Baseball loses a legend as Tom Seaver dies at 75

MLB has lost a legend ... a Terrific one.

Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who won 300 games in his 20-year career and a World Series ring in just his third summer as a big-leaguer, died on Monday at his home in California. He was 75.

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

The former Mets, Reds, White Sox and Red Sox ace known as "Tom Terrific" was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia last year. According to the Hall, his death was in part also due to COVID-19.

On cardboard, Seaver's journey begins with his lone Rookie Card appearance in the 1967 Topps set on a card shared with fellow Mets pitcher Bill Denehy, and it was a career that included more than 5,300 different cards through the years with more than 1,200 of those are certified autograph cards. His earliest ink appeared in a couple of 1992 releases from Pacific and Front Row, while his most-recent autos were in 2019 Topps Legacy of Baseball, Museum Collection and Triple Threads -- all low-volume creations.

Seaver's 1969 season included a career-high 25 wins, the first of his three Cy Young awards as well as his only World Series ring as one of the "Miracle Mets." He only had one other World Series appearance after that in his career, losing a 1973 game to the Oakland A's. When Seaver's career ended in 1986, he had 311 wins with a 2.86 ERA and 3,640 strikeouts. He was a 12-time All-Star and the 1967 NL Rookie of the Year after signing with the Mets after starring at USC. He was named on a record 98.8 percent of ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America when he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Hank Aaron called him "the toughest pitcher I ever had to face" and according to this piece Aaron once told him "Kid, I know who you are, and before your career is over, I guarantee you everyone in this stadium will, too."

Jane Forbes Clark, the Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, offered her thoughts after hearing the news.

“Tom Seaver’s life exemplified greatness in the game, as well as integrity, character, and sportsmanship – the ideals of a Hall of Fame career,” she said. “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.”

For more on Tom Seaver's life and career, click here. 

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