Craig Swan – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Craig Swan quietly wrapped up one of baseball’s most overlooked careers when he retired in 1984 after spending 12 seasons in the majors. Born in Van Nuys, California, Swan spent nearly his whole career with the New York Mets during some pretty tough years for the team in the 1970s and early 1980s. Still, he managed to shine individually, even though the teams around him struggled.

Swan hit his peak in 1978, winning the National League ERA title with a 2.43 ERA. He became the first pitcher ever to lead the league in ERA while playing for a last-place team. That season, the Mets finished with a rough 66-96 record, which just makes Swan’s performance stand out even more. He kept pitching at a high level, even though his teammates didn’t give him much run support.

From his early days tossing footballs with his dad to his groundbreaking comeback from a torn rotator cuff, Swan’s path through pro baseball is a story of grit and talent. Back then, pitchers faced a different set of challenges than today’s players. His journey covers his amateur success at Arizona State, his big-league breakthroughs, and the physical wear and tear that eventually led him to retire with the California Angels.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Craig Swan’s road to pro baseball started in Van Nuys, California. His dad’s hopes for him as a football player unexpectedly set the stage for baseball success. Swan’s pitching at Millikan High School earned him statewide recognition, and his years at Arizona State University cemented his reputation as one of the school’s best-ever pitchers.

Background and Upbringing

Craig Steven Swan was born on November 30, 1950, in Van Nuys, California, to Jack and Jackie Swan. His father worked as a draftsman for an aviation company.

Swan grew up with one sister, Dana. Jack Swan wanted his son to become a quarterback. From the time Craig was two until he was eleven, they threw footballs together almost daily. “Be the quarterback that he never was, so we threw a football from the time I was two until I was eleven,” Swan remembered, reflecting on his dad’s dreams for him.

That football training ended up helping Swan’s baseball career. “It got my arm to where I could throw a baseball, because if you can make a football spiral, your timing on your body mechanics is pretty good for a pitch,” he explained.

By his early teens, Swan had enough of football’s roughness. After getting banged up in games, he told his dad, “Dad, I really don’t want to play that, and I was doing pretty good in baseball, so I don’t think he minded,” Swan said.

At 14, Swan pitched a no-hitter for his PONY League team in Long Beach, California. That team won the 1965 PONY League championship, thanks in large part to Swan’s pitching.

He threw a one-hitter, struck out 15, and led his team past Joliet. The championship squad got invited to the 1965 World Series between the Dodgers and Twins. The Dodgers even called Swan’s parents and asked if Craig would throw out the ceremonial first pitch of Game Five.

High School Achievements

Swan attended Millikan High School in Long Beach. There, he turned into one of California’s top high school pitchers.

His junior year was especially strong—he went 20-4. That pitching helped Millikan win the California Interscholastic Federation title in 1967.

Swan’s dominance made him a hot commodity among high school pitchers in the state. After his senior year, the St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the 23rd round of the 1968 amateur draft.

Swan decided to go to college instead of signing with the Cardinals. That call turned out to be a smart move for his growth as a player.

College baseball let him sharpen his skills against better competition and get an education at the same time.

College Career at Arizona State University

Swan took a baseball scholarship to Arizona State University. Over four years, he piled up 47 wins, tying Kendall Carter for the most in the school’s history.

His senior year in 1972 was his best. Arizona State made it to the College World Series, and Swan came up big on the biggest stage.

In the College World Series, he allowed just one run over 18 innings. That 0.50 ERA tied him with Jerry Thomas of Minnesota and teammate Jim Crawford for the tournament record.

Swan landed a spot on the all-tournament team, even though Arizona State lost in the championship to USC. His performance under pressure in Omaha really stood out.

That strong college career definitely got scouts’ attention. Swan’s wins, strikeouts, and ability to show up in big games made him a top draft prospect.

While at Arizona State, Swan married Sandra Kaye Griffitts on January 8, 1971. They met as students at the university.

