Ed Lynch – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ed Lynch put together a solid eight-year run as a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent most of his time with the New York Mets and wrapped up his career with the Chicago Cubs.

Born Edward Francis Lynch on February 25, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York, he worked his way up from a 22nd-round draft pick and became a reliable starter and reliever in the major leagues. Lynch retired after the 1987 season with the Cubs, closing out a career that spanned from 1980 to 1987, with 47 wins, 54 losses, and a 4.00 ERA.

Lynch’s journey took him from Brooklyn to Miami, where he attended Christopher Columbus High School, and then to the University of South Carolina before the Texas Rangers drafted him. His career really took off after the Mets traded for him, a move that changed his professional path.

He became known for his excellent control and a pretty diverse pitch mix—fastball, slider, changeup, and slurve.

Let’s take a look at Lynch’s path from amateur ball to the majors, his impact with the Mets as they climbed out of the basement, his short time with the Cubs, and how he transitioned into front office roles after retiring. His story is a good example of how a dedicated pro can get the most out of his talents both on and off the field.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Edward Francis Lynch started out in Brooklyn, but his family moved to Florida, where he really grew as an athlete. He played multiple sports and even landed a basketball scholarship to the University of South Carolina.

Eventually, he found his true calling on the baseball field and helped the Gamecocks reach the 1977 College World Series finals.

Birth and Background

Edward Francis Lynch was born on February 25, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York.

The Lynch family moved around—first to Westchester County, New York, and then to Miami, Florida.

Growing up in Miami ended up being huge for Lynch. The weather made it possible to play sports all year, so he kept sharpening his skills in both basketball and baseball.

Family Athletic Influence:

• His older brother Chris Lynch also pitched right-handed
• Chris got drafted three times by different MLB teams
• But Chris picked law school over pro baseball

The Lynches clearly had some athletic genes. Ed eventually overtook Chris in baseball, but for a while, Chris looked like the star coming out of high school.

High School and College Years

Lynch went to Christopher Columbus High School, a Catholic school in Miami.

He stood out as an athlete and earned All-City honors in both basketball and baseball.

Basketball was actually his best sport in high school. He was good enough to get a scholarship to the University of South Carolina.

High School Achievements:

• All-City in basketball and baseball
• Strong enough in basketball to earn a college scholarship

Funny enough, Ed wasn’t even the top baseball player at his school—Chris got that title. That just makes Ed’s later pro success a little more surprising.

The Catholic school setting probably gave Lynch some of the discipline and structure that helped him later in his baseball career.

University of South Carolina Influence

That basketball scholarship to South Carolina ended up leading Lynch to baseball success. While he was there, he became a key part of the Gamecocks’ baseball team.

The 1977 season changed everything for Lynch and the program. With new coach June Raines, South Carolina made it all the way to the College World Series finals, facing Arizona State.

College World Series Performance:

• Started the first championship game against Arizona State
• Threw a complete game in a 6-2 loss
• Picked up valuable experience on the biggest stage of college baseball

Lynch graduated in 1977 with a degree in business management. That focus on academics showed the well-rounded approach that would define his later career.

Notable 1977 Teammates:

• Randy Martz (future Cubs pitcher, 12th overall pick)
• Mookie Wilson (future 12-year MLB vet)
• Jim Lewis (future MLB reliever)

His World Series performance helped put him on the radar for pro scouts. Even though the team lost the title, Lynch proved he was a real prospect for the MLB draft.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Ed Lynch played seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1987. He finished with a 47-54 record and a 4.00 ERA.

He spent most of his career with the New York Mets, then finished up with the Chicago Cubs.

Major League Debut

Ed Lynch made his big league debut on August 31, 1980, at Candlestick Park. The New York Mets called him up from Triple-A Tidewater when Craig Swan went down with a shoulder injury.

His first outing was rough. Lynch came in during the seventh inning with the Mets trailing 6-4. Mike Ivie, the first batter he faced, doubled to center, and Lynch ended up getting tagged for four runs in 1.3 innings.

He picked up his first major league win on September 18, 1980, at Shea Stadium, beating the Chicago Cubs 4-2. That win was a big milestone. Lynch wrapped up his rookie year with a 1-1 record and a 5.14 ERA in five outings.

The Mets had picked up Lynch from the Texas Rangers in a trade that sent Willie Montañez to Texas in exchange for Mike Jorgensen and Lynch.

Final Season and Retirement

Lynch’s last season came in 1987 with the Chicago Cubs. At 31, he struggled, going 2-9 with a 5.38 ERA in 58 games.

That was a big drop from his 7-5 record and 3.79 ERA with the Cubs in 1986. The 1987 Cubs finished last, which didn’t help matters.

