Ed Lynch: Brooklyn Born 1980's Mets Pitcher (1980-1986)
His brother Chris was also right-handed pitcher, getting drafted three times by the Cardinals (1972) Mets (1973) & then Dodgers (1974) instead he chose to finish college & go to law school.
The six-foot six inch tall, Lynch was such a good basketball player, he went to the University of South Carolina on a basketball contract. But he ended up playing on the baseball team instead getting to the College World Series. He played on that team with future Mets teammate Mookie Wilson.
The six-foot six inch tall, Lynch was such a good basketball player, he went to the University of South Carolina on a basketball contract. But he ended up playing on the baseball team instead getting to the College World Series. He played on that team with future Mets teammate Mookie Wilson.
In 1977 Lynch was a business management graduate.
That year he was also drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round. In 1977 he pitched at the A ball level then was promoted to AA the next season. In 1979 at AAA Tuscon, he went 10-11 with a 4.65 ERA in 27 games.
That year he was also drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round. In 1977 he pitched at the A ball level then was promoted to AA the next season. In 1979 at AAA Tuscon, he went 10-11 with a 4.65 ERA in 27 games.
In 1979 the Texas Rangers were in the heat of the pennant race & needed another bat in their lineup. On August 12th, they acquired Willie Montanez from the Mets for a player to be named later. In September, Ed Lynch & Mike Jorgensen were the players to be named later going to the Mets.
Mets Career: After two seasons of pitching under .500 in the Texas organization he took it to a new level with the Mets. In 1980 he won 13 games at AAA Tidewater (13-6) tied for the most wins on the staff with Mike Scott.
Lynch was never an overpowering pitcher but was a smart pitcher who knew how to use what he had to beat hitters. Lynch was also known for his intelligence & his wit. Wherever he landed he became a popular teammate.
Mets Debut: On August 31st, 1980, Lynch got called up to the Mets when Craig Swan went down with shoulder trouble. Lynch pitched 1.1 innings of relief in San Francisco getting roughed up for four runs including an RBI triple by the Giants pitcher Dave Holland.
Mets Debut: On August 31st, 1980, Lynch got called up to the Mets when Craig Swan went down with shoulder trouble. Lynch pitched 1.1 innings of relief in San Francisco getting roughed up for four runs including an RBI triple by the Giants pitcher Dave Holland.
On September 13th, he made his first start & would earn his first career victory. It came at Shea Stadium against the Chicago Cubs as he allowed one run over six innings striking out two & walking no one. On September 19th he gave up four runs & nine hits to the reigning world champion Pirates taking his first career loss.
On September 24th he had another good outing in his third start, pitching seven shutout innings against that seasons eventual World Champion Phillies, but got no decision.
1981: Lynch began the year at AAA Tidewater going 7-6 getting back up to the Mets staff in May. On May 2nd he made his first start of that season but got decision allowing two runs to the Padres in 4.2 innings of work in an eventual Mets 6-2 win.
1981: Lynch began the year at AAA Tidewater going 7-6 getting back up to the Mets staff in May. On May 2nd he made his first start of that season but got decision allowing two runs to the Padres in 4.2 innings of work in an eventual Mets 6-2 win.
In his second start he pitched into the 8th inning beating the Giants veteran Doyle Alexander 3-2. Lynch lost his next two decisions and was placed in the bullpen. After three relief appearances & taking a loss to the Phillies the MLB players baseball strike happened, stopping play until August 9th.
In his return on August 12th, he gave up two runs at Wrigley Field over six innings but earned no decision. On August 18th, he earned a win in Atlanta shutting out the Braves for 7.2 innings of work in a 4-0 Mets win.
In his return on August 12th, he gave up two runs at Wrigley Field over six innings but earned no decision. On August 18th, he earned a win in Atlanta shutting out the Braves for 7.2 innings of work in a 4-0 Mets win. On September 8th, Lynch allowed just one run to the Pirates in Pittsburgh over seven innings of work, to beat Luis Tiant 3-1. He then earned a win over the Cardinals at Shea Stadium to get to 4-3 on the season. But he lost his last two decisions to fall under .500.
