From Ivy League to Major League

Before he became a regular in the Mets rotation, Ron Darling had a successful tenure at Yale University. As a junior in 1981, Darling struck out 16 batters and pitched 11 innings of no-hit baseball against St. John’s. He eventually gave up a bloop single in the 12th inning that turned into the winning St. John’s run, but his performance is considered one of the best outings in NCAA baseball history. Over nine big-league seasons in New York, Darling posted a 99-70 record and 3.50 ERA. He also made the All-Star team in 1985 and recorded double-digit wins in six straight seasons from 1984 to 1989. Following his playing career, Darling joined SportsNet New York as a game analyst for the Mets alongside former teammate Keith Hernandez.