John Pacella: Former Italian /American Mets Pitcher (1978 - 1980)
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When he was ten years old his family moved out to Suffolk County on Long Island, where he attended Connetquot High School. When he pitched for the Mets, he moved back into his parents' home where he grew up.
There he played ball in the Ronkonkoma/ Bohemia school district, getting drafted in the 4th round of the 1974 by New York Mets.
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Brooklyn Native Met: Pacella was another Brooklyn native on the late seventies Mets teams, along with Lee Mazzilli, Joe Torre, Pete Falcone & Coach Joe Pignatano.
The Antics & Appearance of Pacella: Pacella is another character in Mets history that is more remembered for his antics than for his pitching. First off, his appearance made him look more like he sang in a barber shop quartet, as he sported a handlebar style mustache in the late seventies. He rivals Keith Hernandez for one of the best Mets moustaches of all time.
Another Pacella trait was that he threw the ball so hard, his cap would usually fly off his head after his delivery. There's proof on his 1980 Topps baseball card, where he is pictured throwing the baseball with his hat falling down onto the mound.
According to Pacella, he said once a ground ball landed in his cap & bounced to the second baseman. The infielder threw the cap aside, pulled the ball out then threw to first base.
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In 1976 at A ball Lynchburg, Pacella won 12 games while losing 11. He was promoted up the ranks of the minors in 1977 winning ten games overall. At AAA Tidewater he had seven wins going 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA.
MLB Birthday Debut: On September 15th, he became the first Met in franchise history to debut on his birthday. In 2013, Wilmer Flores would be the second Met to do it, 36 years later.
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In 1976 at A ball Lynchburg, Pacella won 12 games while losing 11. He was promoted up the ranks of the minors in 1977 winning ten games overall. At AAA Tidewater he had seven wins going 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA. MLB Birthday Debut: On September 15th, he became the first Met in franchise history to debut on his birthday. In 2013, Wilmer Flores would be the second Met to do it, 36 years later.
Pacella pitched two innings of relief giving up two runs in an 8-2 loss to the Phillies. He made three appearances on the that month.
In 1978, Pacella started the year at AA Jackson going 4-3 getting promoted to AAA Tidewater where he went 4-11.
1979: He begam the season going 7-10at AAA Tidewater, then got another September Mets call up. On September 18th, in the first game of a double header with the Cubs, he gave up two runs taking a 2-0 loss to Rick Reuschel in a four-hit shutout.
On September 22nd, Pacella got a start against the Cardinals at Shea Stadium. He never got out of the first inning giving up four runs on five hits & a walk, taking his second loss. On September 30th, he pitched six innings only giving up a run but go no decision in the 4-2 win in St. Louis. In four appearances he went 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA
1980: In 1980 Pacella made the Mets out of Spring Training, starting out in the bull pen posting a 3.66 ERA over the first two months of the season, in 14 appearances.
By early June, he got into the starting rotation. In his first four starts he earned no decisions, with the Mets winning three of those games. On June 17th he got his first career win, as he pitched six innings allowing two runs in a 3-2 Mets win at Philadelphia.
In his next start, he allowed just one run to the Cubs at Shea, pitching into the 8th inning, earning his second win. On July 17th, he won his third straight with a victory in Atlanta.
From July 27th to the end of the season, Pacella then lost his next four decisions, posting a 9.58
ERA over eight games.
ERA over eight games.
He ended the season at 3-4 with a 5.14 ERA in 32 appearances (15 starts). He struck out 68 batters with 59 walks in 84 innings pitched & finished off six games for the 5th place Mets.
That December he was traded to the San Diego Padres for veteran pitcher Randy Jones. Pacella would get traded to the A.L. New York club at the end of Spring Training 1981.
Post Mets Career: In 1982, Pacella pitched just three games with New York, then was traded along with Larry Milborne to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Butch Wynegar & Roger Ericson. Pacella went 1-2 with the Twins, finishing up the year.In 1983 he pitched in the minors at AAA Charlotte going 0-5. He was sent to the Texas Rangers, was released & signed with the Baltimore Orioles. In 1984 he made six appearances for Baltimore then was released.
Career Stats: In six career seasons, Pacella was 4-10 with three saves in 74 appearances, making 21 starts. He struck out 116 batters while walking 133 in 191 innings pitched.
In December 1984, he signed with the Detroit Tigers spending 1985 at AAA Nashville going 7-7 with a 3.23 ERA. In 1986 he pitched in just five for the Tigers.
In 1987, Pacella went to Japan but then had arm trouble which finished off his career. He spent the next two seasons at AAA Toledo, Denver & Rochester.
TV Trivia: On an episode of the 1970's show- Eight Is Enough, one of the Bradford daughters, Susan, is dating a fictional Mets pitcher. That pitcher gets called away on an emergency before he was to pitch in Dodger Stadium. As he leaves you hear John Pacella's name being mentioned over the PA system as the pitcher.
Retirement: After his pitching days he went on to manage a few Independent Baseball League teams including the Newark Bears. In 1994 Pacella former MLB player Danny Briggs started a baseball instructional school in Ohio. The facility has been in business for thirty years.
Retirement: After his pitching days he went on to manage a few Independent Baseball League teams including the Newark Bears. In 1994 Pacella former MLB player Danny Briggs started a baseball instructional school in Ohio. The facility has been in business for thirty years.
Family: John's son, JJ was a minor league pitcher.
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