Lynch finished out the year at 4-5 with a 2.91 ERA making 13 starts in 17 appearances. He struck out 27 batters, walking 21 & averaged just 2.1 walks per nine innings (6th best in the NL).
1982: This season the Mets had a new manager in George Bamberger. Bamberger had been a successful pitching coach with the legendary Baltimore teams of the sixties & seventies. But he & the Mets would finish in last place in 1982 going 65-97.
Lynch finished out the year at 4-5 with a 2.91 ERA making 13 starts in 17 appearances. He struck out 27 batters, walking 21 & averaged just 2.1 walks per nine innings (6th best in the NL).
1982: This season the Mets had a new manager in George Bamberger. Bamberger had been a successful pitching coach with the legendary Baltimore teams of the sixties & seventies. But he & the Mets would finish in last place in 1982 going 65-97.
At the start of the season, Lynch was used as a reliever, pitching two innings on opening day in the 7-2 win at Philadelphia.On April 11th, Ed earned a hold. On April 17th, he came on in the 8th inning & pitched two scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over the Expos to collect a save.
On May 2nd Lynch made a start in San Francisco giving up HRs to Chili Davis & Darrell Evans, exiting after three innings taking his first loss of the year.
The next day in Los Angeles, he came into a tied game in the 11th inning & earned the win pitching two scoreless innings as the Mets got three runs off Dodger reliever Steve Howe with an RBI single from Hubie Brooks & a fielder's choice from Ron Gardenhire.
Lynch would pitch out of the bullpen before returning to the rotation by mid-August.
On August 15th, he beat the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium allowing three runs in seven innings for his second win of the year.
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In his next start he shut out the Atlanta Braves for nine innings, but earned no decision in a game the Mets would lose when Dale Murphy hit a walk off HR off Pat Zachary in relief.
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In his next start he shut out the Atlanta Braves for nine innings, but earned no decision in a game the Mets would lose when Dale Murphy hit a walk off HR off Pat Zachary in relief. On August 25th Ed gave up a season high five runs to the Astros, taking a 5-4 loss. In September he went 2-2 as a starter beating the Reds & then the Cubs in Chicago.
Lynch finished up the season at 4-8 with two saves and a 3.55 ERA. He struck out 51 & walked 40 batters in 139 innings pitched in 43 appearances (12 starts).
1983: This season Lynch became one of the Mets top pitchers on the staff, that included the return of veteran Tom Seaver who would go 9-14. Other starters that season were Mike Torrez (10-17) Walt Terrell (8-8) & Craig Swan (2-8). The Mets would finish last again, as manager George Bamberger started the year but go so frustrated he walked away after 46 games to go fishing. Frank Howard would take over as Mets skipper.
After starting out in the bullpen Lynch quickly was placed back in the rotation as Rick Ownbey & Scott Holman didn't work out as starters.
On April 29th he earned a relief win over the Braves pitching three innings allowing two runs. In that game he drove in a run with an 8th inning RBI base hit off reliever Gene Garber.
On May 16th, he allowed four runs to the Pirates in Pittsburgh but got the win as the Mets put up a rare eleven run output. Lynch also drove in a pair of runs with a 2nd inning two run single off Jim Bibby.
On May 24th, Lynch took a loss to the Giants Mike Krukow at Shea Stadium, in that game Dave Kingman homered twice for the Mets. On May 29th at San Diego, Ed allowed just one earned run in eight innings taking the 3-2 win.
In June Ed won games against the Dodgers & reigning Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
The Arrival of Keith Hernandez: On the June 15th trade deadline, the Mets acquired Keith Hernandez in a trade with the Cardinals. This was the start of a slow turn around for the team. Ed Lynch & Keith Hernandez would become good friends as teammates.On July 2nd Ed beat the Phillies 4-3 in Philadelphia pitching six innings allowing two runs. At that point he was leading the team with a 6-3 record, posting a 3.35 ERA.
