#390) DAN SCHATZEDER

Dan Schatzeder joined the New York Mets when he was traded from the Houston Astros in exchange for Steve LaRose and Nicky Davis on September 10, 1990. The left-handed reliever was brought in as the Mets were chasing the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League Eastern division title. Dan made six appearances before the close of the 1990 season. A season that saw New York fall short of the Bucs in the final standings and finish in second place. Schatzeder, who had won a World Series as a member of the Minnesota Twins in 1987, was exactly as hoped for. He did not surrender a single run in his 5.1 innings of work and ended with a perfect 0.00 ERA for his Mets' career. "I enjoyed my short time with the Mets." Dan told me, "Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre was awesome. The bullpen was fun with (Bob) Ojeda and (John) Franco cracking me up and (Alejandro) Pena endlessly flicking sunflower seeds. I remember the disappointment of losing 6 of 8 at home against the lowly Phillies and Expos in September to knock us out of the race."

Schatzeder filed for free agency and signed with the Kansas City Royals on December 4, 1990. He recalled, "I tried to resign with the Mets, but their offer was quite low so it was time for me to move on." After his baseball career Dan became a physical education teacher at Waubonsie High School in Aurora, Illinois.

Dan Schatzeder signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to the school on January 27, 2010.