Bio

The image is indelibly etched in the memories of New York Mets fans everywhere and, undoubtedly, is one of the hallmark moments in the professional baseball career of former Santa Barbara City College pitcher Jesse Orosco.

It was 1986 and the Mets had positioned themselves for their first World Series win since 1969.  They had survived a heart-stopping Game 6 – primarily remembered for Mookie Wilson’s groundball that went through the legs of Bill Buckner, finishing an improbable 6-5 comeback win – that sent the series to a seventh and deciding game against the Boston Red Sox.

Jesse, a crafty southpaw reliever whose 24-year career is among the longest in Major League history, stood on the mound in the ninth inning of that winner-take-all matchup, staring down Marty Barrett with two outs and an 8-5 lead. With a 2-2 count, Jesse slid one past Barrett for the final out. He threw his glove in the air, spun wildly and then dropped to the ground with his fists held high as catcher Gary Carter raced to embrace him. Jesse’s celebration provided a visual captured on images that remain a big part of Mets history today.  He went on to pitch through the 2003 season but will forever be identified with the ’86 Mets, although he also earned another World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers two years later.

Jesse had a baseball career that was launched in the seaside city of his native Santa Barbara.  He spent just one season at Santa Barbara City College, but it was productive.  Jesse helped lead the Vaqueros to the 1978 Western State Conference championship while earning All-WSC honors.

That performance was enough to convince the Minnesota Twins, who drafted him later that spring, a year after he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals but did not sign.  He landed with the Mets organization several months after the Twins drafted him, beginning an eight-year tenure with New York. 

It didn’t take long for Jesse to find his way onto a Major League roster, seeing his first action on April 5, 1979.  He specialized in relief pitching.  In fact, Jesse had just four starts among his record 1,252 career appearances.  He became one of the most reliable – and durable – relievers in the history of the game. Between 1983-84, he won 23 games for the Mets, including 13 in 1983 when he posted a 1.47 ERA, had 17 saves, earned his first All-Star appearance and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. 

Jesse also earned the distinction on July 13 of that year by winning both games of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, something no Mets pitcher has done since.  He followed that campaign with an equally productive 1984 season when he saved 31 games, went 10-6 and was selected for another All-Star game.  Jesse was productive for the New York Mets between 1981-87, saving at least 16 games his final five seasons and posting 90 saves overall.

Before Jesse provided a lasting memory in the 1986 World Series, he etched his name in baseball history with a record performance by winning three games in the National League Championship Series. It’s been the only time that a reliever has accomplished the feat.  He saved two games in the ensuing World Series and didn’t allow a run.

It did not take Jesse long to return to the World Series, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 during their improbable title chase.

Jesse’s amazing Major League career spanned nine different teams, including five seasons with Baltimore Orioles (1995-99). But it is his longevity that clearly defines his career. He is among a select group of just 29 players to have played in four different decades.

In a sort of full circle trip to Santa Barbara City College, the name “Orosco” returned to the Vaqueros’ diamond when his daughter, Natalie, was a key player for the school’s softball team in 2012-13. Her biggest supporter? Only the lefty that probably wished he could get out there one more time.