Pete Falcone

Peter Frank Falcone (born October 1, 1953) is an American former professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves.

As a senior at Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, New York (the same high school as Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax), Falcone was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the thirteenth round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft, but opted to attend Kingsborough Community College instead.

He was then drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the January 1973 secondary amateur draft, but did not sign.

Finally, when drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round (third overall) of the June 1973 secondary draft, Falcone signed.

Falcone impressed immediately, going 8–1 with a 1.50 earned run average and 102 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched for the Pioneer League's Great Falls Giants in his first professional season.

He followed that up with 207 strikeouts in 1974 pitching in the California League and Texas League.

Falcone made his major league debut in the second game of an April 13,, doubleheader with the Atlanta Braves.

Falcone had been in spring training with the Giants as a non-roster invitee, but had not made the club.

Just as the season was set to begin, Ron Bryant, who was set to be the Giants' fourth starter, unexpectedly retired.

He was replaced in the rotation by Falcone.

Fellow rookie John Montefusco was masterful in the first game, pitching a complete game shutout.

The second game began with Ralph Garr lining a triple to left field.

Falcone managed to settle down afterwards, and strand Garr at third.

Aside from a two-run home run by catcher Vic Correll, Falcone also held the Braves' batters at bay for eight innings.

With the score tied 2–2 in the eighth, Garry Maddox, Derrel Thomas and Bobby Murcer hit consecutive singles to give the Giants a 4–2 lead.

Randy Moffitt pitched the ninth to record the save, and give Falcone the win in his major league debut.

The most memorable start of his rookie season also came in the second game of a doubleheader with the Braves.

Falcone held the Braves hitless through seven innings, and struck out Cito Gaston to lead off the eighth.

Larvell Blanks followed with a ground out to short to put Falcone four outs away from being the first National League rookie to pitch a no-hitter since Burt Hooton in.

The next batter, Vic Correll, drew a walk.

Words were exchanged between Correll and Giants first baseman Willie Montañez at first base, culminating with Correll taking a swing at Montañez.

Both benches emptied, and Montañez was ejected from the game.

When order was finally restored, the first batter, Rod Gilbreath, singled to center, breaking up the no-hitter.

On May 6, he again held the Braves hitless through the first six innings.

Overall, he compiled a 12–11 record, 4.17 ERA and 131 strikeouts as a rookie.

With the Giants seeking to improve its infield defense, Falcone was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals for Gold Glove third baseman Ken Reitz at the Winter Meetings on December 8, 1975.

He suffered through some hard luck his first season in St. Louis.

Following a July 27 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he allowed just two earned runs in seven plus innings of work, Falcone's record stood at 6–11 despite a relatively mild 3.95 ERA.

Eight of his eleven losses came in one run games.

He recorded his first shutout of the season in his next start, also against the Pirates, and drove in one of four Cardinal runs.

He followed that up with a 4–1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, and his second shutout of the season against the Atlanta Braves.

He ended the season at 12–16 with a 3.23 ERA.

The .222 batting average he held opposing batters to was fifth best in the league.

Under new manager Vern Rapp, the Cards improved to 83–79 in to finish third in the National League East.

Falcone, however, suffered through one of his more difficult seasons.

His record was 4–6 with a 5.40 ERA when he was demoted to the bullpen in late July.

He made just one relief appearance before he was demoted to the triple A New Orleans Pelicans.

He went 2–5 with a 4.91 ERA at New Orleans before returning to the Cardinals in September.

He went 0–2 with a 5.87 ERA and recorded his first career save over the rest of the season.

Falcone began the season in the Cardinals' starting rotation, however, after going 0–5 with a 6.46 ERA, was reduced to a reliever and spot starter.