Quote of the Day (Pat Jordan, on What Made Tom Terrific)

“Some pitchers are pit bulls for a batter, an inning, a stretch of innings, a game, even a season. Tom Seaver was a pit bull on every pitch, every batter, every out, every inning, every game, every season for twenty years until he retired at forty-two. The depth of his concentration was unparalleled in the game of baseball.”—American sportswriter (and former minor league pitcher) Pat Jordan, Tom Seaver and Me (2020)

Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver died Monday at age 75 of complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19. But in my mind’s eye—and, I suspect, for many others—the Mets great will forever be 25, leading a team with a reputation as lovable losers to a world championship on the strength of his right arm, keen intelligence and iron will, in a troubled era when New York City needed something and somebody to cheer about.

For all that, “The Franchise” won the hearts of Mets fans—and commanded the enduring respect of aficionados of every team in the major leagues.