"Who can be a starter? The Candy Man can, and that's why John Candelaria will be pitching in the Bronx this year. After being traded to the Mets from California last September, Candelaria couldn't come to terms on a new contract with his former employer. Despite his badly wanting to stay and pitch in New York, the Mets wanted to use the big left-hander in long relief while he maintained that he can still be an effective starter. The Yankees agreed and signed Candelaria as a free agent. The signing was part of the continued effort to bolster the team's pitching corps.
Candelaria has been a consistent winner throughout his 12-plus years in the majors. Last season alone he was 10-6. Since 1976 he has reached the double figure mark in wins in 10 of his 11 full seasons (he was on the DL for most of the 1981 season), and finished with nine victories the other year.
In 1986 he underwent surgery on his left elbow, and was named AL Comeback Player of the Year as he posted a record of 10-2. Last season he was 8-6 with California and 2-0 with the Mets.
'I feel I have some quality years as a starter, and here I'll have that opportunity,' Candelaria explains. 'If I fail, it's my fault.' The Yankees don't expect failure. They're counting only on sweet things from the Candy Man."
-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook
"John began 1987 by winning his first four decisions with California. In his next start on May 13 at Detroit, his eighth start and appearance, he lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed seven runs (earned) on five hits in a 10-7 loss; he suffered his first loss of '87 and his ERA ballooned from 2.82 to 3.99. On May 15 John was placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, enabling him to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
He was re-activated from the DL on May 29 and returned to the mound on May 31, but lost his second straight decision. In June he went 1-1 in three starts, combining to allow 13 earned runs in 17.2 innings pitched (6.62 ERA). On June 19 John was again placed on the 15-day disabled list for personal reasons, but this time remained on the DL until August 5. He again checked himself into St. Joseph's Hospital (Orange County, CA) to undergo rehabilitation for alcohol dependency.
Upon his latest return, John went 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA in six starts in August. Included was a 6-hit, eight inning performance against the Yankees in Anaheim on August 25 which he won 5-1. Prior to his trade to the Mets he made two September starts for California, going 1-1.
John was dealt to the Mets on September 15 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jeff Richardson and left-handed pitcher Shane Young. His first start for New York came on September 18 at Pittsburgh, lasting just 1.1 inning and allowing five runs on eight hits, but he got a no-decision in a 10-9 Mets loss. John went 2-0 in his final two starts down the stretch, however, combining to allow three runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA).
In 1975 John started Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, going 7.2 innings (no decision) and allowing three hits while striking out 14 including seven of the first ten batters he faced. In 1976 he tossed a no-hitter on August 9 against Los Angeles.
John went 20-5 in 1977 and became the first Pirate to win 20 games since Vernon Law in 1960, and the first Pirate lefty to win 20 since Wilbur Cooper in 1924. He led the National League with an .800 winning percentage and a 2.25 ERA and was the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1965 to record 20 wins and lead the league in win-loss percentage and ERA. His 231 innings pitched ranked first among Pirate pitchers. Three times he knocked in the game winning run. John went 10-3 in the first half of '77 and was named to his only All-Star team (the game was played at Yankee Stadium), but did not appear [in the game].
Hampered by lower back pains in 1978 which contributed to his 12-11 record, John was also bothered by a nagging left forearm which extended his rest between starts. He got the Bucs off to a fine start with a 1-0 shutout win over the Cubs on Opening Day and strung together five straight wins from May 27-June 21. In ten of his losses the Pirates scored three runs or less.
John led the 1979 Pirates in wins, complete games and in fewest walks, while his ERA was 12th in the league. Between June 19 and September 11, he won nine 11 starts including back-to-back complete games on July 14 and July 20 and on August 28 and September 2; in those nine wins he had a 1.60 ERA and six complete games. John was 1-1 in the World Series against Baltimore, losing Game 3 but winning Game 6 as he teamed with Kent Tekulve to shut out the Orioles 4-0.
He led the Pirates in starts, complete games and fewest walks in 1980. In 1981, he suffered torn bicep muscle on May 10 at St. Louis and was disabled for the rest of the season. He underwent rehabilitation under the guidance of Dr. Paul Bauer, a San Diego orthopedist.
