Pat Zachry, Former Mets Pitcher, Passes Away at Age 71

The baseball world mourns the loss of former Mets pitcher, Pat Zachry, who passed away in Waco, Texas, at the age of 71. The news was confirmed by Mets public relations expert, Jay Horwitz.

Zachry’s teammate and baseball legend, Johnny Bench, reported that Zachry breathed his last on April 4, 2024. He was 71 years old. According to the Mets organization, Zachry succumbed to a prolonged illness in Waco.

In a heartfelt tribute, Bench expressed his sorrow over the loss of Zachry, highlighting his impact both on and off the field.

“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,” Bench wrote on X on Friday morning. “Tears have been shed for our friend!”

Zachry’s legacy with the Mets is intertwined with one of the most infamous trades in the team’s history, known as the “Midnight Massacre.”

In this trade, the Mets exchanged legendary pitcher Tom Seaver, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, to the Reds for a package of four players, including Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, and Dan Norman.

While Seaver continued his remarkable career with the Reds, Zachry made his mark as the 1976 NL Rookie of the Year. He delivered one All-Star season for the Mets in 1978, compiling a 10-6 record with a 3.33 ERA across 21 starts.

Throughout his 10-year career, which included stints with the Dodgers and a brief tenure with the Phillies in 1985, Zachry amassed a respectable record of 69-67 with a 3.52 ERA. He clinched a championship with the Reds in 1976, cementing his place in baseball history.

Reflecting on Zachry’s impact, Doug Flynn remarked, “None of us knew we could ever replace Tom…We just stuck together. You couldn’t find a better teammate than Zach. We will all miss him dearly.” Flynn added, “Pat was a Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and World Series. He just had a great career.”