1967: ARRIVAL OF TOM TERRIFIC

Chapter 4

The complex story of Tom Seaver's signing as a top collegiate prospect has been told and retold on numerous occasions. It is recounted several times in the pages (e.g., see Chapters 2 and 3) of this very book. Had young Mr. Seaver's improper signing in February 1966 with the Atlanta Braves been allowed to stand unchallenged, then obviously, the face of National League baseball would have looked quite different throughout the late 1960s and all of the 1970s. Tom Terrific would certainly have ended up as a permanent resident in Cooperstown, no matter which team he pitched for. But if he had not worn the Mets' blue and orange jersey from the start of his career, it is likely that the charming saga of the Miracle Mets would never have occurred, at least not quite so early on.

Seaver's first season in the big time was not as eye-catching as that of some other rookie phenoms. He didn't lead the league in anything outside of top rookie ballots, despite breaking every club record in sight for the six-year-old franchise. Dwight Gooden's debut was certainly better from a numerical standpoint and from every other angle. Gooden's 17-9 mark edges Seaver's 16-13 ledger, and the ERA and strikeout totals of the former easily best those of the latter. Gooden's strikeout total was better than Seaver's by nearly a hundred whiffs (276 to 170). The following year's rookie phenom, Jerry Koosman, also posted victory and ERA numbers better than those of Seaver's debut campaign. But then it has to be noted that the 1967 Mets, who had slipped back into the league cellar, didn't exactly offer much support for the wet-behind-the-ears star pitcher. Gooden and Koosman both pitched for much better teams.

Yet from the first day Seaver arrived in New York with the Mets, one thing was clear. Here was the ball club's entire future hopes wrapped up in one sensational arm and in an athlete who was wise far beyond his years in the craft of pitching. Indeed, never has it been any more crystal clear that a single player held the key to an entire franchise future. And never have such outrageous expectations heaped on the shoulders of an untried rookie been better met in the few short years to follow.