Jim McAndrew, a former New York Mets pitcher, passed away this week at the age of 80 after a brief illness. No further information was released.
McAndrew, who was born in the small town of Lost Nation, Iowa, was a two-sport athlete at the University of Iowa, playing both baseball and basketball. After suffering a knee injury, Jim began to focus solely on baseball.
In 1965, Jim was drafted by the New York Mets. He continued to attend school during the offseason after being selected by the Mets. Eventually, McAndrew graduated with a degree in Psychology.
McAndrew pitched at rookie level Marion, Virginia, and Class A Auburn that summer, went to the Florida Instructional League and completed his psychology degree at Iowa during the offseason. He returned to Auburn in 1966, reached Double-A Williamsport in 1967 and Triple-A with Jacksonville in 1968.
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After being drafted, McAndrew began his professional baseball career by playing for the Mets’ minor league affiliatesuntil he made his major league debut in 1968. Only one year after Jim’s major league debut, his team soared to heights nobody thought were possible in the iconic year of the “Miracle Mets.”
The “Miracle Mets” became the first expansion team in Major League Baseball to win a World Series when they defeated the Baltimore Orioles just eight years into the historic Baltimore franchise’s existence.
After winning the World Series in 1969, Jim remained with the Mets until the 1973 season when he was traded to the Padres. After one injury-filled season with the Padres, McAndrew retired in 1974.
After nine years in the Mets organization, six spent with the big league team, McAndrew played his final season for the Padres. He retired in 1974. Although his last MLB season was marred by injury, he still managed to throw one more complete game, bringing his career total up to an even 20.
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After his time in Major League Baseball, McAndrew spent more than twenty-five years working in sales and management in the coal industry.
Rest in peace!
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