Professional Baseball Beginnings

Craig Swan’s professional baseball journey kicked off when the New York Mets drafted him in the third round in 1972. He made his MLB debut in September 1973, right as the Mets were chasing the pennant.

Draft Selection and Minor Leagues

The New York Mets picked Swan in the third round of the June 1972 draft after his college success. The club sent him straight to their Class AA affiliate, the Memphis Blues in the Texas League.

Swan impressed in his first pro season. He started 14 games for Memphis and finished with a 2.25 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 108 innings.

The Mets bumped Swan up to their Class AAA team, the Tidewater Tides, in 1973. He missed 10 weeks because of an appendectomy, but still put together a 7-5 record and 2.34 ERA in 14 starts.

In 1975, he won the International League MVP Pitcher award. That year, he helped Tidewater win the championship with a 13-7 record and a 2.24 ERA over 177 innings.

MLB Debut with New York Mets

Swan got his first big-league call-up in September 1973 while the Mets were fighting for the NL East title. He debuted on September 3, 1973, against the Phillies.

At just 22, Swan felt the nerves in his first game. He lasted only 4⅓ innings, gave up five runs, and struck out two.

He later admitted, “I was pretty scared of New York and had never been to New York. I remember my knees shaking quite a bit before my first pitch.”

That September, the rookie pitched in three games. He allowed 16 hits in just 8⅓ innings, showing how tough it can be to adjust to the majors.

Even with that rough start, Swan’s minor league success caught the Mets’ eye. The team kept the faith in his potential as he worked to find his footing in the big leagues.

Major League Career Highlights

Craig Swan spent 12 years with the New York Mets, putting up some great individual numbers even when the team struggled. His 1978 National League ERA title stands out, but his ability to bounce back from injuries and deliver steady performances made him a key part of the Mets’ pitching staff.

1978 ERA Title and Standout Seasons

Swan had his best year in 1978, grabbing the National League ERA title with a 2.43 ERA. That’s even more impressive considering the Mets finished dead last.

He went 9-6 in 28 starts, struck out 125 batters, and logged 207.1 innings. His WHIP of 1.13 ranked second in the National League, showing off his great control.

From 1977 to 1978, Swan cut his walks per nine innings from 3.4 to 2.5, while keeping his strikeout rate steady.

In 1979, he set career highs with 14 wins, 251.1 innings, and 145 strikeouts. He was the ace of a Mets team that only managed 63 wins.

Key Performances and Records

Swan had some memorable games in his career. He struck out 13 in a complete game on July 4, 1978, though the Mets lost that one in heartbreaking fashion.

He made history on July 26, 1978, when Pete Rose singled off him to tie the National League hitting streak record at 38 games. Rose later praised Swan for his fastball and aggressive pitching.

Swan’s durability showed in his complete games totals. He threw eight complete games in his 1975 minor league season and kept that workhorse mentality in the majors.

His career WAR numbers show his value to some pretty rough Mets teams. Swan gave league-average production over 1,200 innings during the franchise’s darkest years between Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden.

Team Impact and Leadership

After Jerry Koosman got traded following 1978, Swan stepped in as the New York Mets’ staff ace. He became the veteran in a rotation that was short on established arms.

His leadership wasn’t just about numbers. Swan worked with younger pitchers and even changed his delivery mid-career when coaches thought he was tipping his pitches. He switched to a no-windup delivery, like Don Larsen.

The California native’s impact on the NYM franchise was big during the team’s rebuilding years. He brought stability and professionalism while the club developed its next generation of stars.

Swan’s toughness became legendary. He returned from a torn rotator cuff injury, becoming the first pitcher ever to beat what was basically a career-ending injury at the time.

Challenges and Injuries

Craig Swan’s career was shaped by a string of tough injuries that kept sidelining him and, honestly, changed his life after baseball. He fought through broken bones, torn muscles, and arm problems that sent him to the disabled list again and again over his 12 years in the majors.

Stints on the Disabled List

Swan’s injury issues started early in his career. In 1974, he started feeling pain in his right elbow and landed on the disabled list in June.

