COVID-19 Claims Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Seaver

Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver died of COVID-19 on Monday complicated by Lyme Disease and Lewy Body Dementia - the latter of which was made public in March 2019. Seaver was 75.

A native of Fresno, California, Seaver was a standout at USC. The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in 1965, but he did not sign. The following year Seaver signed with the Atlanta Braves, but the contract was voided by MLB Commissioner "Spike" Eckert because he was still on USC's roster. After a protest by Seaver's father, Eckert agreed Seaver to allow with a team which matched the Braves' offer. That team would be the New York Mets.

Seaver was an instant sensation with the Mets winning NL Rookie of the Year in 1967. Two years later, Seaver and Jerry Koosman anchored a rotation which led the Miracle Mets to an improbable World Series title. During that 1969 season, Seaver earned his first of three NL Cy Young Awards. He would earn two more Cy Youngs in 1973 (when the Mets won another NL pennant) and 1975. Seaver's pitching prowess earned him the nicknames "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise".

In the middle of the 1977 season, the Mets would part way with The Franchise sending Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds in a controversial trade known as the "Saturday Night Massacre". In 1978, while in a Reds uniform, Seaver tossed his only no-hitter. He nearly won another Cy Young during the strike shortened 1981 season, but finished runner up to Los Angeles Dodgers' rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela. That same season Seaver earned his 3,000th career strikeout.

Seaver would return to the Mets for one season in 1983 before making his AL debut with the Chicago White Sox in 1984. The following year Seaver earned his 300th career win. Seaver's big league career would end in 1986 when he split the season between the Chisox and the AL pennant winning Boston Red Sox. He finished his 20 year MLB career with 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 231 complete games and a 2.86 ERA along with a World Series ring, 3 NL Cy Youngs, 3 NL ERA titles, led the NL in strikeouts five times, the no-hitter, 12 NL All-Star Team appearances.

In 1992, Seaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with a then record 98.8% of the BBWAA ballot. This vote total has since been eclipsed by Ken Griffey, Jr., Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter. 

Seaver spent his post-baseball career broadcasting for the Mets, Yankees as well as on national telecasts by NBC and ABC. In the early 2000's, Seaver and his wife Nancy turned his attention to making wine in the Napa Valley.

On a personal note, I saw a glimpse of the Seavers as they led the 2013 MLB All-Star Game parade here in New York where they served as honorary grand marshals.

Tom Seaver truly led a life to which you could raise a glass. In short, he was just terrific. R.I.P.