#729) DARREN OLIVER

Darren Oliver was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets on January 19, 2006. The veteran left-hander made the team out of spring training on the very last day of camp. He was selected over teammate Pedro Feliciano when there became concerns over the health of the other starting pitchers. Oliver had said he was retiring if he had not made the major league roster. Darren excelled in the long relief role of the Mets bullpen in 2006. He finished the season with a 4-1 record and 3.44 ERA.

It was in Game 3 of the 2006 National League Championship series that he would have his defining moment as a New York Met. Starting pitcher, Steve Trachsel had allowed the St. Louis Cardinals five runs in the first two innings of the game. Oliver entered the game and threw six scoreless innings of relief. Surrendering just three hits over those frames. The Mets would fall to the Cardinals by a final score of 5-0. None the less, Darren had given them the opportunity to stay in the game with his outstanding performance.

He would join the Los Angeles Angels the next season after signing as a free agent on December 11, 2006.

Darren Oliver signed this card for my friend Sam when the Los Angeles Angels visited the Baltimore Orioles on August 17, 2009.