Gary Gentry

Gary Edward Gentry (born October 6, 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona), is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, who played seven seasons for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves between 1969 and 1975.

Gentry went to Arizona State University and began his professional baseball career at age 22 in 1969. As a rookie, he won 13 games, pitching in a rotation with Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman for a Mets team that won the World Series, 4 games to 1, over the Baltimore Orioles. On September 24, Gentry pitched a four-hit, 6–0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals to clinch the National League East title for the Mets, who had trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9 ¹⁄₂ games on August 13.

Gentry was the starting pitcher for the Mets in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on October 6, his 23rd birthday. Gentry struggled in the game, but the Mets won, 7–4, to clinch the pennant. A two-run homer by Wayne Garrett put New York ahead to stay.

On October 14, Gentry was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series. Gentry hit a two-run double in this game, which was highlighted by Tommie Agee's two spectacular catches that prevented five Oriole runs. Nolan Ryan relieved Gentry in that game, pitching 2 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings for the save in what would be the only World Series appearance of Ryan's 27-year career. Eight days earlier, Ryan was the winning pitcher in relief of Gentry in the final NLCS game.

Gentry pitched for the Mets for the next three seasons. He won 28 games during this period as the Mets finished third in the National League East each year.

Gentry's November 1972 trade to Atlanta was soon followed by an elbow injury. He played his last game for the Braves on May 6, 1975 and was waived two days later. Gentry was re-signed by the Mets, but was released on June 19. During his seven-year career, his pitching record was 46 wins and 49 losses.