Tom Seaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Seaver |
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Seaver with the New York Mets in 1971
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: November 17, 1944 Fresno, California, U.S. |
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| Died: August 31, 2020 (aged 75) Calistoga, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 13, 1967, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 19, 1986, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 311–205 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.86 | ||
| Strikeouts | 3,640 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1992 | ||
| Vote | 98.84% (first ballot) | ||
George Thomas Seaver (born November 17, 1944 – died August 31, 2020) was a famous American professional baseball pitcher. People called him "Tom Terrific" and "the Franchise". He played for 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Tom Seaver played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox from 1967 to 1986. Many people say he was the most important player in Mets history. He helped them win the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
With the Mets, Seaver won the National League's (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 1967. He also won three NL Cy Young Awards, which means he was the best pitcher in the league. He was chosen for the All-Star team 12 times. He holds the Mets' record for the most wins. During his career, he had 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts, and a 2.86 earned run average. He even pitched a no-hitter in 1978.
In 1992, Seaver was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He received the highest percentage of votes ever at that time. His number 41 was retired by the Mets in 1988. New York City even changed the address of Citi Field to 41 Seaver Way in 2019. Seaver is also in the New York Mets Hall of Fame and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and College Baseball
Tom Seaver was born in Fresno, California. His parents were Betty Lee and Charles Henry Seaver. He went to Fresno High School and played as a pitcher for their baseball team. Even though he wasn't very big, he learned to control his pitches very well.
After high school, Seaver joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1962. He served for a short time before going to Fresno City College.
The University of Southern California (USC) wanted Seaver to play college baseball. To see if he was good enough for a scholarship, USC sent him to play in Alaska in 1964. He had a great season there. After that, USC gave him a scholarship. In 1965, he had a 10–2 record for USC. The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him, but they didn't agree on a contract.
In 1966, Seaver signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves. But this contract was canceled by the Baseball Commissioner because USC had played some exhibition games. Seaver then couldn't play college baseball either. After his father complained, the Commissioner allowed other teams to offer Seaver a contract. The Mets won a lottery among three teams to get him.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues (1966)
In 1966, Tom Seaver played in the Class AAA minor league for the Jacksonville Suns. This team was connected to the Mets. He had a record of 12 wins and 12 losses with a 3.13 earned run average.
New York Mets: The "Franchise" Years (1967–1977)
Seaver joined the Mets in 1967. He was chosen for the All-Star Game in his first year. He finished his rookie season with 16 wins and 13 losses. He had 18 complete games and 170 strikeouts. His earned run average was 2.76. Seaver was named the 1967 National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1969, Seaver won a league-high 25 games. He won his first Cy Young Award. On July 9, 1969, Seaver almost pitched a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs. A rookie player hit a single in the ninth inning, stopping his perfect game bid.
The "Miracle Mets" won the 1969 World Series that year. Seaver was a key part of their victory. He pitched a 10-inning complete game in Game Four, helping the Mets win 2–1.
On April 22, 1970, Seaver set a major league record. He struck out the last ten batters of the game against the San Diego Padres. He also tied a record with 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Seaver led the National League in earned run average (2.82) and strikeouts (283) that year.
In 1971, Seaver led the league in earned run average (1.76) and strikeouts (289). He had four more 20-win seasons with the Mets. He won two more Cy Young Awards in 1973 and 1975. Seaver was known for his powerful pitching style, using his legs and body to throw the ball.
A Big Trade: "The Midnight Massacre"
By 1977, players could become free agents, meaning they could choose which team to play for. Tom Seaver wanted a new contract that paid him fairly. The Mets' management didn't agree easily.
Because of these contract issues, Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977. This trade, along with another one, was called "the Midnight Massacre" by sports reporters. The Mets traded Seaver for four other players: Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn, and Dan Norman.
Cincinnati Reds (1977–1982)
Seaver did very well with the Reds, winning 14 games and losing only 3 after the trade. He won 21 games in 1977 overall. When he returned to Shea Stadium to play against the Mets, fans gave him a long, warm welcome.
On June 16, 1978, Seaver pitched a no-hitter for the Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals. This was the only no-hitter of his career.