John's 2.94 ERA in 1982 was sixth best in the league, and he was second on the club in wins and strikeouts. He went 5-0 in July and was tabbed National League Pitcher of the Month and was NL Player of the Week for the week ending July 25. In 1983 he finished sixth in the NL with 15 wins and 157 strikeouts. He won his 100th career game against Philadelphia on June 17 of that year, becoming the 15th pitcher in Pirate history to reach that plateau. John was 12-2 in his last 14 decisions, from June 7 through August 3, and was 12-1 against the East.
His 2.72 ERA in 1984 was fifth in the NL, and in his 12 wins he allowed just 12 earned runs in 80.1 innings pitched for a 1.57 ERA; his ERA was 4.20 in his 11 losses (31 ER, 66.1 IP), and in his 10 no-decisions his ERA was 2.56 (11 ER, 38.2 IP). He walked two or fewer batters in 24 of his 28 starts and allowed just 22 walks in his final 26 appearances (21 starts, 141.1 IP).
John struck out 11 on April 13 at St. Louis, recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on May 11 at Atlanta and fanned 12 Reds on May 23, his most strikeouts since he struck out 12 Mets on June 1, 1976. He threw a 4-hit shutout on July 3 at Los Angeles and homered off Tim Lollar on July 19 in Pittsburgh, the first home run of his professional career. John underwent successful surgery following the season for the removal of a bone spur in his left elbow.
He made 37 appearances with the Pirates in 1985, all in relief. His longest outing as a Pirate was three innings. On August 2 John was traded to the California Angels with pitcher Al Holland and outfielder George Hendrick for pitcher Pat Clements, outfielder Mike Brown and a player to be named later (pitcher Bob Kipper).
John made his California debut as a starter on August 4 against Minnesota, posted his first win as an Angel on August 11 at Minnesota and captured six of his first seven decisions. He threw a complete game shutout against the White Sox on September 19- it was his first complete game since July 19, 1984 against San Diego and his first complete game shutout since his 4-hitter against Los Angeles on July 3 of that year. John was 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA against the West.
He enjoyed a successful but painful season in 1986. Despite some discomfort in his left elbow he made four spring training starts, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (2 ER, 14 IP). He made his first start on April 9 at Seattle and lasted just two innings before leaving with further discomfort. John was placed on the 15-day disabled list with cracked calcification of the left elbow on April 15 (retroactive to April 11) and underwent surgery by Dr. Lewis Yocum at Centinela Hospital on April 16 to remove a bone spur in the elbow.
John was sent to California's Class-A affiliate in Palm Springs for rehabilitation, appearing in two games and combining for two earned runs in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. He was reactivated from the DL on July 8 and made his first start that night, allowing no runs in five innings pitched, and in his first 15.2 innings pitched struck out 14 with only two earned runs.
He won his first three decisions after his return, and six of his first seven. John's first loss of the season was an 8-1 setback to Roger Clemens on July 25 in Anaheim, and his other loss came on August 20 at Detroit, losing 3-0 to a Walt Terrell 1-hitter.
John threw his second shutout as an Angel, and the 11th of his career on August 9 against Seattle, tossing a 3-hitter and winning 3-0 on the 10-year anniversary of his no-hitter against Los Angeles. He struck out a season high 10 in that game. John pitched his 2,000th career inning on September 21 and was the pitcher of record in California's 8-3 win against Texas on September 26 to clinch the division title.
The Angels finished 13-3 in games John pitched. He walked two batters or less in 12 [of 16] starts and retired the first batter he faced in an inning in 69 of 95 opportunities. He allowed just four homers in 91.2 innings pitched and had .208 batting average against.
John played high school basketball at New York's LaSalle Academy where he was All-City in 1971 and '72, and also made All-American in '72. He was one of the most sought after high school players in the nation during his senior year. He did not play high school baseball during his junior and senior years due to a lack of facilities. John was invited to a tryout for the 1972 Puerto Rican Olympic basketball team (his parents are natives of Puerto Rico), but elected to sign a baseball contract with the Pirates.
John enjoys travel."
-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide
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