From July 30th to September 20th, Lynch struggled the rest of the way going 3-6 with a 5.37 ERA while serving up ten HRs.
On July 30th he gave up six runs but just one earned in a sloppy three error 6-3 Mets loss to the Pirates at Shea.
Back-to-Back Wins: On August 14th, Ed pitched eight innings allowing two runs for a win at Wrigley Field. In his next start he won back-to-back games for the only time that season.
In September he gave up six runs in back-to-back starts, then four runs in his final two starts of the season.
Lynch finished the year tying Mike Torrez for the team lead in victories with ten going 10-10. He posted a 4.28 ERA, striking out 44 batters with 41 walks in 174 innings. He made 30 appearances (27 starts).
Lynch finished the year tying Mike Torrez for the team lead in victories with ten going 10-10. He posted a 4.28 ERA, striking out 44 batters with 41 walks in 174 innings. He made 30 appearances (27 starts).
That year at the plate he drove in four runs, batting .154 (8-52) with eleven sac hits (10th best in the NL).
1984: This season was to be the most exciting season in almost a decade for the Mets. Davey Johnson took over as manager & he brought with him some of the Mets top players from their minor leagues.
The veteran leadership & clutch play of Keith Hernandez had him lead the league in game winning RBIs.
The Met's starting rotation was now led by youngsters Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling & Sid Fernandez.
Quotes -Ed Lynch: "They have no idea the Mets have been brutal for eight years. While we've been stinking up the league the Mets have built the best farm system in the majors. These kids are winners. They don't care if we're playing the Montreal Expos or the Bad News Bears."
Ed Lynch began the year in the bullpen. Walt Terrell & Bruce Berenyi were to be the other two main Mets starters.
In April Lynch made seven appearances, winning two games in relief with Mets come backs, after he had entered in the 8th inning. On April 18th the Mets beat the Expos with Wally Backman collecting the walk off double. On April 28th short time Met Ross Jones hit a walk off double helping Ed get a win.
On May 2nd, he had four inning relief effort in a win over the Cubs at Shea Stadium. He gave up two runs but still earned his third win as Keith Hernandez supplied the walk off sac fly.
From May 26th to June 13th, he gave up just four runs in 24 innings, posting a 1.50 ERA. He would win three straight games allowing just three earned runs over twenty innings.
Quotes- Davey Johnson: "He's the most consistent pitcher on the staff. I know no matter what way I use him; he'll get the job done".
But from June 19th to July 4th, Lynch struggled losing four straight games, giving up 16 earned runs with an 8.15 ERA. Batters hit .410 against him in those four games where he allowed four runs or more in each game.
Bench Clearing Brawl in Chicago: On August 2nd, during the heat of a pennant race while chasing the first place Chicago Cubs, the Mets & Cubs went at it in a double header at Wrigley Field.
Lynch made just one more start on the year, losing at San Diego. He finished the year pitching in relief, collecting one more win at Philadelphia.
On May 3rd, Lynch got his first win pitching a complete game in Cincinnati, where he gave up four runs on ten hits including two HRs, but the Mets offense scored him nine runs in the 9-4 win.
On July 13th he pitched a complete game in Houston giving up just one run in a 10-1 Mets win.
Lynch followed with a win over the Expos at Shea, where he gave up just a run in five innings. His next two victories both came over the Cubs, one at Wrigley Field & the other at Shea.
Overall, Lynch put in a solid 1985 season, behind Dwight Gooden & Ron Darling, matching his career best ten wins, going 10-8 with six complete games.
Once again, he had one of the lowest walk ratios in the league (3rd best) at 1.2 per nine innings, walking just 27 batters. He posted a 3.44 ERA with 65 strike outs, in 31 appearances, with career highs in starts (29) & innings (191).
1986 Mets Championship Season: Lynch began the year with the Mets, in his first appearance he pitched two innings of relief at Philadelphia in the third game of the season in an 9-8 loss to the Phillies.
