Garcia invokes early memories of another “Lefty”

Of course, it is early, but Jaime Garcia’s 2010 start matches that of a couple of Hall of Famers, including one named “Lefty.” In beginning the season with five outings of six or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs each time, St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia has done something only three others in team history have accomplished. The three who preceded Garcia are Dizzy Dean in 1937, Steve Carlton in 1969 (pictured) and Woody Williams in 2003. It is pretty good company to be among, as the former two hurlers are members of Baseball’s Hall of Fame. While Dean and Williams were veterans when they built their season-opening streaks, “Lefty” was just 24 years old in 1969, though beginning his third full-season in the bigs. Also left-handed, Garcia is now 23, but is still officially a rookie despite having made his brief MLB debut in 2008. Carlton went on to pitch for two more decades, enjoying his greatest success with the same Philadelphia Phillies Garcia tamed on Mo...