#608) STEVE TRACHSEL

Steve Trachsel signed with the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2000. His beginning as a Met in 2001 was so poor that he was demoted to the minor leagues on May 18th. The low point being when he became the only pitcher in Mets history to allow four home runs in a single inning. However his time with the Norfolk Tides actually saved his major league career. Steve began to pitch well in Triple-A and even tossed a seven-inning no-hitter on May 29, 2001. The Mets returned him to New York and into the starting rotation on June 8, 2001. He finished the season with the team recording victories in 12 of his last 20 starts.

Trachsel would remain in the Mets starting rotation for five more seasons. Registering double digit wins in all except his injury plagued 2005 campaign. Steve even lead the staff in wins with 16 during 2003. After recovering from discectomy back surgery he rebounded well posting a 15-8 record for 2006. This effort earned him two starts for the Mets in the post-season that would prove to be his last. Steve was superb in Game 3 of the National League Division Series in the Mets defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In an abrupt reversal he lasted only one inning of Game 3 of the N.L. Championship series after being struck on the leg with a line drive off the bat of St. Louis Cardinal, Preston Wilson. It was his last time pitching in a Mets uniform as he signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent on February 14, 2007.

Steve Trachsel signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on November 6, 2009.