided to allow 24 man rosters, the Mets decided they could no longer afford the luxury of a pinch hitter. Rusty is the guy I always felt bad for--he deserved to win a Series with the Mets!
Anderson, if memory serves me, was called up for a one start, cup of coffee, mid-season, and piched very well. He was a nice story, so he was brought back as a September call up and was graciously allowed to remain in uniform for the post season. I agree he was a nice story but not the obvious 25th man on that team.
To add insult to injury, Rusty was a Met announcer in '86 and had to watch from the booth when they clinched. I think McCarver asked him how it felt to watch his teammates celebrate (expecting a politically correct answer) and Rusty said (I'm paraphrasing) "it sucks!"