MLB Weekly Digest September 7th Edition: Tom Seaver Dies at 75

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The previous week in MLB was about an iconic player passing away, a starting pitcher in the National League reaches a milestone, and an outfielder makes history.

New York Mets Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Seaver Passes Away at 75

💔 4⃣1⃣ 💔 #RIP41 pic.twitter.com/b6gD8Y5zZ0

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 3, 2020

Tom Seaver, regarded as one of the best starting pitchers in history and an icon with the New York Mets, passed away at the age of 75.

Seaver died in his home in California last Monday due to Lewy body dementia and COVID-19, per a statement by his family the Baseball Hall of Fame released.

Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver passes away at age 75. https://t.co/42fo4zBOUc pic.twitter.com/YhHnHLiH8c

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) September 3, 2020

Seaver retired from public life last year after he was diagnosed with dementia.

The Mets released a statement on the passing of Seaver.

Official statement from the #Mets on the passing of Tom Seaver. #RIP41 pic.twitter.com/tWTxQWlk1o

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 3, 2020

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark made remarks about Seaver passing away:

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on the passing of Tom Seaver: pic.twitter.com/UoaK0xNK8h

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) September 3, 2020

Statement of Executive Director Tony Clark on the passing of Tom Seaver: pic.twitter.com/3WORBjC4xD

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) September 3, 2020

The right-hander began his career at USC and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1966, but MLB voided the pick because he was not signed until after the season for USC started.

#FightOnForever Tom Terrific.

The Trojan family mourns along with the rest of the baseball world at the passing of Tom Seaver today. He was 75.

A true Trojan legend and one of the best to ever pick up a baseball ✌️ pic.twitter.com/oEdy93RKS6

— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) September 3, 2020

The Mets signed him to a deal worth $51,500.

He made his debut the next year in 1967 and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

The first season was a sign of more extraordinary things to come, as two years later, he compiled a 25-7 record with a 2.21 ERA in 273 1/3 innings pitched in 1969 to win the NL Cy Young Award and helped the Mets win their first World Series.

Seaver had a phenomenal 20-year career with the Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox.

He won 311 games with a 2.86 ERA and recorded 3,640 strikeouts over his career.

He was a 12-time All-Star, won three NL Cy Young Awards, tossed a no-hitter with the Reds in 1978, and his 10 straight strikeouts during a game in 1970 remains an MLB record.

Seaver is one of only 10 pitchers to have 300-plus wins and 3,000-plus strikeouts. The 3,640 strikeouts by the stellar pitcher are the sixth-most in MLB history.

From 1968-76, he had nine consecutive 200-strikeout seasons, the longest streak in MLB history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Tom Seaver has passed away at the age of 75.

Seaver is one of 10 pitchers all-time with 300 wins and 3,000 K. He had 3,640 K in his career, 6th most in MLB history

From 1968-76, Tom Seaver had nine consecutive 200-strikeout seasons, the longest streak in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/B3jBKUs0Q6

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 3, 2020

The Mets retired his No. 41 in 1988, which made him the first player in club history to earn that distinction.

The pitcher known as “The Franchise” was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 after receiving a then-record 98.8 % of the vote.

Seaver was the only pitcher in the divisional era to win 250 or more games with a career ERA below 3.00, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Only 1 pitcher in the divisional era won 250+ games with a career ERA below 3.00.

Tom Seaver.

RIP. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 3, 2020

One interesting fact about Seaver is he is one of three Hall of Famers from USC; the others are starting pitcher Randy Johnson and former general manager Pat Gillick, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

Tom Seaver is one of three Hall of Famers from USC, the school that has won the most NCAA baseball championships. The others: Randy Johnson, and remarkable GM Pat Gillick.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 3, 2020

Seaver’s former teammates mentioned he had high character and how much of a competitor he was:

His 1969 teammates paint the picture of the fierce competitor he was. #RIP41 pic.twitter.com/2Ad6vTxWQq

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 3, 2020

Seaver was a transcendent pitcher who left countless memories for millions of fans and will be missed.

Tom Seaver had one of the greatest careers we've ever seen from a pitcher. pic.twitter.com/6WNbhujnwT

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 3, 2020

Los Angeles Dodgers Starting Pitcher Clayton Kershaw Reaches Milestone

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw reached a milestone in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

2500 Ks!@ClaytonKersh22 is now the 39th pitcher ever to reach the mark. pic.twitter.com/5Em23Cl0G0

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 4, 2020

He became the 39^th pitcher to record 2,500 strikeouts.

He is also the fifth pitcher to reach this mark by his age-32 season.

The other pitchers to achieve this feat were Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and Tom Seaver, per Jason Catania of MLB.com.

Pitchers to reach 2,500 career strikeouts through their age-32 season

Nolan Ryan*
Walter Johnson*
Pedro Martinez*
Tom Seaver*
Clayton Kershaw**

Quite a list.

*First-ballot Hall of Famer
**Achieved tonight

— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) September 4, 2020

He is the third-youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,500 strikeouts, per MLB Stats.

Clayton Kershaw is the 3rd-youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,500 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/WQx2jJGOPX

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 4, 2020

In terms of games played (353), only three other pitchers have struck out 2,500 batters in fewer games than Kershaw.

Those three are Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, and Max Scherzer, per MLB Stats.

Only THREE pitchers have struck out 2,500 hitters in fewer games than @ClaytonKersh22. pic.twitter.com/ZAd7eWNnQQ

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 4, 2020

Kershaw has a stellar resume worthy of Cooperstown.

The only thing missing for Kershaw is a World Series title.

San Francisco Giants Outfielder Alex Dickerson Makes History

San Francisco Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson made history in last week’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

Dickerson became the 15^th player in MLB history to record five extra-base hits in a game.

He had three home runs and two doubles in a 23-5 blowout to tie Willie Mays for the team record of 16 total bases in a single game.

He is the first Giants player since at least 1901 with five extra-base hits in a game, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

Alex Dickerson is the 1st Giants player since at least 1901 with five extra-base hits in a game.

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 2, 2020

The last player to tally five extra-base hits in a game was St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter in July 2018.

The Giants also made history in the game against the Rockies as they are the first team since RBI became official in 1920 to have three players with six RBIs in a single game, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The Giants are the first team since RBI became official in 1920 to have 3 players with 6 RBI in a single game. pic.twitter.com/CbiQQNyep1

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 2, 2020

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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