On January 7, 1992, Tom Seaver was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame along with Rollie Fingers.
Seaver was elected with 98.8% of the vote in his first year of eligibility, which was the highest percentage for any player at the time (Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Ken Griffey Jr. have since been elected with higher percentages).
So much has been written about Seaver, especially since his passing on August 31, 2020. He had the nickname of “The Franchise” for a reason, as he was the most popular and accomplished player ever to wear a Mets uniform. He was the first player to enter Cooperstown sporting a Mets cap.
On the anniversary of his election into baseball’s hallowed hall, here is a reflection on Seaver’s accomplishments that earned him the honor of Hall of Fame inductee, with such a large, almost unanimous vote.
Personal Statistics
12-time all star
1967 NL Rookie of the Year
3 Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973, 1975)
Career WAR of 109.9
3 NL ERA titles (1970, 1971, 1973)
311 career wins
3 time leader in NL in WHIP (1971, 1973, 1977)
6 time leader in NL K/9 (1970, 1971, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1976)
5 time leader in NL in Strikeouts (1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976)
2 time leader in NL in shutouts (1977, 1979)
4 time leader in NL in FIP (1971, 1973, 1975, 1976)
MLB Ranking in Key Statistics
Wins- 18th with 311
Strikeouts- 6th with 3640
Innings pitched- 17th with 4782.2
WHIP- 23rd with 1.12
Opponent BA- 13th with .226
Ranking Among Mets Pitchers
Wins- 1st with 198
ERA- 1st with 2.57
Innings pitched- 1st with 3045.2
Strikeouts- 1st with 2541
Games started- 1st with 395
Complete games- 1st with 171
Shutouts- 1st with 44
Pitcher bWAR- 1st with 76.1
It’s unfortunate, and almost hard to imagine, that a player with such overwhelming team accomplishments could have had anything other than a harmonious relationship with the organization. However, Seaver’s time in uniform and in retirement were choppy in terms of his dealings with the Mets.
In 1977, Seaver wanted to renegotiate his salary to have it more closely align with the higher salaries pitchers were earning through the newly established free agency system. He had a difference of opinion on the matter with Chairman of the Board M. Donald Grant, which resulted in Seaver’s being traded to the Reds.
After being reacquired from Cincinnati for the 1983 season, Seaver was left unprotected in a free agency compensation draft after the season. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, and won his 300th game in a White Sox uniform at Yankee Stadium.
When he retired, Seaver had a lukewarm relationship with the Mets, returning to Shea Stadium for Tom Seaver Day on July 24, 1988. After that, he worked in the Yankees’ television booth from 1989-1993. As a sign of detente with the Mets, he worked in the Mets’ television booth from 1999-2005, before becoming infrequently publicly available after that point.
The issue of the Tom Seaver statue at Citi Field is set to come to resolution on Opening Day 2022, which (lockout willing) will take place on March 31. Citi Field now sits on 41 Seaver Way. The Mets are slowly coming around to permanently recognizing their most iconic player, which for many fans cannot come a day too soon.
Here is an MMO hat tip to The Franchise, Tom Seaver.
