R.I.P. Tom Seaver

[moonslav59]

Truly a legend.

[a700hitter]

My favorite pitcher during my childhood. We all imitated his delivery. Tom Terrific. The Franchise. The Baby-faced Assassin.

As an adult, I had the pleasure of having dinner with him 2 times.

[illinoisredsox]

In addition to his great stuff, he was a thinking pitcher who was always learning. I remember reading his book as a kid. In it, he described his rookie year the first time he faced Hank Aaron. He got Aaron to ground into a double play on an inside fastball. Seaver "wrote" he recalled thinking, that's it, his weakness is an inside fastball.

Next time up, Seaver threw an inside fastball and Aaron deposited into the left field seats. Seaver said he learned that hitters think as well; Aaron said to himself, kid pitcher, got me to hit into a DP on an inside fastball last time, bet he comes in with it again.

The other thing I remember from his book was his description of the time he lost a perfect game with 1 out in the 9th on a single by Jimmy Qualls. He swore that someday he would pitch a perfect game (he got one no-hitter with the Reds, but never got that perfect game). The he said something about not knowing what a true perfect game was. Was it 27 pitches for 27 outs or 81 straight strikes?

For some reason, those passages have always stuck with me, even though its been nearly 50 years since I read them

[cp176]

When I was coaching baseball in the early 80's, we tried to emphasize to our kids the importance of using your lower body and that the low man usually wins. With our pitchers, we always had them focus in on Tom Seaver's right leg and the dirt that accumulated on it. He was a pure joy to watch! One of the best ever.

[5GoldGloves:OF,75]

When I was coaching baseball in the early 80's, we tried to emphasize to our kids the importance of using your lower body and that the low man usually wins. With our pitchers, we always had them focus in on Tom Seaver's right leg and the dirt that accumulated on it. He was a pure joy to watch! One of the best ever.

I think I read later in his career, when he wasn't as limber, that he'd rub dirt on his knee after warming up in the bullpen, for wary batters to see and think he's on tonight.

Tom Seaver was a guy who was never old in my entire lifetime...

[Kimmi]

Great stories everyone.

RIP Tom.

[Thunder]

Wow he died from complications of both COVID and dementia. His last few months must have been difficult for everyone in his family

[Bellhorn04]

RIP Tom Terrific.

[Kimmi]

I think I read later in his career, when he wasn't as limber, that he'd rub dirt on his knee after warming up in the bullpen, for wary batters to see and think he's on tonight.

Tom Seaver was a guy who was never old in my entire lifetime...

I heard that the Mets players rubbed dirt on their knees before today's game as a tribute. Nice gesture.