John Mitchell: Late 1980's Mets Pitcher (1986 - 1989)

John Kyle Mitchell was born on August 11, 1965, in Dickson, Tennessee. His parents Bob & Reba Mitchell had three other children.

MLB Brother: Charlie Mitchell, his older brother pitched in 12 games with the Boston Red Sox (1984 & 1985) while having a ten-year minor-league career.

The six foot two, right-hander John, drafted out of high school while at Nashville in 1983, by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round.

Boating Accident: After his 1983 minor league season, John along with teammates Anthony Latham & Scott Skripko went fishing off the coast of Florida. Their boat capsized & the three were left clinging for life, for twenty hours before being rescued.

Tragically the owner of the boat & Anthony Latham both drowned. 

Mitchell said he held on to a bucket & some debris during the time it took to get rescued. Years later he named his child in honor of his fallen teammate.

Mets Career: In November 1985 Mitchell came over to the New York Mets with Bobby Ojeda in exchange for Calvin Schiraldi, John Christensen & Wes Gardner. 

1986 Championship Season: For most of the 1986 Championship season, he pitched at AAA Tidewater going 12-9 with a 3.38 ERA, getting a September call up. 

On September 8th, Mitchell debuted at Shea Stadium pitching one inning relief in a loss to the Montreal Expos. Mitchell made three relief appearances & had one start, taking a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings pitched.

That September he pitched in an exhibition charity game with the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Trivia: While playing with the Mets he received four tickets to each game. In his time with the team, he would trade the tickets instead of paying rent, while staying with a former teammates brother in Queens.

Mitchell was roommates on the road with Dave Magada. He & Magadan did not make the post season roster & only goy $360 of the playoff share money, far short of the twenty plus grand they thought they'd earn.

Quotes- John Mitchell: On Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter: "I liked Carter, he was a regular guy & very welcoming to younger players. He was often outspoken & sometimes rubbed people the wrong way. but he didn't "big league' you. Keith was like Carter just not as big a personality. Keith had a great baseball mind."

After the Championship- 1987: In 1987 Mitchell got a chance to pitch with Doc Gooden rehabbing for drug use & Bobby Ojeda injured.  In his first three starts he gave up four runs each time, getting no decisions. On May 31st, he took a tough 2-1 loss to Ed Whitson & the Padres in San Diego. 

Complete Game: On June 19th Mitchell pitched a complete game victory, allowing just one run on five hits to the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium. He fanned three & walked three.

On July 4th in Cincinnati, he gave up seven runs including HRs to Eric Davis & Kal Daniels, as he took his first loss of the year. He would earn wins in two of his next three decisions then lose four of five games the rest of the way. The Mets finished second that year, just three games behind St. Louis.

For the year, Mitchell made 19 starts going 3-6 with a 4.11 ERA. He struck out 57 batters, walked 36 in 111 innings pitched.

Over the next two seasons he would only appear in just three Mets games, pitching mostly at AAA Tidewater. In the 1988 Mets NL East winning season, he made just one Mets appearance. For the Tides, Mitchell was 10-9 with a 2.34 ERA tying with Wally Whitehurst for second in wins, behind David West on the Tidewater staff. 

In 1989 he made two Mets relief appearances, coming up in late August. At AAA Tidewater he was 11-11 second in wins to Blaine Beatty on the Tides staff.

In December 1989 he was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Keith Hughes.

Post Mets Career: In 1990 Mitchell saw the most action of his career, making 24 starts, going 6-6 with a 4.64 ERA. 

Over the next five years he pitched in the Seattle, Boston, Texas & Montreal minor leagues. Overall, in minor league ball he is 97-82 with a 3.34 ERA in 247 games.

Career Stats: In five seasons Mitchell was 9-14 with a 4.35 ERA, posting 107 strike outs with 93 walks in 240 innings pitched in 51 appearances (37 starts).

Retirement: After his playing days Mitchell worked for a company that makes municipal castings in Nashville, Tennessee.

Family: John met his wife Leanne while in junior high school. Together they have four sons.