Tom Seaver, Mets legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, dies at age 75
Seaver died from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19
He was not on the list.
Longtime big leaguer and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver died Monday, his family confirmed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was 75. Seaver's family said he "passed peacefully in his sleep of complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19."
"We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away," Seaver's wife, Nancy, and daughters, Anne and Sarah, said in a statement. "We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you."
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred released the following statement Wednesday night:
"I am deeply saddened by the death of Tom Seaver, one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. Tom was a gentleman who represented the best of our National Pastime. He was synonymous with the New York Mets and their unforgettable 1969 season. After their improbable World Series Championship, Tom became a household name to baseball fans – a responsibility he carried out with distinction throughout his life.
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Tom's family, his admirers throughout our game, Mets fans, and the many people he touched."
"Tom Seaver will be remembered as a fierce and gifted competitor, a Hall of Fame pitcher whose passion never wavered on or off the field," MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement. "He was a strong and steady voice on behalf of his fellow players as the Mets' player representative in the early days of the players association. We send our sympathies to his family, friends and legions of fans."
Seaver pitched for 20 seasons in the big leagues from 1967-86 and was, quite simply, one of the greatest pitchers to ever live. He retired with a 311-205 record and a 2.86 ERA. Seaver broke in with the Mets (1967-77) and also played for the Cincinnati Reds (1977-82), Mets again (1983), Chicago White Sox (1984-86) and Boston Red Sox (1986).
Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon released the following statements Wednesday night:
We are devastated to learn of the passing of Mets Legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Tom was nicknamed "The Franchise" and "Tom Terrific" because of how valuable he truly was to our organization and our loyal fans, as his #41 was the first player number retired by the organization in 1988. He was simply the greatest Mets player of all-time and among the best to ever play the game which culminated with his near unanimous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Beyond the multitude of awards, records, accolades, World Series Championship, All-Star appearances, and just overall brilliance, we will always remember Tom for his passion and devotion to his family, the game of baseball, and his vineyard.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Nancy, daughters Sarah and Anne and four grandsons, Thomas, William, Henry and Tobin.
"Tom Seaver was one of the best and most inspirational pitchers to play the game," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. "We are grateful that Tom's Hall of Fame career included time with the Reds. We are proud to count his name among the greats in the Reds Hall of Fame. He will be missed."
Seaver was named the NL Rookie of the Year after throwing 251 innings with a 2.76 ERA in 1967. He won three Cy Young awards (1969. 1973, 1975) and was selected to 12 All-Star Games. Seaver also finished second in the Cy Young voting in 1971 and 1981, and third in 1977. He was voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1992.
"Tom Seaver's life exemplified greatness in the game, as well as integrity, character, and sportsmanship – the ideals of a Hall of Fame career," said Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the Hall of Fame, in a statement. "As a longtime member of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Tom brought dignity and wisdom to this institution that will be deeply missed. His love for baseball history, and for the Hall of Fame, was reinforced in 2014, when he pledged the donation of his personal baseball collection to the Museum. His wonderful legacy will be preserved forever in Cooperstown."
"Tom Terrific" is widely regarded as the greatest Mets player in history. He was the ace of the 1969 World Series champion Miracle Mets and he became the fifth pitcher in history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts in 1981. At the time of his retirement, Seaver owned the lowest career ERA in baseball history and the National League record for strikeouts (3,272).
Fellow Hall of Famer Henry Aaron once called Seaver "the toughest pitcher I ever had to face."
Seaver was born in Fresno, California, and he played college baseball at the University of Southern California. He was drafted in the 10th round by the Dodgers in 1965 but did not sign. Seaver signed with the Braves as their first-round pick in 1966, but the contract was voided because he played two college exhibition games that year. The Mets were awarded Seaver's rights through a lottery that was overseen by commissioner William Eckert.
The Mets retired Seaver's No. 41 in 1988. He was the first player to wear a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque -- Mike Piazza is the only other player to do so -- and he took part in ceremonies to close Shea Stadium in 2008 and open Citi Field in 2009.
"Tom's fierceness as a competitor was matched by his daily preparation and workout regimen," added Tim Mead, president of the Hall of Fame. "Intelligent, passionate, disciplined, respectful and driven, he was as fine a pitcher as the game has seen."
