Teams:
New York Mets (1967-1977)
Cincinnati Reds (1977-1982)
New York Mets (1983)
Chicago White Sox (1984-1986)
Boston Red Sox (1986)
Career Statistics:
W-L: 311-205
W-L %: .603
ERA: 2.86
Strikeouts: 3,640
BB: 1,390
CG: 231
SHO: 61
IP: 4,783
WHIP: 1.121
George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno, California and later pitched for Fresno High School. In 1962, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served through July 1963. After six months of active duty, he enrolled at Fresno City College. He was heavily recruited by Rod Dedeaux from the University of Southern California, but they were still unsure of whether he was deserving of a scholarship. So he was sent to play for the Alaskan Goldpanners in Fairbanks, Alaska for a season. After pitching in and winning the national tournament with a grand slam, he was awarded a scholarship to USC. As a sophomore, he put up a 10-2 record and was drafted in the tenth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, when he requested $70,000, the Dodgers decided to pass him up. In 1966, he signed a contract with the Braves, but Commissioner of Baseball, William Eckert voided the contract due to the fact that Seaver's college team had played two exhibition games (neither of which Seaver took part in). Seaver then decided to go back to USC and finish out his season there, but he was denied because he had signed a pro contract, as per NCAA rules. When his father complained to Eckert and threatened him with a lawsuit, Eckert allowed other teams to pursue Seaver if they matched the Braves offer. The New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cleveland Indians came calling, and Seaver finally signed with the Mets.
He spent his first season with the Jacksonville Suns of the International League, and then joined the Mets in 1967. He won 16 games for them in his first season, with 18 complete games, 170 strikeouts, and a 2.76 ERA. He was named National League Rookie of the Year. In '68, he again won 16 games and struck out over 200 batters for the first of nine consecutive seasons. However, the Mets were still floundering in last place.
The Mets turned around in 1969, winning their first World Series. Seaver, for his part, won 25 games (a league high) and his first Cy Young Award. He also came in second place in MVP voting. On April 22, 1970, Seaver set a modern major league record by striking out the final ten batters of a game, and later struck out 19 batters in a single game, a record which stood until broken by Roger Clemens in 1986. Seaver seemed to be on his way to another Cy Young Award in 1970, with his record standing at 17-6. However, he only maanged to win one of his last ten games to finish 18-12.
In 1971, Seaver put up what he considered to be the finest season of his career. He led the league in ERA (1.76) and strikeouts (289), while putting up a 20-10 record. He only managed to place second in the Cy Young voting that year because the Cubs's Ferguson Jenkins had more wins and more innings pitched.
In his remaining years with the Mets, Seaver would put up three more twenty-win season (1972, 1975, and 1977 [which included a partial season with the Reds]), and took home the Cy Young in '73 and '74.
The free agency period began in 1977, and Seaver entered into negotiations to remain with the Mets. However, terms on his salary could not be agreed to and Seaver was sent to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977. M. Donald Grant, chairman of the board for the Mets, was often criticized for making this move, and was later fired after the 1978 season. Seaver finished the '77 season with 21 wins and went 14-3 for Cincinnati, which included a 5-1 win over his former team.
On June 16, 1978, facing the St. Louis Cardinals, Seaver finally threw a no-hitter, after throwing five one-hitters for the Mets (two of which were no-hitters that were spoiled in the 9th inning). It would be the only one of his career.
Seaver went 75-46 during his stay in Cincinnati including leading the Reds to a Western Divison crown in 1979, as well as helping them to the best record in baseball during the strike-shortened 1981 season. He only managed a 5-13 record in 1982, due to injuries.
On December 16, 1982, Seaver was traded back to the Mets, and though his record was only 9-14, he had high hopes for the follwing year. But to his and the Mets's shock, he was grabbed in a free agent compensation draft by the Chicago White Sox. He had not been protected because the Mets had assumed that no one would risk picking up a 39-year old pitcher with such a high salary. Though he had wanted to finish his career where it had started, Seaver grudgingly reported to the White Sox. Seaver pitched two and a half seasons with the White Sox, picking up his 300th win on August 4, 1985.
Seaver nearly returned to the Mets in 1986 for his final season, but Mets manager Davey Johnson nixed the idea. Seaver was instead traded to the Boston Red Sox. His 311th and final career win came on August 18 against the Minnesota Twins. He was offered a contract by the Red Sox at the end of the season, but with a much-reduced salary. He was granted free agency in November.
In 1987, the Mets pitching rotation was in trouble due to injuries and Seaver was brought in to pitch a few exhbition games (though no contract was ever signed). After being trounced in three of these starts, he officially announced his retirement, stating, "I've used up all the competitive pitches in my arm." To this day, he remains the only Mets player to have his number retired.
When he retired, he was third on the all-time strikeout list (now sixth) behind Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton. His per-game strikeout average (6.85) is second only behind Nolan Ryan of all-pitchers who have at least 300 career wins. He also holds the record for most consecutive seasons with at least 200 strikeouts (nine). No other pitcher has ever matched his feat of striking out ten straight batters in a game.
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1992. Since retirement, he has spent time working as a color commentator, working for the Mets, the Yankees, and with Vin Scully in 1989 for NBC. He then replaced Joe Garagiola as NBC's lead color commentator. He also worked part-time as a scout and a spring training pitching coach. He and his wife currently live in Calistoga, California wher he started his own vineyard and has presented a couple of cabernets at wine-tasting events.
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