Tom Seaver

Tom Seaver had an incredible period of undisputed dominance on the mound in the early to mid-1970s. His only off-season would come in 1974, when he developed a sore hip and finished with an 11-11 record and an ERA over 3.00 (3.20), the first time ever. Of course, the very next season he rocketed to 22-9, leading the league once again in strikeouts, wins, and winning percentage, as well winning the Cy Young.

In 1976, however, Seaver developed problems with Mets general manager, M. Donald Grant. They argued about Seaver's salary, and about how Grant ran the ball-club. In June of 1977, the Mets traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for four players. Mets fans were devastated. With the Reds, Seaver would finally get his elusive no-hitter, on June 16, 1978, and go on to four winning years with the Reds.

Tom Seaver's career began to go downhill in 1982. He fell to a 5-13 mark that season, and the Reds traded Seaver back to the Mets. The Mets fans would rejoice only briefly, however. The White Sox lured him away after he was left unprotected in the free agent compensation pool. He won fifteen games for the Sox in 1984, 16 in 1985, and won his 300th game in a 4-1 complete game against the Yankees that season. On October 4, 1985, he moved past Walter Johnson and into third place on the all time strikeout list, where he finished his career.

In 1986 he pitched for the Red Sox, but an ankle injury kept him out of World Series play. The following season he was released, and ended up quitting rather than bounce somewhere else. Number 41 retired.

Since retiring from baseball, Seaver has been enjoying the perks of being a hero and one of the most recognizable names in baseball (especially to Mets fans). He insists on having fun, which is an attitude that served him well a few years ago, when in 1999 he was chosen to replace Tim McCarver as the on-air analyst for Mets baseball. The move was not one that happened without controversy. Seaver, as a total student of the game, knows more about baseball than most professional teams combined, but one of the criticisms is that he's too well-versed. It's been said that, when he talks about pitching, it's like hearing Einstein explain the theory of relativity. Regardless, Seaver now juggles among his duties his position as broadcaster and front office executive for the Mets. He often goes down to talk to the pitchers, but that's not what he's paid to do. It's more of a hobby.

In 1992, Seaver was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, netting 425 votes out of 430 ballots cast.