Former Dodgers Pitcher, NL Rookie of the Year, Passes Away
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Pat Zachry has passed away at age 71. Zachry’s former teammate on the Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench, announced the passing with the following statement:
“One of the great characters and an unbelievable teammate passed yesterday! Pat Zachry was ROY in 1976, had 2 successful starts that postseason and one of the key players in the Tom Seaver trade. Tears have been shed for our friend!”
— Johnny Bench, via Twitter/X
Zachry was drafted in the 19th round of the 1970 MLB Draft by the Reds. After spending six years in the minor leagues, Zachry made his MLB debut in 1976. He was named the NL Rookie of the Year after going 14-7 with a 2.74 ERA in 38 games (28 starts), and helped the Reds win the World Series.
Zachry spent only a season and a half with the Reds before he was traded to the New York Mets in 1977. Zachry was with the Mets until 1982, before joining the Dodgers in Dec. 1982 in a trade for Jorge Orta.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Zachry posted a 2.45 ERA with a 6-1 record while notching 36 strikeouts in 1983. In his second season in Los Angeles, Zachry went 5-6 with a 3.81 ERA. Overall, Zachry finished his career with a 69-67 record, 3.52 ERA and 669 strikeouts.
Zachry appeared in Games 3 and 4 of the 1983 NLCS, pitching two innings in each game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers lost the series in four games.
After two seasons with the Dodgers, Zachry finished out his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985. After his retirement, Zachry went into minor league coaching for the Dodgers.
Photo Credit The Enquirer/Fred Straub via Imagn Content Services, LLC
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