Former Red Sox, Mets Pitcher Wes Gardner Dies

Wes Gardner, whose pitching talent took him from humble roots in Arkansas to the brightest lights of the major league stage, died June 10. He was 65.

Former Mets vice president of public relations Jay Horwitz announced the news on X.

Gardner played eight seasons in the MLB with four teams: the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991) and Kansas City Royals (1991).

As a collegiate pitcher for the University of Central Arkansas, Gardner was an All-AIC selection who pitched the Bears to two conference championships in three years. The Mets selected him in the 22nd round of the 1984 draft.

In a pivotal moment for the two franchises, the Mets traded Gardner, Calvin Schiraldi, John Christensen, and a minor-leaguer to Boston for Bobby Ojeda and three minor leaguers. The eight-player trade put the teams on a collision course for the 1986 World Series.

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Ojeda's success was immediate: he won 18 games in 1986 and had a 2.57 ERA in the regular season and a 2.33 ERA in the playoffs. Gardner was placed on the disabled list after his regular season debut in April 1986, and did not pitch the remainder of the season.

After he returned to Boston’s active roster in 1987, Gardner became a mainstay. He filled in as a closer in 1987 and racked up 10 saves, then transitioned to the starting rotation in 1988.

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A three-pitch pitcher (fastball, splitter, slider), Gardner’s first season in the Red Sox rotation was his best: 8-6 with a 3.50 ERA across a career-high 149 innings. Boston won the American League East in 1988, and Gardner appeared in one American League Championship Series game. The Oakland A's swept the Red Sox in four games, and Gardner never pitched in the postseason again.

Gardner struggled in 1989 (3-7, 5.97 ERA) and had transitioned back to the bullpen by the end of the 1990 season (3-7, 4.89 ERA). In December 1990, he was traded again, this time to the Padres for a pair of minor leaguers.

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The Padres released Gardner in May 1991 after he made 14 appearances out of their bullpen. The Royals picked him up that June, and he finished out the season with their Triple-A affiliate.

Gardner retired to his native Arkansas. He was inducted to the University of Central Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 1:15 PM.