Tag: Anthony Recker

Posted in Autographs, Baseball

An encore

Posted on by Paul

It’s been about a week and a half since I announced my intention to stop updating this blog… and the reasons for doing that really haven’t changed. But I got something in the mail this weekend that I did want to share and acknowledge.

Back in 2013, I attended Zack Wheeler‘s first start at Citi Field along with 33 thousand other Mets fans who were there to see his home debut and/or try to get the David Wright bobblehead giveaway.

Mission accomplished on the bobblehead front, I might have had a better afternoon if I’d made an early exit from Citi Field. Wheeler got rocked, and Brandon Lyon (remember him?) threw gasoline on the fire. Heading to the ninth inning, the Mets trailed 11-0.

But I’m glad I stuck it out for the whole game. Instead of summoning another reliever, Terry Collins called on backup catcher Anthony Recker to face the Washington Nationals in the game’s final inning.

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Daniel Murphy plays in what was likely his final regular season game with the Mets on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)
Posted in Baseball

Mets news & notes to end the week

Posted on by Paul
Daniel Murphy plays in what was likely his final regular season game with the Mets on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)
Daniel Murphy plays in what was likely his final regular season game with the Mets on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)

The Mets extended a $15.8 million qualifying offer to free agent Daniel Murphy today, though that doesn’t mean he is any more likely to return to the team in 2016. Rather, it was about making sure the Mets get an extra draft pick between the first and second rounds of next year’s amateur free agent draft. But it’s a good move, nonetheless. Before the playoff run, I was concerned that Sandy Alderson might let Murphy leave for no return.

Continue reading “Mets news & notes to end the week” →

Posted in Autographs, Baseball, Uncategorized

New Mets autograph: Anthony Recker

Posted on by Paul

Anthony Recker was acquired last winter to offer the Mets some catching depth. After Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas were both shipped off to Toronto in the R.A. Dickey trade, Recker looked like he’d be the backup catcher for the Mets for a month or two until Travis d’Arnaud was ready to come up to the major leagues.

As things turned out, Recker stuck in the major leagues for most of the season, but he only played in 50 games. And less than two months after Game #162, I’m already having trouble remembering anything specific Recker did at the plate or behind it.

Instead, I remember Recker is a Harry Potter fan:

And I remember the day Recker pitched.

Anthony-Recker-front Untitled-1

June 30 was Zack Wheeler’s first start at Citi Field and David Wright bobblehead day, so I was excited to be at the ballpark. So were most of the other 33,366 fans who bought tickets to the game.

That feeling didn’t last too long. After striking out two in a 1-2-3 first inning, Wheeler gave up four runs in the second. He settled down a bit, but couldn’t escape the fifth inning. The Mets bullpen kept things close, but the Mets offense did nothing against Gio Gonzalez.

When Brandon Lyon gave up six runs in the eighth inning to give Washington an 11-0 lead heading to the ninth, it was the perfect opportunity to let a position player pitch. Recker answered the call and retired the side, but not before giving up a two-run homer to Ian Desmond.

Lee Harmon created a custom baseball card to commemorate Recker’s moment of glory on the pitcher’s mound using one of the photos I had taken, and he sent me a copy that he got Recker to sign when the Mets visited Cincinnati in September. Since Recker has yet to appear on an official baseball card as a Met, this is the first one in my collection. Thanks Lee!