Pat Zachry; shared rookie award, traded for Seaver

Pat Zachry, who won a share of the 1976 National League Rookie of the Year for the World Series champion Cincinnati Reds and was traded to the New York Mets the following year for Tom Seaver, died Thursday. He was 71.

Mr. Zachry died at his son Josh’s home in Austin, Texas, following a lengthy illness, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Saturday.

A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Mr. Zachry was 69-67 with a 3.52 ERA in 10 major league seasons with the Reds (1976-77), Mets (1977-82), Los Angeles Dodgers (1983-84), and Philadelphia (1985).

He went 14-7 with a 2.74 ERA in his first season and tied San Diego pitcher Butch Metzger in the rookie award voting. Mr. Zachry beat Philadelphia in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series, then won Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium as the Reds swept New York for their second straight title.

When the Mets sought to trade Seaver after the star pitcher got into a dispute with team chairman M. Donald Grant, they struck a deal with Cincinnati that brought them Mr. Zachry along with infielder Doug Flynn, rookie outfielder Steve Henderson, and outfield prospect Dan Norman.

“We weren’t going to replace Tom. No one could,” Flynn said in a statement issued by the Mets. “We just stuck together and played as hard we could.”

Mr. Zachry went 10-6 with a 3.33 ERA in his first full season with the Mets, starting 7-1 and earning his only All-Star selection.

“He doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his career,” Flynn said. “On top of everything, he was the greatest teammate anyone could ever have.”

Mr. Zachry was born in Richmond, Texas, attended Richfield High School in Waco and was selected by Cincinnati with the 454th pick in the 19th round of the 1970 amateur draft. He made his major league debut against Houston on April 11, 1976.

In 1978, he started the season 10-3 for the Mets before breaking his foot in a fit of anger.

In addition to his son, Mr. Zachry leaves a daughter, Meredith Knight. Josh was a quarterback for Baylor from 2000-02 and Meredith an equestrian.

ASSOCIATED PRESS/1978 Mr. Zachry had several strong seasons as a starting pitcher for the New York Mets in the 1970s.