After the 1987 season, Lynch called it a career. Over seven major league seasons, he put together 47 wins and 54 losses. He posted a 4.00 ERA and struck out 396 batters in 940.3 innings.

People knew Lynch for his control. He averaged just 2.2 walks per nine innings in the majors. Instead of overpowering hitters—his fastball rarely topped 84 mph—he relied on command and smarts.

Teams Played For

Lynch suited up for two major league teams:

New York Mets (1980-1986)

• Record: 40-45
• Notable seasons: 1984 (9-8, 4.50 ERA), 1985 (10-8, 3.44 ERA)
• Role: Starter and reliever, became a veteran presence

He spent six seasons with the Mets during some tough years. Lynch stuck it out through the bad times until the team finally turned things around.

His best year came in 1985—10-8 record, 3.44 ERA, and career highs in innings, complete games, and strikeouts. The Mets went 98-64 but just missed the division title.

Chicago Cubs (1986-1987)

• Record: 7-14
• Notable quote: Lynch said leaving the championship-bound Mets felt “like getting kicked out on Christmas Eve”

The Mets traded him to the Cubs in July 1986 for prospects Dave Lenderman and Dave Liddell. The Mets then won the World Series while Lynch watched from Chicago.

Time with the New York Mets

Ed Lynch spent six seasons with the New York Mets from 1980 to 1986. He grew from a raw prospect into a reliable starter during the team’s tough years and their climb to contention.

His time with the Mets included a breakthrough 1985 season and ended with a trade just before the team’s World Series run.

Highlights with the Mets

Lynch made his MLB debut on August 31, 1980, against the San Francisco Giants. He had a rough first outing, giving up four earned runs in just 1.1 innings of relief.

He got his first major league win on September 13, 1980, beating the Chicago Cubs 4-2. That win snapped a thirteen-game losing streak for the Mets, making it even sweeter.

In 1985, Lynch had his best season with New York. He went 10-8 with a 3.44 ERA over 191 innings and became a dependable starter. Baseball writer Bill James praised his control, saying only LaMarr Hoyt had better command in the National League.

Lynch’s time with the Mets ended suddenly in 1986. After just one appearance that season, he tore cartilage in his left knee and landed on the disabled list. By the time he was healthy, younger pitchers had taken his spot on the eventual World Series team.

Statistical Performance as a Met

During his six years with New York, Lynch finished 46-53 with a 4.04 ERA. He struck out 386 batters and walked 199 in 854.1 innings.

His best numbers came in 1985: 10 wins, 191 innings, and 114 strikeouts. That year, he also posted his lowest ERA as a full-time starter at 3.44.

Lynch’s control got a lot better with the Mets. He cut his walk rate from 4.5 per nine innings in 1981 to 2.3 in 1985.

The right-hander made 144 appearances for New York, including 102 starts. He showed his durability by starting 31 games in 1984 and 33 in 1985.

Notable Games and Moments

Lynch’s most memorable moment as a Met came on August 7, 1984, during a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. In the second game, he hit Keith Moreland with a pitch during a wild five-run fourth inning, which sparked a bench-clearing brawl.

The fight showed how competitive both teams had become, moving from bottom-dwellers to division rivals. The Cubs ended up winning both games, with the second finishing 8-4.

Lynch stuck with the Mets through some rough early 1980s seasons. He stayed as the team rebuilt and eventually became a contender.

His last appearance as a Met came early in 1986 before his knee injury. Lynch later said getting traded right before the World Series win felt like “being sent away from his family just before Christmas.”

Years Spent with the Chicago Cubs

Lynch joined the Chicago Cubs in 1986 after a trade from the Mets and stayed with the team through his final season in 1987.

He pitched well for the Cubs in 1986, posting a 3.79 ERA, before finishing his career the next year.

Joining the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs picked up Ed Lynch on June 30, 1986, in a trade with the Mets. The Cubs sent Dave Liddell and Dave Lenderman to New York for Lynch.

Lynch had lost his rotation spot on the Mets to younger pitchers on their 1986 World Championship team. He made just one appearance for the Mets that year before tearing cartilage in his left knee and going on the disabled list.

By the time he got healthy, the Mets had filled his roster spot. That opened the door for the trade to Chicago.

The move to the Cubs gave Lynch a new start. He joined a team that had been division rivals with the Mets in the National League East.

Key Performances with the Cubs

Lynch pitched well for the Cubs in 1986 after the trade. He went 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA that season in Chicago.

That performance showed he could still help a big league team. Lynch brought experience and some stability to the Cubs’ rotation.

