It’s arguable what the greatest day in Mets history was. Was it October 16, 1969? Was it October 27, 1986? These are of course the dates when the New York Mets won their two championships.
There is no argument at all as to the worse day: it’s August 31, 2020, the day The Franchise, our Tom Terrific, our Greatest Met, passed away peacefully at his home in Calistoga, California. He was 75.
A spokesman for the family said Seaver died from complications of dementia and COVID-19.
Seaver dropped out of public life in March, 2019 when word came of his dementia diagnosis. He was unable to attend any of the 50th Anniversary of the Mets’ 1969 Championship that year. Although his body was missing, his spirit hung over the festivities as it is clear that no World Series would have been won if it weren’t for Tom.
Tom Seaver leaves behind a legacy and a career few could hope to match. His fiery, powerful aura led a ragtag team of last place finishers, to a World Championship just eight years into its existence. Some call the 1969 Mets the most unlikely winners of all time. At the team’s epicenter was its brilliant right-handed ace who won 25 games (which is still a team record).
He had 311 victories, 3,640 career strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards and a 2.86 ERA. Tom Terrific was one of only two pitchers to earn 300 wins, 3000+ career strikeouts and have an ERA of below three.
Reaction to the awful news was swift. “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 National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “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’s fierceness as a competitor was matched by his daily preparation and workout regimen,” said Tim Mead, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Intelligent, passionate, disciplined, respectful and driven, he was as fine a pitcher as the game has seen.” Tom was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1992, with 98.8% of the vote.
The screen in front of me is becoming increasingly blurred each time I refer to Tom in the past tense. He was my first hero, a man I love (I refuse to use the word ‘loved’). Journalistic integrity is important and I will try to maintain its standards, but in this case, as emotions of grief storm through my body, I can only hope my contemporaries can commiserate and the younger readers can understand.
We lost a legend on Monday
Tom Terrific, the Franchise, George Thomas Seaver, and most importantly, my first hero is gone. RIP to the man who made me a lifelong Mets fan, and the man who will live for ever in my most cherished memories.
