Tom Seaver

Was signed by the Mets in April of 1966 when a special lottery was held after an earlier contract he had signed with the Braves was voided. Any team willing to match the Braves' offer of $50,000 could participate, and three scraps of paper representing the Phillies, Indians, and Mets were put in a hat. Then-commissioner William Eckert reached into the hat and pulled out the scrap marked, "Mets".

Was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1967.

Struck out 200 or more batters in nine consecutive seasons (1968-1976), a major league record.

) However, he pitched for the anemic hitting Mets, and helped pitch them into two World Series: 1969, which the Mets won in five games over the dynastic Baltimore Orioles of manager Earl Weaver, and 1973, which the Mets lost in seven to the dynastic Oakland A's of owner Charles O. Finley.

A five-time 20-game winner, "Tom Terrific" won a then-record three Cy Young awards, in 1969 (the year he came in #2 in MVP voting), 1973 and 1975. (He ranked in the top five in Cy Young voting eight times). Nine times in his 20-year career he had an Earned Run Average of 2. 59 or less, which placed him in the top four of National League pitchers with the lowest E. R. A. s seven times. He led the National League in E. R. A.

in 1970, 1971 and 1973, in wins three times ('69, '75 and '79) (he came in second four other times) and in strikeouts five times. Tom Seaver finished his career with a 311-205 Won-Loss record for a. 603 winning percentage, with 61 shutouts and 231 complete games, 3,640 strikeouts and a 2. 86 E. R. A. However, that was not the sum of Seaver the player or the man. He was emblematic of new type of player, classy and erudite, with progressive views, rather than the skirt-chasing, drunken troglodytes of the post-dead ball era. (During the Dead Ball era, gentlemanly college graduates like Christy Mathewson were common in baseball. ) Seaver helped usher in a new kind of ballplayer, and a new kind of ballgame.

Became the youngest major leaguer to reach the $100,000 salary plateau at the age of 27 when he signed a $120,000 contract for 1972.

Originally enrolled at USC as a pre-med student with the intent of becoming a dentist. Switched his major to journalism after his baseball career got started, took courses on a part-time basis, and completed his degree in 1975. Earned credit for a geology course by writing a paper on the soil consistency of National League infields.

Traded by the Mets to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977 for pitchers Pat Zachary and Dan Norman, infielder Doug Flynn, and outfielder Steve Henderson.

Pitched a no-hitter while with the Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 16, 1978.

Reacquired by the Mets before the 1983 season, then was selected by the Chicago White Sox before the 1984 season in the free agent compensation draft after the Mets left him unprotected.

Won his 300th career game on August 4, 1985 over the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

Twelve-time All-Star Tom Seaver was, arguably, the greatest pitcher in the major leagues between the retirement of Sandy Koufax and the blossoming of Roger Clemens, who was his teammate on the 1986 Boston Red Sox. Seaver, who won 311 games in his career, likely would have won more if he had been on a powerhouse team like the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, or Cincinnati Reds during the heyday of the Big Red Machine. (He did pitch, and very well, for the Reds towards the end of the Big Red Machine dynasty.

Retired after attempting a comeback with the Mets during the 1987 season. Compiled a lifetime 311-205 record, 3,640 strikeouts, and a 2.86 ERA.

Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. His vote percentage of 98.84% was the record until 2016, when Ken Griffey Jr. was voted in with 99.32% of the ballots.

No longer a member of the broadcast team for the New York Mets, a job he had held since 1999. [April 2006]