In his second major league start, Selma defeated the Braves 1-0, with a then-Mets record 13 strikeouts. In 1969, he won the expansion Padres’ first game, but was traded to the Cubs a few weeks later and gained attention by regularly leading cheers for Wrigley Field’s bleacher bums.
Selma was 7-1 for the Cubs in ’69 until their September skid; he finished at 10-8. In Leo Durocher‘s doghouse as a result, he was traded with Oscar Gamble for Johnny Callison. In his last effective season, Selma recorded 22 saves in 73 appearances for the 1970 Phillies. When the schedule brought him back to Wrigley Field, the fans showered him with coins.
