Better Know a Metstache: Nino Espinosa

It’s been a while since we got to Better Know a Metstache, so I decided that we needed to come back in style.  It couldn’t just be any stache.  It had to pop.  It had to stand out.  It had to have flair and style.  In other words, it had to be Nino Espinosa.  Who?  Let’s answer that question and salute a Metstache, shall we?

Nino was signed in 1970 at the tender age of 17.  He joined the big club when he was a September call-up in 1974.  Though he totaled only four appearances in 1974 and 1975, by 1976 he established himself as a starter and long reliever.

While his Mets tenure was far from illustrious (he was 25-33 in five seasons with a 4.15 ERA), he had a few key highlights for some pretty dismal teams.  He led the team in wins in 1977 (10) and 1978 (11) and was the team leader in complete games those years with seven and six, respectively.

After the 1978 season, Nino was shipped to the Phillies in exchange for Rich Hebner and José Moreno.  By 1983, he was out of baseball and, sadly, he passed away in 1987 from a heart attack.

Nino shared a mound and some success with a pitching staff that included Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver.  He may not be The Franchine, but we’re glad to have known Nino.

And now you Better Know a Metstache.

Mustache Monday

Good morning to the fine and friendly readers of The Wright Stache. Today is Monday, April 13th. Tonight marks the Mets 2009 Home Opener at the brand spankin’ new Citi Field. Mets Legend Tom Seaver will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch tonight. And on the receiving end of that pitch? None other than the greatest catcher in Mets and Metstache history, Mike Piazza.

The blogosphere has been giving Mike a lot of junk lately, saying this and that about how he may have used steroids. We won’t take a position on that one way or another, because here at the ’stache, we stick to the real issues. And by real issues, I’m talkin’ Handlebar or Fu-Chu. Walrus or Imperial. Pencil-thin or Thick-as-Thieves. Ya dig?

Mike toyed with several different styles throughout his career before shaving it all off a couple of years ago. But we’re assuming (hoping) he pulled a surprise-growth for old times sake and shows it off at Citi tonight. If he does, we’re taking it as a symbolic tip-of-the-cap towards The Wright Stache movement.