When George Thomas Seaver signed with the Mets in 1967, they thought he was good enough.
But not someone who was called “Tom Terrific” and “The Franchise”
But not someone who got the Mets from worst to first in just 2 years.
Not someone who when every time he struck out a batter, the entire stadium went crazy.
Not someone who had a lighting-fast fast ball
Not someone who would buckle hitters with his filthy slider and confusing curveball.
Not someone who was a strikeout machine with 3,640 of them, which was 6th all time.
Not someone who was a Rookie of the Year.
Not someone who was a 3x Cy Young award winner.
Not someone who was 12x All-Star.
Not someone how was almost unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 along with Rollie Fingers.
Not someone who entered himself into the conversation of the best starting pitchers to ever do it.
Not someone who called pitching an art form.
Not someone who was well respected by many players including Mike Piazza and Fergie Jenkins.
Not someone who was respected by not just a team, but the entire city.
Not someone who shook the baseball world with his passing.
Over the course of his career, he played on the Mets, Reds, White Sox, and Red Sox. He had 311 wins, 2.86 ERA, 231 complete games and 61 shutouts.
Rest In Peace, Tom. You legacy will live on forever.