Former Red Sox, Mets Pitcher Wes Gardner Dies at 65
Wes Gardner, a pitcher who spent eight seasons in Major League Baseball with four teams, died on June 10 at the age of 65. Gardner is best remembered as a key piece of the 1985 trade between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox that brought Bobby Ojeda to New York, helping the Mets win the 1986 World Series. His death was announced by former Mets vice president of media relations Jay Horwitz on X.
Wes Gardner, born April 29, 1961, in Benton, Arkansas, passed away on June 10 at age 65 after a career that took him from the University of Central Arkansas — where he was an All-AIC selection and helped the Bears win two conference championships — to eight seasons in the major leagues. Selected by the Mets in the 22nd round of the 1984 draft, Gardner made his big-league debut that same year before being included in a blockbuster multi-player trade to the Boston Red Sox after the 1985 season, along with Calvin Schiraldi, John Christensen, and La Schelle Tarver, in exchange for Bobby Ojeda and three minor leaguers. Ojeda went on to win 18 games with a 2.57 ERA in 1986, anchoring the Mets' World Series championship run. Gardner, meanwhile, was sidelined by injury for most of 1986 but returned to become a bullpen mainstay for Boston in 1987, recording 10 saves, before transitioning to the starting rotation in 1988 and posting his best season: an 8-6 record with a 3.50 ERA over 149 innings. He later pitched for the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals before retiring to Arkansas, where he was inducted into the University of Central Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Red Sox general manager Lou Gorman had once described Gardner as a potential impact closer, reflecting the high expectations that surrounded him at the time of the trade.
What's missing
Neither source specifies Gardner's cause of death or provides details about survivors or memorial arrangements.
How coverage differed
Both outlets covered the story straightforwardly, but Forbes placed greater emphasis on Gardner's personal background — including his guarded nature about a difficult childhood — while Newsweek focused more on the statistical arc of his career and his role in the 1986 pennant race between the Mets and Red Sox.
What different sources said
Related
David Hockney, Celebrated British Artist, Dies at 88
British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88, prompting reflection on his prolific career and his final creative years spent in Normandy, France. Known for his iconic California swimming pool paintings, Hockney spent the Covid-19 lockdowns in rural France, producing 220 iPad drawings that were exhibited as a 91-metre-long frieze at the Musée de L'Orangerie in Paris. His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and technically adventurous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
America at 250: Conservative Voices Debate the State of Higher Education and Shared Culture
Two opinion pieces published ahead of America's 250th anniversary argue that foundational American ideals are under threat — one focusing on the ideological drift of universities away from merit and civic education, the other on the erosion of a common national culture that once bridged class divides. Both pieces are written from a conservative perspective and appear in right-leaning outlets. The arguments reflect a broader debate about what American institutions should preserve or restore as the nation marks a major milestone.
North Melbourne Holds On for One-Point Win Over West Coast as Waterman Hits the Post in Final Seconds
North Melbourne defeated West Coast Eagles 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) at Optus Stadium on Saturday, with Eagles forward Jake Waterman hitting the post from a set shot with 42 seconds remaining. The Kangaroos led by 20 points early in the final quarter before West Coast kicked the last three goals in a dramatic fightback driven by Jobe Shanahan. The result leaves West Coast at 4-10 heading into the bye, while North Melbourne improves to 6-7 and remains in the wildcard race.