A knee injury set him back & he required surgery. He rehabbed for four games pitching four games at AAA Tidewater. There wasn't much room left on the talented 1986 Mets staff & he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Liddell & Dave Lenderman.
Retirement- Law Degree: After baseball he went to the University of Miami and earned himself a law degree.
The ex- big leaguer was popular with the other students, always letting them try on his 1986 World Series ring the Mets had awarded him for starting out the season with them.
L.I. Ducks: In 2019 he was pitching coach for the Long Island Ducks but resigned after two months.
On May 2nd, he had four inning relief effort in a win over the Cubs at Shea Stadium. He gave up two runs but still earned his third win as Keith Hernandez supplied the walk off sac fly.
Lynch was back in the rotation by mid-May. On May 12th he beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings. In the 4th inning his grounder brought in Hubie Brooks for an RBI.
From May 26th to June 13th, he gave up just four runs in 24 innings, posting a 1.50 ERA. He would win three straight games allowing just three earned runs over twenty innings.On June 13th, Ed shut them out the Pirates at Shea Stadium for six innings, allowing just two hits in a 2-0-win beating Lee Tunnell. The win brought his record up to 7-1 with a 2.64 ERA.
Trivia: When the Mets released veteran pitcher Mike Torrez, Lynch became the old man of the staff at age 28.
But from June 19th to July 4th, Lynch struggled losing four straight games, giving up 16 earned runs with an 8.15 ERA. Batters hit .410 against him in those four games where he allowed four runs or more in each game.
Davey Johnson put him back in the bullpen, Ed quickly earned two saves in July over the Reds & Cardinals.
On July 23rd, he came on in the 11th inning of a tied game with Cardinals. He collected the win when Wally Backman ended the 12th inning with a walk off RBI single against Neil Allen.
In the second game, after the Cubs scored five runs, Lynch nailed Chicago's Keith Moreland with a pitch. Moreland had hit a three run HR in the first game off Ron Darling. After the pitch Moreland, a former college linebacker charged the mound & tackled Lynch to the ground. This led to a full-scale bench clearing brawl.
Lynch made just one more start on the year, losing at San Diego. He finished the year pitching in relief, collecting one more win at Philadelphia.
On the year the Mets finished second to the Cubs, 6.5 games back, winning 90 games (90-72).
Lynch went 9-8 with two saves and a 4.50 ERA. He struck out 62 batters while walking 24 in 124 innings of work. He closed out 14 games making 40 appearances making 13 starts. At the plate Ed batted a career best .222 going 6-27 with an RBI.
1985: The season opened up with lots of excitement, especially after the off-season acquisition of Gary Carter, who started the season with a walk off HR on Opening Day.
Lynch started the fourth game of the season, going seven innings against Tom Browning & the Reds, allowing just one run on four hits earning no decision. The Mets won it on Daryl Strawberry's Walk off HR off John Franco in the 2-1 win.
Complete Game Shut Out: On May 8th, Lynch tossed a five-hit shutout over the Atlanta Braves striking out one & walking one. It was the first shut out of his career.
Tough Luck Outings: On May 13th he gave up just one run but took a 1-0 loss to the Braves Len Barker & Bruce Sutter. On June 8th he threw eight innings of shutout ball against the rival St. Louis Cardinals but earned no decision as the Mets lost a tough 1-0 game to John Tudor.
Complete Game Win:
On June 18th, he returned to throw another complete game, a 5-1 win
over the Cubs at Shea, where he gave up eight hits & struck out three to get to 4-3.
On June 18th, he returned to throw another complete game, a 5-1 winover the Cubs at Shea, where he gave up eight hits & struck out three to get to 4-3.
After a pair of losses at the end of June, Lynch began July with a six-game personal winning streak taking him thru August 11th.
Six Game Win Streak: From July 3rd to August 11th, he went 6-0 with a 2.36 ERA. On July 3rd, Lynch pitched a complete game two run 6-2 win over the Pirates. He followed up with another win at Cincinnati, although he gave up four runs, he was assisted by HRs from Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, Howard Johnson & George Foster.
