#675) RICKY BOTTALICO

Ricky Bottalico joined the New York Mets when he signed as a free agent on February 9, 2004. The right-hander made 60 appearances from the bullpen that year posting a fine 3.38 ERA. Earlier in his career Bottalico had been a closer, but was used as a bridge to Braden Looper in New York. He was quoted, "You have to do your job, bottom line. You have to act like every pitch is the ninth inning. If you go out and worry that it's a 10-0 game or whatever, you end up pitching like a pitcher who is just hoping that the ball is hit at someone." Ricky left the Mets the next season when he signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 21, 2005.

Bottalico became the co-host of Big Talkers 1210's "Baseball Insiders" with John Brazer. An hour long radio program covering the Philadelphia Phillies. Prior to that he worked for Service Electric as an analyst for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

Ricky Bottalico signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia on November 20, 2009.