#58) ROB GARDNER

Rob Gardner came to the New York Mets when he was selected from the Minnesota Twins in the 1963 first-year draft. The 20-year old left-hander would make his major league debut as a Met 0n September 1, 1965. A late season roster call-up who got the start, but only lasted three innings at Shea Stadium that day. His start at the end of that year on October 2nd would be a different story. A four hour and twenty nine minute one. Gardner would take the ball for the second game of a double-header facing the Philadelphia Phillies. The rookie tossed 15 innings of shut-out ball, allowing just seven base runners along the way. Rob wound up with a no-decision as the game was called (due to a New York City curfew) after eighteen scoreless frames. It was made up as part of a second double-header the following day.

Rob pitched for the Mets the entire 1966 season, but was starting the next year back in the minors when he was traded by New York with Johnny Stephenson to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Bob Hendley on June 12, 1967.

Rob Gardner signed his card in the set for me from an autograph request sent to his home on February 5, 2010.