This Day in NY Mets History: Anthony Young losing streak finally ends but barely

You want to know an unbreakable record? Anthony Young losing 27 straight decisions is one of them. The New York Mets pitcher saw the streak begin on May 6, 1992. He’d lose every decision he’d have until July 28, 1993. More than a full year passed by and when he finally did earn a win, he barely got it.

A midsummer game against the Florida Marlins featured 8 innings of 3-run ball out of Bret Saberhagen. The Mets went into the ninth in a 3-3 tie. In came Young to hold the lead. What did he do? With two outs, Chuck Carr bunted in a run from third base. The squeeze play pushed the Marlins ahead 4-3. Young was on the hook for yet another loss.

Thanks to a ninth-inning comeback, Anthony Young’s notorious streak came to an end

A single to lead off the bottom of the ninth against Marlins reliever Bryan Harvey gave hope. A sacrifice bunt gave the Mets a shot to tie it up on a single. That’s precisely what they did. Ryan Thompson, from the previous year’s David Cone trade, knocked in the tying run. Joe Orsulak flew out then came Eddie Murray.

With two outs and a 35-64 record for a Mets club about to lose over 100 games, saving Young from embarrassment was probably the last thing Murray had on his mind. The future Hall of Famer, ripped a double that managed to score Thompson from first base. The Mets won and Young’s 27 straight decisions resulting in a loss had completed.

Now a remarkable 1-13 on the year after going 2-14 the year prior, Young’s luck wasn’t about to turn around.

On August 13, he got his next decision. It was a blown save and a loss where he didn’t retire a single hitter. Entering with one on and one out, he walked John Kruk. The next hitter reached on an error that plated the tying run. An intentional walk came next and then a Kim Baptiste grand slam turned a Young save into a 9-5 loss.

Two days later, against the Philadelphia Phillies again, blew it once more. This time it was in the 8th inning where he did at least retire two batters. A pair of singles did the damage and there was no error to blame.

Young was issued one more decision before the year was through, losing a September 11th start against the Chicago Cubs.

In 1994, Young had two more losses before a decision that resulted in a win. Now with the Cubs, his record became more stable thereafter.

With the Mets, Young was 5-35 and 3-30 in those two two horrific Mets seasons of 1992 and 1993. Statistically not even all that terrible and more of a product of a poorly built team, his claim to fame will remain the losing streak that we should never expect to get beaten.

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