He stuck with the Cubs through the 1987 season, which turned out to be his last in Major League Baseball. After that, he retired from pro baseball.

Transition to Retirement

The 1987 season turned out to be Lynch’s last in professional baseball. He stuck with the Cubs all the way through his final campaign.

Lynch made his last MLB appearance on October 1, 1987, still in a Cubs uniform. That game wrapped up his seven-year major league career, which started back in 1980 with the New York Mets.

After he stepped away from baseball, Lynch went to the University of Miami School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1990 and used that education to jump into baseball management.

Lynch finished his career with a 47-54 win-loss record and a 4.00 ERA over 248 games. He struck out 396 batters while pitching for both the Mets and Cubs.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Ed Lynch put together a 47-54 record across eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1987. His career ERA of 4.00 and WHIP of 1.36 showed he could deliver steady results as a starter and reliever for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.

Overall MLB Stats

Lynch pitched in 248 games during his eight-year career and started 119 of them. He logged 940.1 innings, struck out 396 hitters, and walked 229.

He had his best season in 1985 with the Mets, putting up a 10-8 record and a 3.44 ERA in 31 games. That year, Lynch started 29 games and finished six, even tossing a shutout.

He spent seven years with New York (1980-1986) before wrapping up his career with the Cubs in 1986 and 1987. Lynch had more success with the Mets, going 38-40 with a 3.82 ERA over 167 games.

He showed real versatility in his role flexibility, working as both a starter and reliever. Alongside his 47 wins, Lynch picked up eight saves.

Pitching Metrics: ERA, WHIP, Wins, Losses

Lynch posted a career ERA of 4.00, which put him just above the league average for his time. In 1981, he had his best single-season ERA at 2.91 over 17 games with the Mets.

His WHIP stood at 1.36, suggesting pretty solid control, though he did give up 1,050 hits in those 940.1 innings. In 1985, Lynch posted his best WHIP at 1.126, which matched up with his most effective season.

He finished with a 47-54 win-loss record, reflecting his role on teams that sometimes struggled to score runs. A .465 winning percentage isn’t flashy, but it was respectable given the teams he played for.

Lynch’s strikeout rate hovered around 3.8 per nine innings—not exactly overpowering. Still, he made up for it by walking just 2.2 batters per nine innings, so his control helped him out.

Legacy in Baseball

Lynch moved into baseball management after finishing his playing days. He took over as general manager of the Chicago Cubs from 1994 to 2000, bringing his on-field experience to the front office.

His playing career really reflected the workmanlike pitchers of the 1980s. Lynch didn’t make headlines as a star, but he gave reliable innings to his teams for eight seasons.

He grew up in Brooklyn and had his best years with the Mets during their mid-1980s run. Lynch contributed to teams that made the playoffs and won the 1986 World Series, even though he was with the Cubs by the time they actually won it all.

Lynch’s time in baseball operations after retiring showed he understood the game deeply, not just from the mound.

Post-Retirement Life and Contributions

Edward Francis Lynch made a successful shift from playing to law and baseball management. He earned a law degree from the University of Miami in 1990 and served as general manager of the Chicago Cubs from 1994 to 2000.

After baseball, he worked extensively in player development and scouting for several organizations.

Life After Baseball

Lynch took a surprising turn after leaving baseball in 1987. He enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law and graduated with his Juris Doctor in 1990.

His legal education gave him skills that would prove useful in his future management roles. Combining his playing background with law made him a great fit for front office jobs.

With his law degree, Lynch could handle the complex contracts and negotiations that run through modern baseball. That knowledge became crucial as he stepped into executive roles in MLB organizations.

Roles in Baseball Management

Lynch started his management career as director of player development for the San Diego Padres from 1991 to 1993. He then joined the New York Mets as assistant general manager in 1994.

On October 10, 1994, Lynch landed his biggest executive job as general manager of the Chicago Cubs. He held that role for six years, running the team’s baseball operations and player personnel.

After his time as GM, Lynch worked for 16 years as a Major League scout for both the Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. Scouting let him evaluate talent and help shape player development across the sport.

In 2019, Lynch briefly returned to coaching as pitching coach for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. He resigned after two months, wanting to spend more time with his family.

Community and Personal Endeavors

Lynch lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Kristin. These days, he’s jumped into real estate and works with The Key Team at KMF Realty in Scottsdale.

He’s found another path after baseball, this time in real estate. Lynch focuses on Arizona properties and relies on his network and people skills to navigate this new industry.

When Lynch left his coaching job with the Long Island Ducks, he made a clear choice to put family first. He wanted more time at home, so he stepped away from some professional opportunities later in his career.