Tom Seaver

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Seaver was born in Fresno, California, to Betty Lee (née Cline) and Charles Henry Seaver. He attended Fresno High School and was a pitcher for the school's baseball team. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on June 28, 1962, serving through July 1963. After six months of active duty, he enrolled at Fresno City College. The University of Southern California recruited him; after a stellar summer with the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks in 1964, he earned a scholarship. In 1965, he posted a 10–2 record for the Trojans and was drafted in the tenth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Dodgers passed when he asked for $70,000. In 1966, Seaver signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Braves, who had selected him in the first round of the secondary January draft, 20th overall. However, the contract was voided by Commissioner William Eckert because USC had played two exhibition games that year, though Seaver had not participated. After Seaver's father complained and threatened a lawsuit, Eckert ruled that other teams could match the Braves' offer. The Mets were awarded his signing rights in a lottery drawing among three teams willing to match the Braves' terms.

In Their Own Story

On July 9 at Shea Stadium, Seaver dominated the division-leading Chicago Cubs, throwing 8+1/3 perfect innings. Rookie Jim Qualls broke up the bid with a clean single to left field. In the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Seaver lost Game One but pitched a 10-inning complete game for a 2–1 victory in Game Four, helping the 'Miracle Mets' win the series. By April 22, 1970, he set a major league record by striking out the final ten batters of a game against the San Diego Padres, tying Steve Carlton's record with 19 strikeouts total. However, contract negotiations in 1977 soured after columnist Dick Young published unattributed claims about Seaver's wife being envious of Nolan Ryan's salary. Believing he could not co-exist with chairman M. Donald Grant, Seaver requested a trade and was sent to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977, in a deal dubbed 'the Midnight Massacre'. He returned to Shea Stadium later that year for an emotional 5–1 victory over his former team.

Reader's Guide

In 1966, Seaver pitched in Triple-A with the Jacksonville Suns, going 12–12 with a 3.13 ERA. He made the Mets' roster in 1967, was named to the All-Star Game, and got a save by pitching a scoreless 15th inning. In his rookie season, he was 16–13 with 18 complete games, 170 strikeouts, and a 2.76 ERA, winning the 1967 National League Rookie of the Year. He started for the Mets on Opening Day in 1968, winning 16 games and recording over 200 strikeouts for the first of nine consecutive seasons. In 1969, Seaver won a league-high 25 games, including nine consecutive complete-game victories, and won his first Cy Young Award. He finished runner-up to Willie McCovey for the NL MVP. On July 9, 1969, he threw 8+1⁄3 perfect innings against the Chicago Cubs before Jim Qualls broke it up with a single. In the NL Championship Series, he outlasted Phil Niekro in Game 1 for a 9–5 victory. In the World Series, he lost Game 1 but pitched a 10-inning complete game win in Game 4. On April 22, 1970, Seaver tied Steve Carlton's major league record with 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, including striking out the final ten batters. He led the NL in ERA (2.82) and strikeouts (283) in 1970. In 1971, he led the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (289) while going 20–10, but finished second in Cy Young voting to Ferguson Jenkins. Seaver had four more 20-win seasons (20 in 1971, 21 in 1972, 22 in 1975, and 21 in 1977) and won two more Cy Young Awards (1973 and 1975). He led the NL in strikeouts five times between 1970 and 1976. He also won three ERA titles as a Met. By 1977, contract negotiations with Mets ownership soured, leading to the "Midnight Massacre" trade.

Did You Know?

• Seaver won the NL Cy Young Award in 1969, 1973, and 1975.
• He was a 12-time All-Star and ranks as the Mets' all-time leader in wins.
• Seaver accumulated 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, a 2.86 ERA, and pitched a no-hitter in 1978.
• He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with the highest percentage of votes ever recorded at the time.
• Seaver's No. 41 was retired by the Mets in 1988, and Citi Field's address was changed to 41 Seaver Way in 2019.