Mets honor Seaver with salute, jersey and dirt-smudged knee
NEW YORK » Far too young to remember Tom Seaver’s glory days, Pete Alonso and the New York Mets found a perfect way to pay tribute to the greatest player in franchise history.
Starting pitcher Robert Gsellman, his right knee already dirtied, led the Mets from the dugout onto the diamond at Citi Field on Thursday to face the Yankees. Every teammate who followed him had a smidge of dirt in the same spot along the right knee.
What better symbol to honor Seaver, the Mets icon and Hall of Famer whose classic, drop-and-drive power pitcher delivery was imitated by thousands of Little Leaguers in the 1960s and 1970s?
Seaver, known for decades simply as “The Franchise,” died Monday at the age of 75 due to complications from Lewy body dementia and the coronavirus. His death was announced Wednesday night, a few hours after New York beat the Baltimore Orioles — the team Tom Terrific and the Miracle Mets toppled in the 1969 World Series.
“He turned the organization around from a laughing stock ballclub into a complete team instantly,” said Ed Kranepool, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Mets. “You knew every time out, you were going to be a competitive team.”
“It’s a sad day in Metsville,” he said. “We lost our star and our leader.”
Prior to the final Subway Series game of the season — played at a ballpark without fans during the pandemic season in front of no fans — the Mets and Yankees both paid their respects to Seaver, who pitched for the Mets from 1967 through 1977 and again in 1983 before spending five seasons as a Yankees broadcaster.
“We’re actually family friends with the Seavers,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “In the ‘81 strike, my dad was a National League rep and the Seavers came and stayed with us for like a week. I was 8 years old. Tom and I were out messing around and Tom was on a moped. I actually jumped on the back to get on the moped with him and burnt my calf on the muffler. And I still have the scar.”
Both teams stood in front of their dugouts for a pregame video montage and a moment of silence. After the Mets took their positions for the top of the first, the Yankees joined the Mets in doffing their caps towards Seaver’s 41 hanging along the left field upper deck.
Friday’s games
Cincinnati (Castillo 0-5) at Pittsburgh (Brault 0-1), 4:05 p.m., 1st game Washington (Voth 0-4) at Atlanta (Milone 1-4), 4:10 p.m., 1st game Miami (Lopez 3-2) at Tampa Bay (Fleming 2-0), 6:40 p.m.
Milwaukee (Burnes 1-0) at Cleveland (Carrasco 2-3), 7:10 p.m. Philadelphia (Arrieta 2-4) at N.Y. Mets (Porcello 1-4), 7:10 p.m. Pittsburgh (TBD) at Cincinnati (Bauer 3-2), 7:35 p.m., 2nd game Washington (Crowe 0-1) at Atlanta (Tomlin 1-2), 7:40 p.m., 2nd game
St. Louis (Flaherty 2-0) at Chicago Cubs (Darvish 6-1), 8:15 p.m. Colorado (Senzatela 3-1) at L.A. Dodgers (TBD), 9:40 p.m.
San Diego (Davies 5-2) at A’s (Luzardo 2-1), 9:40 p.m.
Arizona (Clarke 1-0) at Giants (Anderson 1-2), 9:45 p.m.
Saturday’s games
San Diego at A’s, 4:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs, 5:15 p.m., 1st game
Miami at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m. Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m. Milwaukee at Cleveland, 7:10 p.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m. Washington at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m. Cubs at St. Louis, 8:45 p.m., 2nd game Colorado at L.A. Dodgers, 9:10 p.m. Arizona at Giants, 9:15 p.m.