#606) DONNE WALL

Donne Wall joined the New York Mets when he was traded from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Bubba Trammell on December 11, 2000. The right-handed reliever suffered shoulder problems that previous season, but had posted a 2.92 ERA since 1998 for the Padres.

Wall made his Mets' debut in the seventh inning of the game in Atlanta on April 4, 2001. Donne was given the loss after surrendering the game-winning run in a Braves 3-2 victory. His unexplainable struggles continued until it was revealed that Donne was not fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery. "It just seems like I am taking baby steps," Wall said. "I don't know what to expect each day."

Mets pitching coach, Charlie Hough explained, "We're trying to find a routine for him to recondition his arm without killing him for today's game, and that's a tough program." Hough continued, "He's coming off surgery, and he has lost his feel—not just strength, but the feel. When a guy has surgery, it takes a year, year and a half. That's what we're looking at."

The team placed Wall on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder on May 28th. He returned on July 4th, but never was able to show the consistency of his past performance. Donne finished the year with an 0-4 record, and 4.85 ERA in 32 games. The Mets declined his option and Wall became a free agent on October 15, 2001.

I created Donne Wall's card in the set from an autographed index card given to me by my good friend, Jessie on October 16, 2010.