There have been elite pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB), and that includes the New York Mets. This column is about Tom Seaver, a pitcher who I believe stands at the head of his class.
Tom Seaver pitched in MLB for 20 seasons, 1967 to 1986, with the New York Mets (1967-1977, 1983), Cincinnati Reds (1977-1982), Chicago White Sox (1984-1986), and the Boston Red Sox (1986).
As a Mets rookie, Seaver was 16-13 with a 2.76 ERA, and won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award. He was just getting started. Seaver won his first NL CY Young Award in 1969, the season the “Miracle Mets” won the World Series. That year, he went 25-7 with a 2.21 ERA, with the most wins in the National League. As good as that was, his best season may have been in 1971. Even though Seaver finished 2nd in NL CY Young voting to Fergie Jenkins, he led the NL in ERA (1.76), strikeouts (289), and WHIP (0.946).
What made Seaver great? I think it was a combination of talent and toughness. Add persistence to that list, too. Seaver won his 300th game at Yankee Stadium when his White Sox beat the Yankees on August 4, 1985.
Seaver won three NL CY Young Awards (1969, 1973, 1975), three NL ERA titles (1970, 1971, 1973), and he led the NL in strikeouts five times (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975). It’s no surprise that he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility (1992).
Seaver is one of the best right-handed pitchers of all time, and I regret not being able to see him perform in person.
NOTE: Find an earlier version of this column on Anthony’s blog.