Lynch followed with a win over the Expos at Shea, where he gave up just a run in five innings. His next two victories both came over the Cubs, one at Wrigley Field & the other at Shea.
But it was his last winning decision of the year as he would go 0-2 with five no decisions the rest of the way. From August 16th thru September 17th, he gave up at least three or more runs in the five starts.
On September 17th he took a loss to the Phillies giving up five runs. The loss put the Mets two games behind the first place Cardinals, they had been in first place just four days earlier.
By October 2nd, the Mets would get as close as one game behind St. Louis. They would then lose three of four games to end the season in second place three game back, even though they had won 98 games.
Once again, he had one of the lowest walk ratios in the league (3rd best) at 1.2 per nine innings, walking just 27 batters. He posted a 3.44 ERA with 65 strike outs, in 31 appearances, with career highs in starts (29) & innings (191).
1986 Mets Championship Season: Lynch began the year with the Mets, in his first appearance he pitched two innings of relief at Philadelphia in the third game of the season in an 9-8 loss to the Phillies.
A knee injury set him back & he required surgery. He rehabbed for four games pitching four games at AAA Tidewater. There wasn't much room left on the talented 1986 Mets staff & he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Liddell & Dave Lenderman.
Quotes- Ed Lynch: "It was like living with a family all year then getting kicked out on Christmas Eve."
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The popular Lynch finished his Mets career at 38-40 with a 3.82 ERA striking out 259 batters with 158 walks in 730 innings pitched in 167 appearances, making 98 starts. He threw seven complete games pitched one shut out & gave up 62 HRs.
Lynch pitched two seasons in Chicago, finishing up the rest of the 1986 season going 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 23 games.
Mets Career Stats:
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The popular Lynch finished his Mets career at 38-40 with a 3.82 ERA striking out 259 batters with 158 walks in 730 innings pitched in 167 appearances, making 98 starts. He threw seven complete games pitched one shut out & gave up 62 HRs. Lynch pitched two seasons in Chicago, finishing up the rest of the 1986 season going 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 23 games.
Losses to Mets: On August 6th he went up against Dwight Gooden & the Mets taking a 7-6 loss. His pal Heith Hernandez had two hits with a HR off him.
On September 25th at Wrigley Field. he was the losing pitcher in a 4-3 loss to the Mets. He gave up hits to Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter before getting replaced by Lee Smith. Smith then allowed a fielder's choice to Ray Knight scoring Hernandez.
In 1987 Lynch went 2-9 in 58 appearances for the fifth place Cubs deciding to retire at the end of the season.
Career Stats: In his eight-year career, Lynch had a 47-54 lifetime record with eight saves & a 4.00 ERA. He walked 229 batters with 396 strikeouts in 940 innings pitched in 248 appearances, finishing off 49 games & making 119 starts.
At the plate he hit .113 (27-237) with two doubles & six RBIs.
Retirement- Law Degree: After baseball he went to the University of Miami and earned himself a law degree.
The ex- big leaguer was popular with the other students, always letting them try on his 1986 World Series ring the Mets had awarded him for starting out the season with them. MLB -Management & General Manager: He got back into baseball when former Mets GM Joe McIlvaine hired him as director of Player development with the San Diego Padres.
In 1993 McIlvaine was back with the Mets & hired Lynch as his special assistant. He then went to the Chicago Cubs where he was hired as a General Manager from 1994-2000. At age 38 Lynch was the youngest GM in the game.
In 1998 the Cubs led by Kerry Wood & Sammy Sosa won 90 games, won a won game playoff with the Giants then lost the NLDS to Atlanta.
Lynch resigned in 2000, becoming a scout with the Cubs & then with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Most recently Ed has become a real estate agent in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Family: In 1986 Ed married Kristin Ann Kacer, they have two children together. The family resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Return to Mets: Lynch was on hand with other former Mets teammates when his friend Keith Hernandez had his number 17 retired by the Mets in 2022. Lynch has also maintained a close friendship with Ron Darling.