Craig Anderson (right-handed pitcher)

Norman Craig Anderson (born July 1, 1938) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.

For other persons named Craig Anderson, see Craig Anderson (disambiguation).
Craig Anderson
Pitcher
Born: (1938-07-01) July 1, 1938
Washington, D.C.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 23, 1961, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 31, 1964, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Win–loss record7–23
Earned run average5.10
Strikeouts94
Teams

Scholastic career

Anderson attended Anacostia High School from 1953–1956. He played football, basketball, and baseball.

Anderson attended Lehigh University, playing both varsity football and varsity baseball. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1960 and then went on to earn an M.Ed. in Business Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1966.

Playing career

Anderson signed with the Cardinals as an amateur free agent prior to the 1960 season. He made his MLB debut on June 23, 1961.

Anderson was selected by the Mets in the 1961 MLB Expansion Draft, on October 10, 1961. He played 1962–1964 with the Mets. Anderson led the 1962 Mets in appearances and saves. It was a team that ended up with a record of 40-120, the most losses by any Major MLB team in one season.

On May 12, 1962, Anderson was the winning pitcher on both ends of the first double-header the Mets ever won. After winning those two games against the Milwaukee Braves,[1] he lost his last 16 decisions that season. (The losing streak would end at 19 games when Anderson's big league career ended, on May 31, 1964.) In that twin-bill, he became the first Mets pitcher to record two wins in a single day; only two other Mets pitchers since have accomplished this: Willard Hunter and Jesse Orosco.

On September 18, 1963, Anderson was the losing pitcher in the last baseball game ever played at the Polo Grounds, when the Philadelphia Phillies, behind lefty Chris Short, beat the Mets 5-1.

In 82 games (17 starts), Anderson finished with a career record of 7 wins, 23 losses, 94 strikeouts, 192.1 innings pitched, 34 games finished, and an earned run average (ERA) of 5.10.

Post-playing career

Upon retirement from professional baseball, following the 1966 season, Anderson worked at Lehigh University for 34 years as an athletic administrator, varsity (baseball) pitching coach, and the first director of the Athletics Partnership. His coaching was instrumental in the success of future-MLB pitcher Paul Hartzell’s advancement to the California Angels, in 1976.

Anderson has two children and lives in Florida with his wife, Judy. His son, Michael, was drafted in 1992 as a pitcher for the Texas Rangers (baseball), playing 3 years in the minor leagues.

References
  1. "Player Profiles: Craig Anderson". baseballlibrary.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
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