Andy Fidler's high school opponents came into this April 1988 game hot. Fidler, however, quickly took care of that, The Allentown Morning Call wrote.
Fidler struck out 10, gave up just three hits and didn't give up a run, enough to earn high praise from opposing coach Rich Rodeghiero, according to The Morning Call.
"The name of the game today was definitely Andy Fidler," Rodeghiero told The Morning Call afterward. "He's probably the best pitcher I've seen in a couple years, as far as being able to go out there and dominate batters; you just don't see kids like that, and he just shut us down."
Fidler amassed enough of those outings at Norristown's Mothacton High School for the Mets to come calling in the June draft. He went on to see four pro seasons. He topped out at single-A.
Fidler's career began that year in 1988, taken by the Mets in the 10th round of the draft out of Mothacton.
Fidler quickly signed, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"There was never really any doubt for me," Fidler told The Inquirer then. "I knew that if I was selected, I would sign. It's been a dream for me all my life, and now I have a chance to make it come true."
Fidler started with the Mets in the rookie Gulf Coast League and at rookie Kingsport. He went 2-1, with a 2.41 ERA between them in 14 outings, seven starts.
He returned to Kingsport for 1989, where he saw six outings, one start and gave up three earned in 11.2 innings. He earned some good marks from his manager Jim Eschen after a June outing. "I was happy with Andy Fidler," Eschen told The Kingsport Times-News as he listed off his pitchers' performance that night.
Fidler then made short-season Pittsfield for 1990. He went 1-2 in 10 outings, nine starts, with a 5.17 ERA.
He started 1991 at single-A Columbia. He saw four outings there, then moved to the Astros and single-A Asheville. He saw 33 relief outings there, with a 5.06 ERA. That 1991 season proved his last as a pro.
- Allentown Morning Call, April 28, 1988: Methacton's Fidler burns up Panthers' bats
- Philadelphia Inquirer, June 12, 1988: Two high school stars may realize their dreams
- Kingsport Times-News, June 20, 1989: Despite losing, Mets still should have good team
Made the Majors:1,250-34.3%
Never Made Majors:2,396-65.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:521
10+ Seasons in the Minors:308
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