Pat Zachry, former Mets pitcher acquired in Tom Seaver deal, dies at 71
Pat Zachry pitched for six seasons (1977-82) with the Mets. Credit: None/New York Mets
CINCINNATI — Former Mets pitcher Pat Zachry, who came to Queens from the Reds in the 1977 trade of Tom Seaver, died Thursday night in Waco, Texas, after a lengthy illness, the team announced. He was 71.
The Reds held a moment of silence for Zachry before they played the Mets on Friday at Great American Ball Park.
Across 10 seasons in the majors, Zachry was a Rookie of the Year, an All-Star and a World Series champion — at the expense of the Yankees. The righthander started and earned the win in Game 3 of the 1976 Fall Classic at Yankee Stadium, moving Cincinnati to within a game of what became its second title in a row.
Zachry spent six seasons (1977-82) with the Mets and was an All-Star in his first full campaign with them, going 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA in 21 starts. He joined the team in the infamous June 15, 1977, deal that sent Seaver, the best player in franchise history, to the Reds for four players: Zachry plus infielder Doug Flynn, leftfielder Steve Henderson and outfielder Dan Norman.
“None of us knew we could ever replace Tom,” Flynn said in statement issued by the Mets. “We just stuck together. You couldn’t find a better teammate than Zach. We will all miss him dearly.”
Johnny Bench wrote in a post on social media: “One of the great characters and an unbelievable teammate passed yesterday! #PatZachry was ROY in 1976, had 2 successful starts that postseason and one of the key players in the Tom Seaver trade. Tears have been shed for our friend!”
Zachry had a 69-67 record and 3.52 ERA overall. The Mets traded him to the Dodgers for Jorge Orta in December 1982. His career ended with 10 appearances for the 1985 Phillies.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
