Here’s the official press release, with an interesting header image.
METS SIGN RHP R.A. DICKEY TO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT
FLUSHING, N.Y., January 31, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced that they have signed righthanded pitcher R.A. Dickey to a two-year contract with a club option for 2013.
Dickey compiled a 11-9 record in 2010 and finished seventh in the National League with a 2.84 ERA. He became the first pitcher in team history to go 6-0 in his first seven starts and tossed the 35th one-hitter in franchise history on August 13 at Citi Field to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0. The only hit he allowed was a sixth-inning single by pitcher Cole Hamels.
“R.A. had a breakthrough season for our organization last year, meriting this new contract,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “We expect R.A. to be a major part of our success going forward.”
Dickey, 36, had his contract selected from Buffalo (AAA) of the International League on May 19. The Nashville, TN native set career highs in wins, starts (26), innings (174.1) strikeouts (104) and complete games (two).
The 6-2, 216-pounder finished with 11 victories even though he didn’t pick up his first until May 25. It was only the fifth time in club history that a pitcher reached double figures in wins in a season after not recording a victory in any of the team’s first 45 games (Bob Shaw, 1966; Rick Aguilera 1985 and 1986 and Dwight Gooden, 1987).
Last season with Buffalo, Dickey he threw a near perfect game and set a Buffalo modern-day record when he retired 27 straight hitters on April 29 vs. Durham. Fernando Perez singled on an 0-2 pitch to start the game before Dickey set down the next 27 hitters in order.