In 1979, he helped the Reds win their division. In 1981, he had a great record of 14 wins and 2 losses. That year, he also got his 3,000th strikeout against Keith Hernandez.
Back to the Mets (1983)
On December 16, 1982, Tom Seaver was traded back to the Mets! Fans were very excited. On April 5, 1983, he tied a major league record by starting his 14th Opening Day game. He pitched well, helping the Mets win. In his 12 seasons with the Mets, Seaver had 198 wins and 124 losses. He had a 2.57 earned run average and 171 complete games.
Chicago White Sox (1984–1986)
On January 20, 1984, the Chicago White Sox picked Seaver from the Mets in a special draft. The Mets thought no one would want a 39-year-old pitcher with a high salary, so they didn't protect him.
Seaver played for the White Sox for two and a half seasons. He got his last shutout on July 19, 1985. On August 4, 1985, Seaver earned his 300th career victory at Yankee Stadium. He pitched a complete game, winning 4–1 against the Yankees.
Boston Red Sox and Retirement (1986)
Seaver started on Opening Day for the 16th and final time in his career in 1986. The White Sox traded him to the Boston Red Sox during that season. Seaver's 311th and final win came on August 18, 1986.
A knee injury kept Seaver from playing against the Mets in the 1986 World Series with the Red Sox. He retired in 1987, saying his 42-year-old arm had no more competitive pitches left.
Career Stats
Tom Seaver's career statistics show how amazing he was:
| W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | SO | WP | HBP |
| 311 | 205 | .603 | 2.86 | 656 | 647 | 231 | 61 | 1 | 4782.2 | 3971 | 1521 | 1674 | 380 | 1390 | 3640 | 126 | 76 |
Awards and Honors
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| Tom Seaver's number 41 was retired by the New York Mets in 1988. |
The Mets retired Seaver's uniform number 41 in 1988. This means no other Mets player will ever wear that number. He was the first Mets player to receive this honor.
Seaver was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1992. He received 98.84% of the votes, which was a record at the time. He is one of only two players in the Hall of Fame with a Mets cap on his plaque. He is also in the New York Mets Hall of Fame and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Seaver threw the final pitch at Shea Stadium during its closing ceremony. He also helped open the Mets' new home, Citi Field, in 2009 by throwing the ceremonial first pitch. In 2019, the street outside Citi Field was renamed Seaver Way, and the ballpark's address became 41 Seaver Way. This was a tribute to his famous number 41.
In 2022, the Mets unveiled a 10-foot statue of Tom Seaver in front of Citi Field.
Legacy and Impact
Tom Seaver and Walter Johnson are the only two pitchers in MLB history with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and an earned run average under 3.00. Seaver's 16 Opening-Day starts are an MLB record. When he retired, he was third on the all-time strikeout list with 3,640. He is currently sixth. He is also tied for the seventh-most shutouts in MLB history with 61.
Seaver also holds the record for nine consecutive seasons with 200 or more strikeouts (1968–1976). He was also a decent hitter for a pitcher, hitting 12 home runs in his career.
A famous story about Seaver happened at his first All-Star Game in 1967. He asked baseball legend Hank Aaron for his autograph. Seaver thought Aaron wouldn't know him. But Aaron replied, "Kid, I know who you are, and before your career is over, I guarantee you everyone in this stadium will, too."
Broadcasting Career
After he stopped playing baseball, Tom Seaver became a television color commentator. He worked for ABC and NBC, calling World Series games. He also worked as an analyst for the New York Yankees and Mets TV broadcasts.
Personal Life
Tom Seaver married Nancy Lynn McIntyre in 1966. They had two daughters, Sarah and Annie. They lived in Calistoga, California. Seaver started his own vineyard there in 2002, called Seaver Family Vineyards.
His nickname "Tom Terrific" came from a cartoon character. In 2019, NFL quarterback Tom Brady tried to trademark the name "Tom Terrific," but it was denied. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said it might make people think of Tom Seaver.
In 2019, Seaver's family announced that he had dementia and was retiring from public life. Tom Seaver passed away on August 31, 2020, at the age of 75. He died from complications related to Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.
See also
- 300 win club
- 3,000 strikeout club
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
