Former National League Rookie of the Year Co-Winner Pat Zachry Dies at 71

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Zachry, who was a co-winner of the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1976, passed away at the age of 71 at his son’s home in Austin, Texas. Zachry, who was best known for being one of the players traded to the New York Mets for Tom Seaver, had been battling a long illness.

Zachry, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, had a promising start to his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1976. He tied for the Rookie of the Year award with Butch Metzger after going 14-7 with a 2.74 earned run average. He played a key role in the Reds’ championship run, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS and the New York Yankees in the World Series.

In a blockbuster trade in June 1977, Zachry was sent to the Mets as part of the deal for Seaver, a future Hall of Famer. The trade was met with backlash from Mets fans, who felt that Seaver, the team’s star player, was irreplaceable.

Despite a strong start to his Mets career, Zachry’s time with the team was marred by injuries. He broke his foot in the middle of the season and struggled to regain his form. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring with a career record of 69-67 and a 3.52 ERA.

Zachry, born in Richmond, Texas, was selected by the Reds in the 1970 amateur draft. He is survived by his son, Josh, and daughter, Meredith Knight. His legacy as a talented pitcher and key figure in one of baseball’s most memorable trades will not be forgotten.