Ed Lynch Deserves His Own Thread

[Edgy MD]

JC Lunchbucket shared his SABR bio of one of the Metliest Mets in Metstory, and it put me in mind of the guy who went to Miami Law on the strength of a letter of recommendation from President Richard Nixon.

I'd list ten facts about him, but most all of them would be in that far superior bio you just clicked. Instead, I'll offer this Hot Stove Report interview.

NLonLby08rM

[MFS62]

For some reason, I always thought Lynch had gone to St. John's U. And he was the first pitcher I ever heard referred to (by Bob Murphy) as a "contact pitcher" because he didn't get too many strikeouts. He let batters hit the ball and let his fielders do the rest.
Good bio by JCL.

Later

[dgwphotography]

Ed Lynch started the tightest game I ever saw in person.

Mets lost to the Cards 1-0, both sides had only 3 hits and one walk. Ed allowed only 2 hits in 8 innings, and Tom Gorman got the loss by giving up a HR to Tom Herr in the top of the 9th.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I was unable to connect with Ed for this article. I touched base with his brother but he wouldn't talk until he had Ed's okay.

[Edgy MD]

Lawyers.

[G-Fafif]

I enjoyed the article, and rationally accept he was a quintessential good guy/battler, but Lynch mostly makes me think of getting hurt in that tussle with Duncan, sucking the rest of September 1985 and the Mets failing to a) hold off the Cardinals and attain the Wild Card that was non-existent at the time.

[Vic Sage]

my affection for Lynch was always disproportionate to his ability and career production. I don't know why. Maybe because i respected him as a right-handed "crafty lefty" who got by on guile and guts, rather than stuff. He had no stuff. none. Yet, despite that, he had a major league career, and a pretty good year in 85. As much emphasis as scouts now place on velocity and "stuff" in the minors, often discounting actual production, i doubt he'd have made it passed A-ball these days.

[ashie62]

He was skilled at being mediocre.

[smg58]

He must have had some connection with St. John's. I remember going there with my dad (he taught there and just recently retired) one day, and as we're leaving the University Center, up walks Ed Lynch (who was a lot taller than I thought), in his Mets uniform. THAT was cool.

I can also remember going to a game in 1984, when a Met reliever comes in and gives up a few home runs, and somebody in the stands who's had a few too many drinks shouts out, "another victim of the Eddie Lynch Syndrome!"