The front: Swan looks very relaxed, sleepy even, among the
trees at spring training.
The back: Swan had a 0.50 ERA in 18 innings in the 1972
College World Series, tied for the all-time record with his teammate Jim
Crawford that same season, as well as Minnesota’s Jerry Thomas in 1956. His one
walk allowed tied for the fewest until Texas’s Roger Clemens walked none in
17.2 innings in 1983.
The player: Swan was the best pitcher on the awful Mets
teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1978 he led the National League
with a 2.43 ERA, but only went 9-6 due to poor run support. From 1973 to 1984
he pitched in 231 games, 229 with the Mets and two in 1984 with the Angels,
going 59-72 with a 3.74 ERA.
The man: In 1982 Swan became the first pitcher to come back
from a rotator cuff tear, finishing second in Comeback Player of the Year
honors. He credited his comeback to Rolfing therapy, a myo-fascial manipulation
technique. After his playing career ended he began training at the Rolf
Institute, and opened Greenwich Rolfing in Connecticut in 1987, a business
which he still runs today.
My collection: I have 19 of his cards, from 1974 to 1984. I
would be interested in trading for 1984 Topps Traded #116.
I actually had no idea what Rolfing was until I went to his page. Thanks for sharing!
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