Doug Henry: Former Mets Mid 1990's Reliever (1995 - 1996)

Richard Douglas Henry was born December 10th, 1963, in Sacramento, California. The six foot four righthander, attended Arizona State University as a top pitcher. 

1984 Olympics: Henry pitched for the 1984 USA Olympic team who won a Bronze Medal. He went 2-0 in the Olympic run, playing alongside with teammates Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin & BJ Surhoff, all of whom made the major leagues.

Brewers Career: The tall righty was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the round of the 1985 draft.  In his rookie season of 1991, he came in 8th in the Rookie of the Year voting. He saved 15 games for the Brewers, going 0-2 with a 1.00 ERA. He struck out 28 batters in 36 innings pitched. 

The next year he saved 29 games (8th in the AL), establishing himself as one of the better relievers in the league. He went 1-4 with a 4.02 ERA. The next season he missed time due to injuries, saving 17 games going 4-4. Former Met, Jesse Orosco saved eight for Milwaukee that tear. 

In 1994, he lost his closer job to Mike Fetters, posting a 4.60 ERA with a 2-3 record. That winter he was traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later, who turned out to be a young, Fernando Vina.

Mets Career: Henry would spend two seasons as a Mets middle reliever appearing in over 50 games both seasons. 

1995: The season got a bit of a late start due to last year's player strike. Henry appeared on Opening Day pitching a scoreless 8th inning in the Mets 11-9 loss in Colorado.

On May 6th, the Mets blew a seven-run lead over the Reds, with Henry giving up three runs, including a walk off HR to Jerome Walton as he took the loss.

On May 10th, Henry earned his first Met win after pitching a scoreless top of the 8th inning to the Braves, then the Mets put up four runs in the bottom of the inning.

On May 16th he earned his first save, but then took four losing decisions, with three blown saves to fall to 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA, by the end of July.

On August 11th, Henry pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first win in three months. A week later he earned a win over the Dodgers at Shea Stadium, his third & final victory of the year. 

The 1995 the Mets won just 69 games but did finish in second place under manager Dallas Green. Henry was 3-5 with four saves six holds & a 2.96 ERA in 51 appearances (2nd most of the Met's bullpen). He struck out 62 batters & walked 25 in 67 innings pitched. 

1996:  Henry started out the season with a hold on Opening Day in the win over the Cardinals. On April 23rd, he collected his first win of the year when Chris Jones hit a Mets walk off HR in the 10th inning. 

In May, he blew two saves but on May 11th Rico Brogna's walk off HR got him his second victory. It would be the last game Henry would win the rest of the season, as he took seven straight losing decisions. In June Henry blew three more save chances & already had five blown saves. 

Losing Pitcher in Both Ends of a DH: On July 23rd, Henry had the rare bad luck to be the losing pitcher in both ends of a double header, in a twin bill in Colorado. In the first game, the Rockies benefited from two Henry walks & RBI singles from Eric Young Sr. & Quinton McCracken. In the second game, Eric Young Sr. had a walk off single to beat New York 11-10.

In September he was tagged with losses in three straight games. On September 10th, Henry gave up a season high five earned runs, including a solo HR by Edgar Renteria.

Henry was 2-8 with nine saves & a 4.68 ERA. The Mets released him at the end of the season.

Post Mets Career: After the Mets, Henry went to the San Francisco Giants, doing two stints there (1997 & 2000). In 1997 he pitched one game in their NLDS loss to the Marlins. Henry then went to the Houston Astros (1998-2000) getting to two post seasons there with the Astros.

1998 Post Season:  In the 1998 NLDS, Henry allowed one in run in four appearances. That year the Astros lost to the eventual NL Champion San Diego Padres.

2000 Post Season- NLDS: In 2000 Henry got to the NLDS with the SF Giants. He made three appearances in the loss to the eventual NL Champion Mets. 

In Game #2 at San Francisco, Henry walked Benny Agbayani & got Jay Payton to ground out to end the inning. 

In Game #3 he gave up an 8th inning, game tying RBI double to Edgardo Alfonzo. The game went to extra innings where Benny Agbayani won it with a walk off HR (centerfieldmaz was in attendance that game).

In the Game #4 Bobby Jones one hitter, Henry served up two walks in 1.2 innings of work.

In 2001 he went to pitch in Kansas City ending his career going 2-2 with the Royals.

Career Stats: In an eleven-year career Henry was 34-42 with 82 saves & a 4.19 ERA. He had 541 Ks & 341 walks in 665 innings of work in 582 appearances, finishing 290 games.

Retirement: After his playing days, Henry coached in the Kansas City Royals & Atlanta Braves organizations.