The pain was bad, but doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong at first. Swan later said he “broke his pitching elbow” and was “in pretty severe pain, but the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong.”

X-rays didn’t show the break because it was so small. Swan tried to pitch through the pain for months.

After the season, the Mets X-rayed his arm again and finally found the break. He’d been pitching with a broken elbow the whole time.

That injury made him miss most of 1974, after posting a 1-3 record with a 4.45 ERA. Swan thought the broken arm might be “the end of my career.” He spent a lot of time at Tidewater in 1975, working his way back.

Comeback Attempts

Swan showed real grit coming back from injuries that ended other pitchers’ careers. His most famous comeback was from a torn rotator cuff.

He became the first player to return from a torn rotator cuff—at the time, that injury usually meant the end of a pitcher’s career.

To fight through his injuries, Swan created new fitness routines. Before the 1977 season, he dropped weight and showed up to spring training at 206 pounds.

“I said to myself, ‘You’re 25 and you’d better start making something of your career,'” Swan explained. “So I dedicated myself to losing weight, getting in shape, and staying in shape.”

His injury experiences pushed him to study anatomy and become a physical therapist after baseball.

Final Season and Retirement

Craig Swan spent his final years in Major League Baseball moving from his longtime home with the New York Mets to the California Angels. He wrapped up his career in 1984, closing out a 12-season run filled with both triumphs and tough injuries.

Transition to California Angels

After years with the Mets, Swan joined the California Angels. That was a big change for a pitcher who’d been with the Mets since 1973.

The move to the Angels gave Swan a shot at a fresh start in a different league. But by then, he was already feeling the effects of arm troubles that had bothered him through the late ’70s and early ’80s.

His stint with the Angels didn’t last long, but it marked the final chapter of his professional career. Heading to California gave Swan one last chance to play at the top level.

Concluding MLB Years and Retirement

Swan finished his last season in 1984, capping off 12 years in the majors. His career stats show 59 wins and 72 losses across 231 games.

His peak came in 1978 when he won the National League ERA title with a 2.43 mark. That number still stands out as the highlight of his career.

From 1973 to 1984, Swan battled through several arm injuries. By 1984, though, it just felt like the right time to step away.

He made his final MLB appearance with the Angels, ending a journey that started over a decade before with the Mets, back when he was a promising young pitcher.

Legacy and Life After Baseball

When Craig Swan retired in 1984, he closed the book on a career shaped by perseverance and flashes of excellence, even while pitching for some rough teams. After baseball, he moved into healthcare, drawing on everything he’d learned from dealing with his own injuries.

Career Impact and Reputation

Swan’s biggest moment came in 1978, leading the National League with a 2.43 ERA. That was pretty impressive, especially since he did it while pitching for one of the worst Mets teams ever.

He became known for fighting through injuries, even coming back from a torn rotator cuff—something that almost always ended pitchers’ careers back then.

Despite playing for teams with weak offenses, Swan still put up solid numbers. He won 59 games in 12 seasons, and his best year was 1979, when he notched 14 wins for a Mets team that finished 63-99.

People respected his determination and toughness, both teammates and opponents alike. Pete Rose once praised him after setting a National League hitting streak record against Swan, saying he “comes right at you with the fastball” and was “as fast as anybody in the league” on his best nights.

Post-Retirement Activities and Honors

After he retired from baseball, Swan decided to become a physical therapist. He drew on his own experiences with baseball injuries, especially his tough recovery from rotator cuff surgery, to shape this new path.

Swan used what he learned from fighting through injuries during his playing years to help others tackle similar physical challenges. Honestly, his first-hand knowledge of rehab made him stand out in his new profession.

Working as a physical therapist kept Swan close to the world of sports medicine. He found himself helping both athletes and regular folks work through the ups and downs of recovery.

People still recognize Swan for winning the 1978 ERA title. For Mets fans, that season remains a rare highlight from a rough stretch in the late ’70s.

Baseball card collectors and loyal Mets supporters remember his achievement too. His 1979 Topps cards mark the ERA championship, and you’ll still see them pop up from time to time.