UnforMETable, Episode 31: Bill Pecota

Welcome to UnforMETable, an Amazin’ Avenue Audio show that looks back on less heralded, more obscure Mets players from the past. Before Nate Silver borrowed his last name as an acronym for his baseball projection system, Bill Pecota was the quintessential utility player. He moved between AAA and the majors for the Royals so often, his teammates nicknamed him “I-29” after the interstate between Omaha and Kansas City. Pecota was coming off a career year in 1991, when the Mets were looking to salvage some last glory days out of a 1980s near-dynasty running on fumes. He came to the Mets as a piece in a huge trade for Bret Saberhagen and—like the Mets franchise—had an incredibly disappointing 1992 season. Though he did manage to make a footnote in Mets history as the first position player to ever toe the rubber. As always, you can listen or subscribe to this and all of our wonderful Amazin’ Avenue Audio podcasts through Apple Podcasts, where we encourage you to leave a review if you enjoy the show. It really helps! And you can find us on the Stitcher app, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. If you’ve got an idea for a player to be featured on UnforMETable, let us know in the comments. Make sure to follow Rob on Twitter (@WolffRR), and you can now follow the show, too (@unformetable). Tune in next week for another tale from the Mets’ past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices