Pete Falcone: Brooklyn Born Italian / American Mets Pitcher (1979 - 1982)

Peter Frank Falcone was born October 1, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. The six-foot, two left hander attended Lafayette High School in Brooklyn.

Lafayette High: This is the same school the Mets John Franco & Dodgers Sandy Koufax graduated from as well as 21 other major leaguers including brothers, Bob & Ken Aspromonte, Al Ferrara, Kevin Baez, Luis Lopez & former Mets owner Fred Wilpon.

Mets Family Cousins: Falcone is second cousin to former long time Mets coach Joe Pignatano. 

 After high school Falcone attended to Kingsborough College in Brooklyn, getting drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1973 draft. That year he we was 8-1 in the Pioneer Rookie league posting a 1.50 ERA. 

In 1974, he jumped through all three levels of the minor leagues going 12-8, averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings. He was brought up to the Giants staff the next year.

MLB Career: Falcone debuted at Candlestick Park on April 13th, 1975, pitching eight innings
against the Atlanta Braves & earning his first career win. In just his third start he tossed a five-hit shutout against the Houston Astros, striking out nine in his best performance of the season.

In his 1975 Rookie season the southpaw went 12-11 finishing up third on the third place Giants team in staff in wins. He lost out to his young, Giants teammate John Montefusco in the Rookie Pitcher of the Year voting. 

Falcone struck out 131 batters in 190 innings walking 111 while posting a 4.17 ERA. After the season, the Giants traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for infielder Ken Reitz.

In 1976 for the fifth place Cardinals, Falcone was pretty much the ace of the staff that featured Lynn Mcglothlen (13-15) & John Denny (11-9). Falcone won 12 games (12-16) posting a 3.23 ERA with 138 strike outs pitching in a career high 212 innings. He was toughest with runners on base, holding them to a batting average under .200 in those situations.

He dropped to 4-8 the next season and spent some time in the bull pen where he pitched five games in relief earning one save. He missed more time in 1978, pitching in only 19 games dropping to 2-7 with a 5.76 ERA.

Mets Career: That off season he was traded to the New York Mets for Tom Grieve & minor leaguer Kim Seamen. Prior to joining the Mets, Falcone was 0-9 with three no decisions while pitching against the Mets in his career.

At first, he was shocked & disappointed when he was traded from an improving Cardinals team that seemed to be destined to get to the post season. 

But eventually after Falcone appeared at a Manhattan baseball banquet, he realized how good it was to be a ballplayer in New York. 

Mets Coach Cousin & Brooklyn Italians: Arriving at Shea Stadium he was reunited with his second cousin, long tome Mets Coach Joe Pignatano. Falcone was also on a club with fellow Italian American Brooklyn boys, Lee Mazzilli & manager Joe Torre.

1979: On April 11th, Falcone debuted in the fourth game of the season, pitching at Shea Stadium with eight strong innings against the Montreal Expos. He gave up just two runs, but he earned no decision in the 3-2 loss. 

On May 3rd, he gave up six runs on eight hits, including three HRs taking a loss in San Francisco. In his next start the Dodgers got five runs (four earned) in a 5-2 loss in Los Angeles. By June 1st, Falcone was 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA. 

Shut Out: On June 25th at Shea Stadium, Falcone pitched a five-hit shutout against the eventual World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. 

After another loss to the Dodgers, he won two straight games, beating the Cubs & Phillies at Shea Stadium. On August 7th, he took a tough 2-1 loss to Roy Thomas &the Cardinals at Shea.

On August 16th, Falcone allowed just one run in seven innings for a win in Atlanta. He then won a suspended game, pitching 8.2 shutout innings over the Astros.

But he then lost five of his last six games to end the season. On September 16th, he had another fine outing pitching seven shutout innings at Philadelphia.

Overall, in his first year as a Met he led the team in losses (14) going 6-14 posting a 4.16 ERA. He gave up 24 HRs (6th most in the league). Falcone also suffered from control problems, leading the team in walks (76) & wild pitches with ten (fourth most in the NL). He would finish in the top ten in that category three times in the next four seasons. 

Falcone struck out 113 batters in 184 innings pitched, good enough to average 5.5 Ks per nine innings, 10th best in the league.

Trivia: In 1979 he held hitters to a .210 average with runners in scoring position.

1980: Falcone started out 1980 as the Mets number four starter, behind Craig Swan, Pat Zachary & Ray Burris. 

On April 13tth, Falcone won his first outing beating the Cubs 5-0 at Shea Stadium. He gave up just two hits in six innings. 

Record Tying Six Straight Strike Outs To Start the Game: On May 1st, in a game at Shea Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies, Falcone tied a record by striking out the first six batters of the game. 

In the top of the 1st, he struck out Lonnie Smith, Pete Rose & then Garry Maddox looking. In the 2nd, He fanned Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski & Bob Boone.

 Although he pitched a fine game, allowing two runs on just three hits while striking out eight, over seven innings, the Mets lost the game 2-1 to Steve Carlton.

Falcone won his next two starts beating Atlanta & then the Houston Astros where he only allowed one run in eight innings pitched. 

On May 26th & June 1st, he gave up a season high six runs in both starts taking losses in St. Louis & Pittsburgh.

In June he made three starts & did not pitch beyond the 5th inning anytime. He made four relief appearances that month as well.

In July he won back-to-back starts at Shea, beating the Expos & then his old Cardinal teammates pitching eight innings to even his record at 5-5. 

