New York Mets: Revisiting the legend of Sidd Finch

Sidd Finch was supposed to be the next great New York Mets pitching phenom. The only problem – Finch never actually existed.

Back in 1985, the New York Mets felt they were on the verge of a dynasty. They had an exciting team, fueled by young stars such as Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Howard Johnson, and Sid Fernandez. Veteran players such as Gary Carter, George Foster, and Keith Hernandez provided a level of professionalism and helped guide the youngsters along their journey. That Mets team would end the year with a 98-64 record, three games behind the Cardinals in the NL East.

The Mets bounty of youthful talent was not limited to the major league roster. In fact, for a time, it appeared as though they were going to sign a pitcher that made Gooden seem pedestrian by comparison. Waiting in their minor league system, the Mets had a minor league pitcher by the name of Sidd Finch.

Finch’s story was incredible. According to famed sportswriter George Plimpton, Finch had been born in England, but moved to Tibet when he was younger. There, he learned how to pitch, throwing a baseball at an incredible 168 MPH with pinpoint accuracy. The Mets found out about the phenom, negotiated in secret, and brought the 17 year old stateside.

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The revelation of the Mets latest phenom brought about excitement that few players had ever garnered. Fans flooded the Sports Illustrated mailrooms seeking more information. Opposing general managers had concerns as to whether or not batters could safely face Finch, given his velocity. The Mets had a jersey, number 21, ready for their top prospect, and gave him a locker between Foster and Strawberry.

There was only one problem though. Finch never existed. He was an elaborate hoax created by Plimpton for April Fool’s Day, and one that the Mets went along with. Don’t trust everything you read, right?

That did not stop people from believing. A radio talk show host claimed to have seen Finch pitch. The sports editor of a New York newspaper complained to the Mets public relations department about SI getting the scoop about Finch. The joke took on a life of its own.

Finch did not disappear after the hoax. Instead, he became the character of a novel that Plimpton wrote, expanding upon the article and delving into Pinch’s recommitment to baseball (he had “retired” a week after the first article was written). In that book, Finch reaches the majors, fires a perfect game, and after throwing another perfect game in his second start, retires once more.

There is nothing quite like a brilliant April Fool’s joke. Sidd Finch, the prospect that never was for the New York Mets, is the perfect example.