Thursday, July 14, 2011

#588) ERIC CAMMACK

Eric Cammack was selected by the New York Mets organization during the 13th round of the free agent draft on June 3, 1997. He worked his way through the Mets minor-league system the next three seasons. The right-handed relief pitcher began 2000 at the Triple-A level, but only three games into the Norfolk Tides season he was first summoned to New York. Cammack lasted just a single day before being returned to Norfolk and replaced by starter Glendon Rusch.

His second tour of duty allowed him the opportunity to pitch and have his major-league debut at Coors Field in Colorado on April 28, 2000. Eric allowed four runs in two innings of work during the Rockies 12-5 victory over New York. Even then it was a trip back to Norfolk the next day when Vance Wilson was recalled. "It's great to go up (with the Mets), especially if you get to play," Cammack said at the time. "But you want to get some work in, wherever you're at. It's kind of like a double-edged sword because you want to be up there. If they call you up, I don't know anybody who is going to turn them down to get more work in the minors."

Eric returned at the end of June for an additional two weeks, and then finished the season in New York when he was a September call-up. On July 5th, during a Mets rout of the Florida Marlins in Miami they called on Cammack to take his first major-league at-bat. Eric delivered a ninth inning run-scoring triple off Ron Mahay. The reliever pitched in a total of eight big-league games for the eventual 2000 National League Champions, but never had another plate appearance.

Cammack was sidelined during spring training the following year. Surgery was performed to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. He was placed on the disabled list on March 20, 2001 and never returned that entire season. After pitching in the minor-leagues and failing to return to New York, the Mets released Eric on May 30, 2003. He was signed by the Houston Astros organization as a free agent only three days later.

The Texas native was unable to find a path back to the major-leagues during the years following his time in New York. This made his appearances with the Mets the only games of his big-league career. Placing him in limited company as one of only four men in MLB history to post a career slugging percentage of 3.000, or 1 for 1 with a triple.

Eric Cammack signed his card in the set from an autograph request sent to his home on July 14, 2011.

No comments:

Post a Comment