Nancy Seaver, the wife of Mets legendary pitcher, Tom Seaver is up in arms over the fact that the team never built a statue honoring her husband at Citi Field.
Back in 2009 when Citi Field opened it’s doors there was much talk over the organization making sure to keep their history intact for all to see as they made the move from the lovable Shea Stadium. Erecting a statue of “the franchise” would have been a nice touch to capture some of the greatest Mets history.
“They should have a statue for all those numbers they have retired on their wall — Seaver, Gil Hodges, Mike Piazza,” said Nancy Seaver. (NY Daily News)
The Mets do not retire too many numbers, maybe they should celebrate those a little more in which they do. Specifically though on the subject of her husband not having a statue, she is none too pleased with the Mets.
“I’m embarrassed for the Mets. I really am,” Mrs. Seaver said.
There has been a growing furor of Mets fans wanting this done at Citi Field for some time now through social media, online forums and sports-talk radio shows. Numerous ballparks around the majors these days do celebrate their past with statues of their most celebrated players.
The Mets are only one of six teams who do not have a statute celebrating a Hall of Fame player. There is no Met more deserving of such an honor than “Tom Terrific.” In his career he accumulated 311 wins with 3,640 strikeouts along the way in his 20 seasons. 198 of those victories came with the Mets. No feat bigger though than helping lead the team to their first World Series victory in 1969.
Tom himself though, humble as ever, downplayed any notion made by his wife of the Mets needing to be ashamed of themselves for not building a statue on his behalf.
“I’m not dead yet,” Seaver said. “So I’d rather it be Gil Hodges. He’s the most important person in the franchise.”
Forever the face of the franchise, there is no player more recognized with the Mets moniker than Mr. Seaver. He has been that one player that fathers pass down stories about to their sons who in turn do so to their children when reliving Mets history. One day soon that statue may come and it would be a great thing for the fanbase and to honor a player truly deserving of it.
