Craig Anderson

Note: This page links to Craig Anderson, the pitcher from the 1960s. For the Australian Olympic team and minor league pitcher, click here.

Norman Craig Anderson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School Lehigh University
• High School Anacostia High School
• Debut June 23, 1961
• Final Game May 27, 1964
• Born July 1, 1938 in Washington, DC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Craig Anderson was a promising young pitcher who had the bad luck and misfortune to be taken by the New York Mets in the expansion draft.

In 1961, Craig went 4-3, 3.26 in 25 games as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 22. From 1962 to 1964, his record with the hapless Mets was 3-20. He also recorded 4 saves which, sad to say, led the team. On May 12, Anderson was the winning pitcher for both games of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves at the Polo Grounds; both games ended with walk-off home runs. Hobie Landrith homered with two out in the 9th to win the first game, 3-2 and Gil Hodges homered with one out in the 9th to win the second game 8-7. In 1963 with the Mets, Craig started the last game ever played in the Polo Grounds.

Anderson was the first player from Lehigh University to ever make the major leagues. He pitched a no-hitter in college and struck out 289 batters in 189 innings. After graduating, he played for Tulsa and posted a 1.68 ERA in 1961, reaching the bigs. His career as a professional baseball player lasted seven seasons. After that, he returned to Lehigh where he served as pitching coach for 34 years and also in university administration. He is in the Lehigh Sports Hall of Fame. A son, Michael, played three seasons in the minors during the 1990s.

Major leaguer Paul Hartzell benefited from Anderson's instruction at Lehigh, saying:

"As a coach, Craig taught me the single most important thing that allowed me to go from Lehigh to the majors in less than ten months. He taught me how to read a hitter and pitch to them based on my best stuff that day."

One source: Lehigh Sports Hall of Fame, N. Craig Anderson

Related Sites

• Craig Anderson at the SABR Bio Project