52 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Baseball world mourns the passing
of legendary Mets pitcher Tom Seaver
BY JOE PANTORNO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e New York Mets community and
Major League Baseball is mourning the
loss of the franchise’s greatest representative,
Tom Seaver, who died Monday at his
home in California at the age of 75 from
complications of Lewy body dementia
and COVID-19.
An icon and role model for millions
throughout the 1960s and 70s, he was the
Mets’ true superstar, helping them catapult
from lovable doormats in Major
League Baseball to the unlikeliest of
champions in 1969.
He was also one of the very best pitchers
of not only his generation, but MLB
history, racking up 311 victories with a
2.86 ERA, 3,640 strikeouts, and three Cy
Young Awards.
As news of his passing extends throughout
the baseball world, past and present
Mets greats, along with prominent members
of the baseball world have extended
their condolences:
JERRY KOOSMAN
(Seaver’s teammate, 1967-77)
“A great leader of our team. When he
wasn’t pitching he was always there to
help the other guys on the staff . He was a
true professional.”
ED KRANEPOOL
(Seaver’s teammate, 1967-77)
“When he joined us as a rookie, he
pitched like a 35-year-old. He had a great
head on his shoulders. We became a different
team when he walked into the locker
room in 1967.”
RON SWOBODA
(Seaver’s teammate, 1967-70)
“A lot of us aren’t here anymore, but this
one really hurts. Th is one really hurts.”
MIKE PIAZZA
(Mets catcher, 1998-2005)
“Tom Seaver was a larger-than-life baseball
icon. He embodied all that is desired
in a player and a man: dedicated, loyal,
sincere and fi ercely competitive. Showed
strength and dignity during his recent suffering.
He will be missed.”
JERRY GROTE
(Seaver’s teammate, 1967-77)
“Tom Seaver hated to lose. In May of
1969, we had a celebration in the locker
room when we reached .500 for the fi rst
time. Tom said, ‘We want more than .500,
we want a championship.”
KEITH HERNANDEZ
(Mets fi rst baseman, 1983-
89, Mets broadcaster)
“I am deeply saddened of the passing
of Tom Seaver. I had the honor of unsuccessfully
hitting against him and having as
a teammate. He is the greatest Met of all
time. No one will ever surpass him that
wears the orange and blue. My condolences
to Nancy and his family. Tears.”
DWIGHT GOODEN
(Mets pitcher, 1984-1994)
“It’s a sad day for me. One of the fi rst
calls I got aft er I won my Cy Young in
1985 was from Tom. Th at meant the
world to me.”
DAVID WRIGHT
(Mets third baseman, 2004-2018)
“Tom and I had a great relationship.
I think he saw a little of himself in me,
I was homegrown, just like he was. He
called me from time to time, but we would
never talk about baseball. We would talk
about life.”
JACOB deGROM
(Mets pitcher, 2014-present)
“Saddened to hear of the passing of
Tom Seaver. Unfortunately, I never got the
chance to meet him. Seeing the person he
was on and off the fi eld, he is defi nitely
someone I look up to.”
GIL HODGES, JR.
(Son of Gil Hodges, Seaver’s
manager from 1968-71)
“Th e only thing my dad always told me
about Tom was nobody prepared for a
game like he did. He never left anything
to chance.”
WADE BOGGS
(Baseball Hall of Famer)
“Truly a sad day for our Hall of Fame
family with the passing of my former
teammate Tom Seaver. Deb and I send our
thoughts and prayers out to Nancy and the
entire Seaver family. RIP Tom Terrifi c.”
ROB MANFRED
(MLB Commissioner)
“I am deeply saddened by the death of
Tom Seaver, one of the greatest pitchers of
all time. Tom was a gentleman who represented
the best of our National Pastime.
He was synonymous with the New York
Mets and their unforgettable 1969 season.
Aft er 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.”
JANE FORBES CLARK
(Chairman, Baseball
Hall of Fame)
“Tom Seaver’s life exemplifi ed greatness
in the game, as well as integrity, character
and sportsmanship — the ideals of a
Hall of Fame career. As a longtime member
of the Hall of Fame board of directors,
Tom brought dignity and wisdom to this
institution that will be deeply missed. His
love for baseball history, and for the Hall
of Fame, was reinforced in 2014 when he
pledged the donation of his personal baseball
collection to the Museum. His wonderful
legacy will be preserved forever in
Cooperstown.”
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Tom Seaver died at the age of 75.
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