Craig Anderson: Original 1962 Mets Pitcher Who Once Held Record for Most Straight Losing Decisions (1962 - 1964)

Norman Craig Anderson was born July 1, 1938, in Washington D.C. The six-foot right-handed pitcher attended Lehigh University, where he became the school's star pitcher.

Anderson struck out 289 batters in 189 innings and pitched a no hitter there as well. He became the first player to make it to the big leagues from Lehigh University, when he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960. 

 He briefly pitched in the minor leagues at AA Tulsa, posting a 1.68 ERA, getting brought up to the majors that same year.

Cardinals Career: He debuted on June 23rd, pitching three scoreless innings in relief of Ernie Broglio, while earning his first career victory against the San Francisco Giants. In that game he got a hit scored a run & benefited from a grand slam by Stan the Man Musial. He would go 4-3 with a save & posting a 3.26 ERA with St. Louis in his rookie season. 

Mets Career: In October of 1961 he became an original New York Met when he was the 16th selection in the expansion draft.

On April 14th, Anderson made his Mets debut in the third game of the team's history, relieving Al Jackson in the 8th inning at the Polo Grounds. That day he pitched two scoreless innings allowing two walks & two hits in the 6-2 loss to the Pirates.

On April 24th, Anderson gave up four runs (two earned) to the Reds in the 1st inning. He gave up four hits, a walk & a wild pitch as well as a Charlie Neal error leading to the four runs, earning his first loss of the year.

Three Game Win Streak: On May 6th, Anderson entered the game in the 8th inning & pitched four shutout innings to the Phillies at Shibe Park. He earned his first Mets victory, when Gil Hodges singled home the winning run in the top of the 11th. The win would be the start of a personal career best three straight wins in three straight appearances.

Wins In Both Ends of a Double Header: On May 12th, Anderson had his biggest day, coming at the Polo Grounds, in a double header sweep over the Milwaukee Braves. At that point the Mets were 5-12 & this was the most exciting day in their short seventeen game existence. Craig Anderson would make Mets history by getting the wins in both ends of the double header.

In the first game Anderson relieved Roger Craig in the 7th inning with the Braves ahead 3-2. After pitching two scoreless innings, Hobie Landrith hit a two-run pinch hit walk off HR off Warren Spahn, to win the game. 

 In the nightcap Anderson was the last of six Mets pitchers to take the mound, pitching a perfect 9th inning in a 7-7 tie.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, local hero Gil Hodges hit his own dramatic walk off HR to win the second game. It was like a World Series victory for the 20,000 fans in attendance at the Polo Grounds on that day. 

 Anderson would save two games on the road in Milwaukee the next week & have a 3-1 record with three saves & a 2.08 ERA.

Losing Streak: Unfortunately, from that point on, he would go on to lose his next 16 decisions on the season, and never earn another victory in his big-league career. 

On May 24th, he took a loss to the Dodgers, when Frank Howard & John Roseboro collected 8th inning RBI singles. On May 30th he gave up a top of the 9th inning HR to the Dodgers Willie Davis taking the 6-5 loss.

In June, he took three losses & blew two saves in the month. On a positive note he did earn a save at Wrigley Field.

On June 25th, he got a start in Pittsburgh & never got the second out of the inning. Craig allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits to the Pirates in a 13-3 loss. 

Anderson then took four losses & blew a save in July. On July 14th, he made a start against the Dodgers at the Polo Grounds, that didn't go well. In the 1st inning he gave up a HR to Willie Davis, then two more runs before exiting in the 2nd without recording an out.

On July 7th he got a start & pitched a complete game allowing three runs to the Cardinals. But Ray Washburn held the Mets to a run, as Anderson took the loss. On July 25th in another complete game where he gave up three runs to the Reds he was beaten by Bob Purkey. He fell to 3-10 with a 4.81 ERA.

On July 26th he took his 11th loss, giving up HRs to the Braves Henry Aaron & pitcher Warren Spahn in a 5-1 loss to Spahn.

On August 2nd he gave up a season high eight runs on 11 hits including two HRs to the Phillies in 3.1 innings taking his 12th loss. In the month he lost three straight decisions at the hands of the Reds, Dodgers & Cardinals falling to 3-15. 

In September took his final two losses, ending the season leading the team in appearances with 50. He was 3-17 (sixth most losses in the NL) four of those pitchers were his Mets teammates, Roger Craig 924 losses) Al Jackson (20 losses) & Jay Hook (19 losses). He posted a 5.38 ERA, allowing 78 runs on 150 hits, walking 63 batters, while striking out 62 in 131 innings pitched. 

1963:  He spent most of 1963 in the minors going 9-12 at AAA Buffalo, getting a September call up at the end of the year. 

Last Game Played in the Polo Grounds: On September 18th, 1963, he made the start in the last game ever played at the Polo Grounds. Although he left in the fourth inning, he took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits to the Phillies. He gave up an RBI single to Roy Sievers & a two run triple to Bobby Wine. The Mets took a 5-1 loss.

1964: Anderson started the year at AAA Buffalo & was called up to the Mets in May. He would appear in just four games. 

Record Setting Losses: On May 24th, he took a loss to the Houston Colt 45’s at the Astrodome in his only start that year. That loss gave him 19 straight losing decisions dating back to last year, breaking Roger Craig’s record of 18 straight losses, set in the Mets inaugural season, 1962.

Anderson’s consecutive loss record held for three decades, until Anthony Young lost 27 straight decisions in the early 1990’s. 

During that period, Anderson sent Young a message of encouragement when he finally snapped the losing streak. He sent him a message saying “I hope you win 27 in a row” signed Craig Anderson- ’62 Mets.

Anderson went back to AAA Buffalo in 1964 and won 12 games, going 12-7 with a 2.96 ERA. He never got back to the big leagues, pitching two seasons in the minors before retiring from playing in 1966. 

Career Stats: In his four-year MLB career, Anderson pitched in 82 games, going 7-23 with a five saves & a 5.10 ERA. He struck out 94 batters in 192 innings, walking 81 batters & pitched two complete games.

Retirement: Anderson then went back to Lehigh University serving as athletic director & baseball coach for 34 years. 

MLB Pension Effort: In his retirement Anderson got pension money for 874 player who played less than five years between the years 1948 - 1979. After seeing former teammate Choo-Choo Coleman at a 50th anniversary Mets reunion, he made a few phone calls to the MLB offices & got Coleman some pension money as well.

Anderson & his wife visit Worl War II Battle sites as a hobby. They reside in Dunnellon, Florida. At times Craig still serves as a substitute teacher. Anderson says the teaching keeps him young. 

Honors: Anderson has appeared at 1962 Original Mets reunions & autograph memorabilia signing shows.

In 2022 he attended the Mets Old Timers Day celebration.

Family: in October 1961 Craig married his wife Judy & honeymooned in Puerto Rico where he pitched winter ball. Together they had two children.