{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1961)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Wes Gardner |image= |position=Pitcher |birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1961|4|29}} |birth_place=Benton, Arkansas, U.S. |bats=Right |throws=Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=July 29 |debutyear=1984 |debutteam=New York Mets |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=August 3 |finalyear=1991 |finalteam=Kansas City Royals |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=18–30 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=4.90 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=358 |teams= *New York Mets ({{Baseball year|1984}}–{{Baseball year|1985}}) *Boston Red Sox ({{Baseball year|1986}}–{{Baseball year|1990}}) *San Diego Padres ({{Baseball year|1991}}) *Kansas City Royals ({{Baseball year|1991}}) }} '''Wesley Brian Gardner''' (born April 29, 1961) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who was drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, out of the University of Central Arkansas.

==New York Mets== Gardner made his major league debut with the Mets on July 29, {{Baseball year|1984}}, pitching a perfect ninth inning in the Mets' 5–1 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198407292.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs 5, New York Mets 1|date=1984-07-29}}</ref> He appeared in thirty games for the Mets in 1984 and {{Baseball year|1985}}, going 1–3 with a 6.03 earned run average.

==Boston Red Sox== On November 13, 1985, Gardner was traded to the Boston Red Sox along with John Christensen, Calvin Schiraldi and La Schelle Tarver for Bob Ojeda, Tom McCarthy, John Mitchell and Chris Bayer. He emerged as the team's closer in {{Baseball year|1987}}, leading Boston with ten saves. On July 28, he made his first start since {{Baseball year|1982}} with the New York–Penn League Little Falls Mets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS198806280.shtml|title=Toronto Blue Jays 5, Boston Red Sox 4|date=1987-07-28}}</ref>

During the off-season, Boston acquired Lee Smith to assume closing duties for {{Baseball year|1988}}. After starting the season in the Red Sox's bullpen, Gardner was moved into the starting rotation on June 28. In his first start, Gardner gave up only one earned run in seven innings pitched to earn the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS198806280.shtml|title=Boston Red Sox 6, Cleveland Indians 1|date=1988-07-28}}</ref> Gardner won his first four decisions as a starter, and enjoyed career highs in wins (8), strikeouts (106), ERA (3.50) and innings pitched (149) for the season.

Gardner's only post-season appearance came in game three of the 1988 American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198810080.shtml|title=1988 American League Championship Series Game 3|date=1988-10-08}}</ref> He replaced Mike Boddicker in the third inning with the Sox behind 6–5, and had a no decision in the 10–6 loss to the A's.

==Final season== Gardner spent two more seasons with the Red Sox before being traded to the San Diego Padres for two minor leaguers on December 15, {{Baseball year|1990}}. Gardner pitched poorly in San Diego, and was released on May 31, {{Baseball year|1991}}. He signed with the Kansas City Royals a month later, spending most of the season with their American Association affiliate, the Omaha Royals. Gardner only gave up one earned run in 5.2 innings with the big league club, but was released on August 8, 1991. <div align="left"> {| border="1" cellpadding="2" |Seasons |W |L |PCT |ERA |G |GS |CG |SV |IP |H |ER |R |HR |BB |K |WP |HBP |- |8 |18 |30 |.375 |4.90 |189 |44 |1 |14 |466.1 |476 |254 |277 |52 |218 |358 |17 |8 |} </div> In {{Baseball year|2001}}, Gardner was inducted into the University of Central Arkansas Bears Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucasports.com/ucasports.asp?id=54|title=UCA Sports|accessdate=2009-11-02}}</ref>

== Personal life == Gardner lists training bird dogs among favorite activities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/125/cid/53992/1988-Topps-189-Wes-Gardner|title=1988 Topps #189 Wes Gardner {{!}} The Trading Card Database|website=www.tradingcarddb.com|access-date=2017-08-30}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|mlb=114614|espn=1441|br=g/gardnwe01|fangraphs=1004532&position=P|brm=gardne001wes}}, or [https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=gardnwe01 Baseball Almanac], or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/G/Pgardw001.htm Retrosheet]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Wes}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball players from Arkansas Category:Benton High School (Arkansas) alumni Category:Boston Red Sox players Category:Central Arkansas Bears baseball players Category:Kansas City Royals players Category:Little Falls Mets players Category:Lynchburg Mets players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:New York Mets players Category:Omaha Royals players Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players Category:People from Benton, Arkansas Category:San Diego Padres players Category:Tiburones de La Guaira players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Tidewater Tides players Category:University of Central Arkansas alumni Category:20th-century American sportsmen