#251) ANDY HASSLER

Andy Hassler joined the New York Mets when they purchased his contract from the Boston Red Sox on June 15, 1979. He had started the season poorly with the Red Sox. Going 1-2 with a 8.80 ERA in eight games. The Mets were more than happy to take a chance on the left-handed reliever who had enjoyed strong success earlier in his career. So they brought him in at the mid-season trading deadline the same day the club also added the right-handed Doc Ellis in a separate trade.

Hassler made 29 appearances, eight of which were as the starting pitcher with New York in 1979. His longest outing of that year was a complete game performance in Philadelphia on July 4th. Andy went eight innings allowing only a single run, but the Phillies pitching star, Steve Carlton was a touch better and the Mets fell 0-1. His 4-5 record and 3.70 ERA (for a Mets club that lost 99 games) was enough to convince the Pittsburgh Pirates to sign him as a free agent on November 21, 1979. Andy would resurface in 1985 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals team that edged out the New York Mets by three games to claim the National League East division and an eventual World Series berth. Hassler however was not included on any of the post season rosters.

Andy Hassler signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on December 31, 2008.