Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver dies at 75

Great righthander Tom Seaver died Monday at the age of 75 in California

Hall of Fame right-hander Tom Seaver has died. The face of the New York Mets was 75.

Seaver exited public life in March of 2019 after being diagnosed with dementia died early Monday. Seaver died peacefully at his home in Calistoga, Calif., from complications from Lyme disease and dementia.

“We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away,” his wife Nancy and daughters Sarah and Anne said in a statement to the Baseball Hall of Fame. “We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you.”

Seaver won 311 games, had a 2.86 earned-run average and struck out 3,640 batters over a 20-year major league career that spanned from 1967-1986, earning 12 All-Star selections. He led the National League in wins three times, ERA three times and strikeouts five times.

Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 when he was named on 98.8 percent of ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the highest voting percentage ever received at the time.

Per the Hall of Fame:

After pitching five one-hitters, Seaver no-hit the Cardinals in 1978, and in 1981 became the fifth player in history to record 3,000 strikeouts. He returned to the Mets for the 1983 season, then won a total of 31 games for the White Sox in 1984 and 1985 before officially retiring during the 1987 season. Seaver pitched for the summer league Alaska Goldpanners and attended the University of Southern California before inking his first professional contract.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred offered his condolences.

“He was synonymous with the New York Mets and their unforgettable 1969 season,” Manfred said. “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.”

Tom Seaver’s Hall of Fame plaque (elected, 1992)
George Thomas Seaver
New York, N.L., 1967-77, 1983
Cincinnati, N.L., 1977-82
Chicago, A.L., 1984-86
Boston, A.L., 1986

Seaver was called “the toughest pitcher I ever had to face” by the legendary Hank Aaron. When Seaver, in the midst of a Rookie of the Year season, introduced himself to Aaron at the 1967 All-Star Game, Aaron told him, “Kid, I know who you are, and before your career is over, I guarantee you everyone in this stadium will, too.”