MCC baseball players cursed?
Benjamin Buettner
Mesa Legend
Who was the pitcher in game six of the 1975 World Series who gave up the home run to Carlton Fisk in the bottom of the 12th inning?
If you guessed an MCC pitcher, you are correct.
Mesa’s claim to fame in the world of Major League Baseball is Pat Darcy who played for MCC in 1972.
In fact, Mesa Community College has had many players come through and make an impact in the Major Leagues, though none as memorable as Darcy.
MCC produced the man who had the best view of Boston’s famous game six choke against the New York Mets.
Former MCC player Marty Barrett, who was the most valuable player in the 1986 ALCS, played second base for the Red Sox as he watched Bill Buckner fumble away the World Series by letting a soft groundball go through his legs and under his glove in 1986, while Boston needed one out to win. The Mets rounded the bases and pulled out the win because of that error.
Barrett, who played for MCC in 1978-79, and Mickey Hatcher, also played for MCC (1975), finished in the Top 10 in the American League for batting average in 1984.
Former Thunderbird Ken Phelps (1974-1975), to this day, has one of the highest homerun to at-bat ratios (1-15) in Major League history, ahead of names like Mays, Mantle and Aaron.
Hall of Fame third baseman, George Brett, hit his last career home run off of former 1987 T-Bird pitcher Paul Swingle.
Further proving when there needs to be a memorable play; don’t keep former MCC players too far away.
