Andy Pettitte flashes his homecoming smile.
Given a choice about how I care to spend some precious Sunday morning time writing a column today, I felt I had to pick between the Astros determined drive to end their worst ever season with a 15-game losing streak or just use the time and space to say goodbye to one of my favorite people in baseball, the great Andy Pettitte.
It was a no-brainer on my passion scale. I chose the latter
The famous Pettitte
Peekaboo Look
By taking out the Astros, 2-1, yesterday at Minute Maid Park, Andy Pettitte finished his season at 11-11, thus assuring himself of never having completed any of his 18 big league seasons with a losing record. It was also his first complete game since 2006.
Andy’s game also endowed Chris Carter with a couple of minor spots in the great lefty’s career record book. If Andy hereafter actually stays retired, Carter’s single to left in the bottom of the 9th will forever stand as the last relatively rare hit that any big leaguer ever recorded against the Yankee stud-lefty. Carter’s earlier RBI credit for the only Astros’ run Saturday also should hold as the last time anybody knocked in a run against Any Pettitte in an official big league game.
I was privileged to have met Andy Pettitte in the reception room of the Houston Baseball DInner back in 1996, but, in spite of his modest kindness toward this older fan, I doubt he would remember it all. I was just one of the many who clamored for the opportunity that night to greet and get an autograph from the then 24-year old pitching phenomenon.
How little we knew that long ago night just how great he was going to be over time. His record 19 playoff wins is a record too, among his many others, that’s likely to last for a very long time.
Everything on the field about the man’s pitching career, short of not reaching the magic 300-win total, says Hall of Fame candidate for sure, in my eyes. I also like the way his immediate honesty to one-time personal use of HGH for quick injury recovery set him apart from most others who faced public and congressional scrutiny as a result of the steroid use investigations. It seems that the pathway to resolution works faster with forthrightness and honesty.
I love what I know of the man’s character, family life, and value system and I thank him for all he did as a decent and talented man to make watching baseball the greatest game in the world.
Andy finished his career with an overall record of 256 wins against 153 losses and E.R.A. of 3.85. For additional statistical information about his entire career, please move your search from there to Baseball Refeence.com:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01.shtml
Next, here’s a link to basic information about Andy Pettitte. It’s not everything, but it’s a good place to examine the man’s core accomplishments:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Pettitte
Good Luck and Godspeed to you and your family, Andy Pettitte – and thanks again for some great baseball memories.
Tags: Andy Petttitte Retires
The Pecan Park Eagle 
September 30, 2013 at 3:10 am |
Andy also did his “hometown” proud in 2005 when he went 17-9 and helped the Astros win their only National League pennant and first trip to the World Series.