American · Fresno, California · Born 17 November 1944 · Died 2020-08-31Tom Seaver was a dominant right-hander who led the 1969 Mets to a stunning World Series title and became the franchise's greatest player.
George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno, California in 1944. New York Mets selected him in the 1966 MLB Draft following a complicated draft process. His 20-season career produced 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts and three Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973, 1975). He was the anchor of the Miracle Mets — the 1969 New York Mets team that won the World Series as 100-1 underdogs at the start of the season, finishing a ninth-place 1968 team. He was the defining player of Mets history, whose trade to Cincinnati in 1977 — known as the Midnight Massacre — prompted genuine grief among the New York fanbase. He averaged 205 strikeouts per season across his peak years. His career ERA of 2.86 is the second-lowest among starters with 200 or more wins in the modern era. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992 with 98.8% of the vote — the highest percentage in history at the time, a record that stood until Mariano Rivera. He died in September 2020. His downward plane delivery — described as the most mechanically efficient in baseball history — was used as a teaching model for generations of pitchers.
'Tom Terrific', ace of the 1969 'Miracle Mets'
How They Played
Power pitcher with exceptional control and intelligence
Lasting Impact
One of greatest pitchers in MLB history, 'The Franchise'
Career Honours
- 3x Cy Young Award
- World Series champion (1969)
- 12x All-Star
- Hall of Fame 1992 (record vote percentage)
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| New York Mets | 1967–1977 | 401 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 1977–1982 | 166 |
| Chicago White Sox | 1984–1986 | 73 |
American Athletes