RIP Anthony Young, 1966-2017

[G-Fafif]

Lenny Harris tweets:

A[n]thony Young my brother have left us may he rest in peace love you my brother

He followed it up with a couple of RIPs. To which one can only add amen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What the heck. Sorry to hear

[Guest themetfairy]

I am so sorry to hear this.

RIP

[G-Fafif]

He had been reported as diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in January. I guess it caught up with him.

Today is the 24th anniversary of his 24th consecutive loss, which I witnessed at Shea. Deserved better in many contexts.

[ashie62]

Missed but not forgotten, R.I.P.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Oh I'd forgotten that. Sorry AY.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Make of this what you will, and I don't even know what to make of this, but Anthony Young was one of my favorite Mets from those Met squads he played on.

RIP

[MFS62]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Make of this what you will, and I don't even know what to make of this, but Anthony Young was one of my favorite Mets from those Met squads he played on. RIP

How could anyone not root for Anthony Young? He deserved better.
RIP.
Later

[Edgy MD]

Losses and wins ain't what they seem.

I once met a shopkeeper in Long Beach who heard I was a Met fan, and became so animated when telling me how much he hated Aaron Heilman that he had to take me out on the sidewalk where it was safer to throw his hands around and raise his voice as he raved. "He's 10 and 10!! How does THAT help anybody?!"

He was beyond explaining the nuances of crediting wins and losses to relievers, and I was frankly afraid to give him the reassuring pat on the shoulder that was my next thought. So I just looked away, squinted at the sky philosophically, thought briefly of Anthony Young, and said, "Wins and losses ain't always what they seem."

Rest in peace, Anthony Young.

[seawolf17]

Yes, 1-16 in 1993, but also a 3.77 ERA, which was above league average (107 ERA+). Had a perfectly serviceable six-year MLB career, and judging by the obits, seemed to be a very good dude. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Guest d'Kong76]

1993 was a weird sad year for me and the Mets. RIP, AY.

[Edgy MD]

Finally mentioning him on the broadcast.

[G-Fafif]

Scorer's discretion: Give AY a W as he leaves us. Some reflections here on the pitcher inextricable from his record and the person who transcended it.

[Guest cooby]

Awwww

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My memory of AY was being at a game in Philadelphia in 93 when he was on for a save only to give up a walk-off grand slam to Kim Batiste. This was shortly after breaking the losing streak.

The home crowd was just attributing it to Phillies Magic that was happening all season there and wasn't aware that I could tell of Young's significance.

I also associated the losing streak with "Powerball" that started around then and was enough of a trendy thing that I played once or twice. Always 19.

[smg58]

Unlucky, but lucky enough to get to the show and hang around for a while. And it takes a good pitcher to be allowed to have a losing streak that long. I rooted for him on a team where I didn't really like anybody else. Rest in peace.

[Farmer Ted]

I saw the Mets v Cubs at Wrigley in 1993. AY started and got a no decision as Mike Draper gave up a shitload of runs in relief. You know things weren't going well when Chico Walker got in the game.

Anywho, my buddy (a Phillies fan who wore a Phillies shirt to the game like a douche) and I gut out this horrendous game and end up at Harry Caray's for post-game drinks and dinner. We sit down at a table and he goes on and on and on and on about how the Mets suck, Torborg sucked, Dallas Green sucked (did I mention he was a Phillies fan?) and then ventured into Anthony Young sucked territory. Sitting at the table next to us with his family...yup, Anthony Young. They heard it all. I kicked my buddy, told him to shut the fuck up, and gave a glance to other table where AY just took a look at my friend's shirt and nodded to me as if to say, "no worries." Probably the most uncomfortable meal I've ever had.

RIP AY.

[Edgy MD]

WoW

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Whoa great story. Here's another scary thing about AY: He's only a couple months older than me. We graduated High school the same year. According to his SABR bio, he was going to go off to a good school on a baseball scholarship but stayed local because he'd just become a father. I guess you would have met that kid who today would be 33 years old. My kid's 11.

[Edgy MD]

Look at this fanstastic Shea-rocking crowd there to celebrate with AY in the midst of a miserable season.

[youtube:2a0ma1g5]L-AteiOx3tc[/youtube:2a0ma1g5]

[Edgy MD]

It'd take me a while to figure out groovy embroidery effects, and I accidentally trimmed the edges, but I'd like to see the Mets don some of these on their sleeves when they get home.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Anthony Young Pitched Like A Winner, Even When He Lost

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/anthony-young-pitched-like-a-winner-even-when-he-lost/