Following his playing career, Seaver worked as a television analyst covering the Mets and Yankees. He later started Seaver Vineyards near his home in California.
After retiring as a player, Seaver became a television color commentator, working variously for the Mets, the New York Yankees, and with Vin Scully in 1989 for NBC. Seaver replaced Joe Garagiola as NBC's lead baseball color commentator, which led to him calling the 1989 All-Star Game and National League Championship Series. He worked as an analyst for Yankees' telecasts on WPIX from 1989 to 1993 and for Mets telecasts on WPIX from 1999 to 2005, making him one of three sportscasters to be regular announcers for both teams; the others are Fran Healy and Tim McCarver. He also worked as a part-time scout, and as a spring training pitching coach. Seaver's television broadcasting experience dated back to his playing career, when he was invited to serve as a World Series analyst for ABC in 1977 and for NBC in 1978, 1980, and 1982. Also while an active player, Seaver called the 1981 National League Division Series between Montreal and Philadelphia and that year's National League Championship Series alongside Dick Enberg for NBC.
Even big names who were outside of the world of baseball
including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, longtime news broadcaster Dan
Rather and the Iron Sheik offered their memories of Seaver and
condolences to his family.
Statements and reactions from current and former Mets, as well as people from around baseball, on the death of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver:
ART SHAMSKY, former Mets teammate
"Words cannot express the sadness I feel
with the death of #TomSeaver. Not just a teammate but a true friend.
History will show he is one of the greatest pitchers ever I am so glad
myself & a few teammates spent time with him in 2017 RIP #41"
JERRY KOOSMAN, former Mets teammate
“A great leader of our team. When he wasn’t
pitching he was always there to help the other guys on the staff. He
was a true professional.”
ED KRANEPOOL, former Mets teammate
“When he joined us as a rookie, he pitched
like a 35-year-old. He had a great head on his shoulders. We became a
different a team when he walked into the locker room in 1967.”
RON SWOBODA, former Mets teammate
“As soon as I saw him pitch the first time,
I said to myself, ‘He has Hall of Fame stuff.’ He just had to
accumulate numbers to get to the Hall.”
JERRY GROTE, former Mets teammate
“Tom Seaver hated to lose. In May of 1969,
we had a celebration in the locker room when we reached .500 for the
first time. Tom said ‘We want more than .500, we want a championship.’”
MIKE PIAZZA, former Met
“I’ll always treasure our friendship. Tom was
always rooting for me to get into the Hall. Two of my fondest memories
are walking out of Shea Stadium together after the last game and then
when he threw the ceremonial first pitch to me at Citi Field the next
year. He was one of a kind.”
DWIGHT GOODEN, former Met
“It’s a sad day for me. One of the first calls I got after I won my Cy Young in 1985 was from Tom. That meant the world to me.”
DAVID WRIGHT, former Met
“Tom and I had a great relationship. I
think he saw a little of himself in me, I was homegrown, just like he
was. He called me from time to time, but we would never talk about
baseball. We would talk about life.”
JACOB deGROM, current Met
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Tom
Seaver. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet him. Seeing the
person he was on and off the field, he is definitely someone I look up
to."
GIL HODGES, JR., son of former Mets manager
“The only thing my dad always told me about Tom was nobody prepared for a game like he did. He never left anything to chance.”
JOHNNY BENCH, former Reds teammate
“For those that knew him, no words are necessary. For those that didn’t, no words are adequate.”
FRED WILPON, Mets owner, & JEFF WILPON, Mets COO
"We are devastated to learn of the passing
of Mets Legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Tom was nicknamed
'The Franchise' and 'Tom Terrific' because of how valuable he truly was
to our organization and our loyal fans, as his #41 was the first player
number retired by the organization in 1988. He was simply the greatest
Mets player of all-time and among the best to ever play the game which
culminated with his near unanimous induction into the National Baseball
Hall of Fame in 1992. Beyond the multitude of awards, records,
accolades, World Series Championship, All-Star appearances, and just
overall brilliance, we will always remember Tom for his passion and
devotion to his family, the game of baseball, and his vineyard. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Nancy, daughters Sarah and Anne
and four grandsons, Thomas, William, Henry and Tobin."
In March 2019, Seaver stepped out of the public eye after being diagnosed with dementia.
.jpg)
