Anthony Wayne Young

Background

Anthony Wayne Young was born on January 19, 1966, in Houston, Texas. He attended Ebbert L. Furr High School, a Houston public school built in 1961 and named for rancher Ebbert L. Furr, whose former land became the school's site.

Young continued his education at the University of Houston, where he played both baseball and football for the Cougars. His development took place in Houston's substantial school and collegiate sports system before he entered professional baseball through the New York Mets organization.

Education

Young attended Furr High School in Houston and later the University of Houston, where he played college baseball and college football. Furr High School opened in 1961 as part of the Houston Independent School District.

The University of Houston originated in 1927 as Houston Junior College, created to expand higher-education opportunities for working Houstonians. It became a four-year university in 1934 and a state institution in 1963. Young was selected by the Mets in the 38th round of the 1987 amateur draft after his college career.

Career

The New York Mets selected Young in the 38th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft. He advanced through the Mets' minor-league system and was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 1990 while with the Jackson Mets. He made his major-league debut for New York on August 5, 1991.

Young pitched for the Mets from 1991 through 1993, working both as a starter and reliever. From May 6, 1992, to July 24, 1993, he lost 27 consecutive decisions, an MLB record that surpassed the previous mark of 23 losses set by Cliff Curtis in 1910 and 1911. During the streak he converted 12 consecutive save opportunities and threw 23 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings while filling in for injured Mets closer John Franco. He ended the streak on July 28, 1993, when the Mets defeated the Florida Marlins in a walk-off game.

Young continued his major-league career with the Chicago Cubs in 1994 and 1995 and the Houston Astros in 1996. In six MLB seasons he appeared in 181 games, including 51 starts, recorded 15 wins and 48 losses, earned 20 saves, and posted a 3.89 earned-run average over 460 innings.

After retiring from professional baseball, Young worked for eight years at a chemical plant and later coached youth baseball and gave pitching lessons in Kingwood, Texas. He was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in January 2017 and died in Houston on June 27, 2017, at the age of 51.

Achievements

• Young lost 27 consecutive Major League Baseball decisions from 1992 to 1993, establishing the major-league record for consecutive losses in games in which a pitcher received a decision.

• Over approximately the same period, Young made 27 consecutive starts without recording a victory, extending from April 14, 1992, to May 1, 1994, across his time with the Mets and Cubs.

Personality

Physical Characteristics: Young was 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighed approximately 210 pounds, batted right-handed, and threw right-handed.

Quotes from others about the person

• Former teammates and baseball associates remembered Young as a good-natured and well-liked teammate who handled the attention surrounding his losing streak with humor and resilience.

Interests

• Coaching youth baseball and giving pitching lessons

• Sport & Clubs

  Baseball and football

Connections

Young was the father of three children. His nephew Barrett Barnes played professional baseball in the New York Mets minor-league system.

nephew:

Barrett Barnes

Played professional baseball in the New York Mets minor-league system.

References

• Baseball-Reference player profile: Anthony Young Documents Young's full name, birth and death information, professional teams, career statistics, draft history, education, and burial place.
• Society for American Baseball Research biography: Anthony Young Provides a biographical account of Young's 27 consecutive losses, playing career, post-baseball work, and life in Houston.
• Major League Baseball obituary: Ex-Mets pitcher Young passes at 51 Reports Young's death, major-league record losing streak, career statistics, role with the Mets, and later youth baseball work.
  2017
• University of Houston history Provides historical context for the University of Houston, which Young attended and where he played college sports.
• Furr High School history Provides historical context for Furr High School, which Young attended in Houston.