Falcone with Keith Hernandez

Falcone then gave up five runs in each of his next two losing decisions, coming to the Padres & Giants.

On August 21st, he pitched seven innings at Shea, giving up just one run to the Giants in a 5-1 Mets win. 

Towards the end of the season, Joe Torre was using him out of the bull pen. On August 26th he came on in the 14th inning & pitched four innings but allowed RBI hits to the Braves Willie Montanez & Jerry Mumphrey taking the loss. On September 17th, Falcone earned his only save of the year, coming against the Expos. 

In his last two outings of the year, he was back in the starting rotation. 

Complete Game Win: On September 30th Falcone threw a complete game, beating Don Robinson & the Pirates 3-2at Shea.

Overall, for the 1980 fifth place Mets, Falcone was 7-10 with a 4.52 ERA. He led the team with 109 strikeouts & 89 runs allowed. In 37 appearances, he made 23 starts in 157 innings pitched with one complete game. 

Falcone was a decent pitcher, but he often suffered from lack of run support & bad luck. 

Trivia: Falcone was a tough pitcher at his best with runners on base. Overall, in 1980 the league hit just .220 against him with runners in scoring position. In 1981 opposing batters hit just .211 against him with runners in scoring position.

1981 Strike Shortened Season: Falcone was used as a reliever for most of the first half of the season before the player's strike going 1-1. In his first ten appearances he gave up runs in just one appearance.

On May 23rd, he made his first start of the year but exited in the 2nd innings after giving up four runs to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. After 14 appearances it was the first time his ERA went over two. In the first half of the season, he was 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA.

On August 15th, he won a game in relief with two scoreless innings over the Phillies. 

Three Complete Game Victories: From September 19th to October 4th, Falcone pitched well going 3-0, all complete game performances. 

On September 19th, he gave up two runs to the Cardinals at Shea, striking out four & walking two in the nine innings. 

HR Multi- RBI Game & Pitching Star: On September 29th Pete pitched a four-hit shutout over the Phillies at Veterans Stadium. In the 3rd inning, he hit a HR off Mark Davis for his only HR of the year. 

In the 6th inning, he hit a two-run single off Warren Brusstar.  Overall, his two hit, three RBI game led the way in his 4-3 win.

On October 4th, he closed out the season with a 2-1 victory over the Expos at Shea Stadium.

Falcone had his best season as a Met, going 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA. He tossed a shutout & had three complete games on the season. He struck out 56 & walked 36 in 95 innings, in 35 appearances with nine starts. 

1982: Falsone returned for his fourth & final season with the Mets as things were starting to change in the new ownership.

On April 11th, he won his first game with a 5-4 win at Wrigley Field. On April 28th, he came into a tied game in the 11th inning at San Diego. Falcone pitched five scoreless innings earning his second victory. That month he also was credited with two holds.

On May 13th, he pitched into the 9th at Dodger Stadium allowing just two runs while striking out seven, to beat Burt Hooton & the Dodgers. After his first 16 appearances, he was 3-0 posting a 3.39 ERA by June 1st.

From June 21st to July 5th, Pete went on a personal four game losing streak, giving up 12 runs on 19 hits & 5 HRs in 25.1 innings in four starts.

From July 10th to July 24th, he won two starts, beating the Padres at home & the Giants on the road, then earned a save over the Padres in San Diego. The next night he blew a save allowing a walk off RBI single to Tony Gwynn.

Complete Game Wins: On September 1st, Pete allowed just one run on six hits to the Astros for a complete game victory to get to 7-8. On September 12th he pitched his best game of the season, a three hit one run win over the Cardinals which was to be his last career Mets win. 

On September 18th, he took a tough 2-1 loss to Bob Forsch & the Cardinals, allowing just one run in eight innings, striking out a season high eight batters.

In 1982 Falcone was 8-10 with two saves & a 3.63 ERA. He struck out 101 batters walked 71 in 171 innings. He made 40 appearances making 23 starts.

 In 1983 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves rejoining manager Joe Torre & his cousin, Coach Joe Pignatano, whom had both gone to Atlanta the previous year. 

Mets Career Stats: In his Mets career Falcone went 26-37 with a 3.91 ERA. He struck out 379 walked 241 in 607.2 innings of work in 145 appearances making 86 starts.

Post Mets Career: In 1983 after his first 22 appearances with the Braves, Falcone was 8-1 with a 2.86 ERA by mid-July. 

On the season for the second place Braves, he went 9-4 with a 3.64 ERA striking out 59 batters in 106 innings. Falcone held batters to a .235 average with runners in scoring position. 1984 would be his final season, as he was 5-7 with a 4.12 ERA. 

That September he told an Atlanta paper he planned to retire after the season at age 30.

Quotes- Pete Falcone: “I’m just tired of baseball, I’m tired of the lifestyle, and I can’t see any reason to go on doing it.”

Career Stats: Falcone left the game after a ten-year career, going 70-90 with 865 strikeouts, 671 walks, and a 4.07 ERA in 1435 innings pitched in 325 appearances.  He held batters to a .234 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Joey & Pete Falcone

Retirement: In 1989, he played in the Senior League and posted a 10-3 record for the Orlando team.

Italian Baseball League: In 1990 he pitched for the Rimini Pirates in the Italian Baseball League going 18-4 with a 1.19 ERA (best in the league). That year he led his team to the championship series but lost the final game.

Family: Pete's son Joey Falcone is a U.S. War veteran, who saw his best friend die in the hills of Afghanistan during battle. Joey Falcone then became an outfield slugger playing in college at Staten Island.