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Vince Jankoski returns today with an interesting article about a player I’ve never heard of: Canadian-born pitcher Ken MacKenzie. Two things I’ve said many times here on BHCA: One, anyone who makes it to the major leagues is special in our eyes, whether a star or sub; and Two, when you look deep into the career of almost any major leaguer, you’ll invariably find something of interest.

Both of these points come into play today with Vince’s essay calling our attention to the recent passing of Ken MacKenzie who played six seasons in the majors (1960-1965) for the Braves, Met, Cardinals, Giants, and Astros.

And what is the interesting thing I learned about him? Well, without giving it away, I can tell you that he was an original Met; but you’ll have to read Vince’s essay to find out more… -GL

KEN MacKENZIE, RIP

With the passing of baseball greats Brooks Robinson and Frank Howard, it is easy to overlook Ken MacKenzie, who passed away last week at his home in Guilford, Connecticut at the age of 89.

Who was Ken MacKenzie?  An original Met, the left-handed pitcher and native of Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada was the only hurler on the 1962 New York Mets’ inaugural season to post a winning record! MacKenzie went 5-4, almost exclusively in relief, for a team that lost 120 games. To put that in perspective, Mets starters that year were Roger Craig (10-24), Al Jackson (8-20), Jay Hook (8-19), and Bob Miller (1-12).  Spot starter Craig Anderson was 3-17. MacKenzie’s bullpen mate, Willard Hunter, went 1-6.

But the 6’1”, 185-lb. MacKenzie was no fluke.  He did it again the next season with a 3-1 record for a team that lost 111 games and featured starters Craig (5-22), Hook (4-14), Jackson (a respectable 13-17), Tracy Stallard, he who gave up Roger Maris’ 61st home run ball two years prior (6-17), Galen Cisco (7-15), and Carlton Wiley (9-14).

MacKenzie also picked up four saves over those two years before being traded to the Cardinals for Ed Bauta. You gotta’ figure he didn’t really belong on those Mets teams.  Having a pitcher who actually won some games would ruin the team’s ambiance! Bauta was a better fit, losing his only two decisions with the Mets.

MacKenzie was a “Yalie,” class of 1956, where he starred in hockey and baseball.  Casey Stengel remarked after MacKenzie signed with the Mets:

“He’s a splendid young fella’ with a great education from Yale University. His signing with us makes him the lowest-paid member of Yale, class of ’56!”

We can only wonder what conversations passed between the Yale-educated MacKenzie and Stengel…

The Mets purchased MacKenzie along with Johnny Antonelli prior to the 1962 season.  His eight wins over two seasons with the Mets were his only major league victories to go along with ten losses, a 3.89 ERA, 142 strikeouts, and 63 walks.

In retirement, MacKenzie returned in 1969 to – where else? – Yale, to coach baseball and hockey for ten seasons. In August 2022 he attended the Mets’ Old-Timers’ game to celebrate their 60th anniversary. He was one of only six players from that inaugural team in attendance.

So today we bid farewell to a fine pitcher who holds a unique position in Mets’ history as the only winning pitcher from their first two seasons, Ken MacKenzie.

Vince Jankoski

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