Former Reds, Mets pitcher Pat Zachry dies at 71

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th April, 19:30 2024

Bob Bailey and Bill Plummer douse Johnny Bench with champagne in the clubhouse after beating the Phillies in the NLCS. Between Bailey and Plummer, Pat Zachry is visible. Cincpt 06 23 2016 Enquirer 1 C005 2016 06 22 Img Reds283 1 1 Nreoo6r0 L832351460 Img Reds283 1 1 Nreoo6r0 credits: The Enquirer/Fred Straub via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Former All-Star right-hander Pat Zachry, who shared National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1976, has died at 71.

Zachry died Thursday in Austin, Texas, following a lengthy illness, according to the New York Mets.

Zachry would have turned 72 on April 24.

Zachry went 14-7 with a 2.74 ERA for the world champion Cincinnati Reds in 1976 and shared top rookie honors with San Diego Padres reliever Butch Metzger.

He defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the 1976 National League Championship Series and also won Game 3 of the 1976 World Series against the New York Yankees.

The next season, the Reds dealt him to the Mets as part of the trade that brought legendary Tom Seaver to Cincinnati.

Zachry was an All-Star for the Mets in 1978 when he went 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA. But he kicked a helmet in the dugout after being pulled from a game in late July and sustained a season-ending left foot injury.

Zachry went 69-67 with a 3.52 ERA in 293 career appearances (154 starts) with the Reds (1976-77), Mets (1977-82), Los Angeles Dodgers (1983-84) and Philadelphia Phillies (1985). A 19th-round pick in the 1970 draft, Zachry had 29 complete games and seven shutouts.

—Field Level Media

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