Hall of Famer Seaver dies at 75
Tom Seaver, the greatest New York Met ever, died early Monday at age 75.
Seaver passed peacefully in his sleep of complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19, according to a release from the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.
“We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away,” said his wife Nancy Seaver and daughters Sarah and Anne. “We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you.”
In a statement, Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon said: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Mets Legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. Tom was nicknamed 'The Franchise' and 'Tom Terrific' because of how valuable he truly was to our organization and our loyal fans, as his #41 was the first player number retired by the organization in 1988. He was simply the greatest Mets player of all-time and among the best to ever play the game which culminated with his near unanimous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
"Beyond the multitude of awards, records, accolades, World Series Championship, All-Star appearances, and just overall brilliance, we will always remember Tom for his passion and devotion to his family, the game of baseball, and his vineyard."
Because of dementia, Seaver had not lived a public life since March 2019. Per the New York Daily News, Seaver died at his home in California.
Seaver won three Cy Young Awards. A former National League Rookie of the Year, Seaver eventually went to the All-Star Game 12 times in his 20-year career. He won the NL ERA Title three times.
In 1969, he achieved the greatest team accomplishment as he won a World Series with the Mets.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Tom Seaver, one of the greatest pitchers of all-time," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Tom was a gentleman who represented the best of our National Pastime. He was synonymous with the New York Mets and their unforgettable 1969 season. After their improbable World Series Championship, Tom became a household name to baseball fans – a responsibility he carried out with distinction throughout his life. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Tom's family, his admirers throughout our game, Mets fans, and the many people he touched.”
Seaver, who played for the Mets from 1967-1977, finished his career with a 2.86 ERA and 311 victories. He struck out 3,640 batters.
In 1988, the Mets retired Seaver's No. 41 during a ceremony at Shea Stadium.