Tom Seaver

George Thomas Seaver (born November 17, 1944 in Fresno, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the major leagues in 1967 and retired in 1986. He played for four different teams in his career but was primarily associated with his first, the New York Mets. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award and three Cy Young Awards as the league's best pitcher.

Early years

As a high school pitcher Seaver compensated for his lack of size and strength by developing great control on the mound, and despite being an All-City basketball player, he hoped to play baseball in college. After six months of active duty in the Marine Corps Reserves, he enrolled at Fresno City College much stronger and with greater velocity, but still with the same fine control of his pitches. The next year, he was recruited to pitch for the University of Southern California. In 1966 he signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves, who had drafted him; but the contract was voided by the NCAA and Baseball Commissioner William Eckert, and the Mets were awarded his signing rights in a lottery drawing among those teams willing to match the Braves' terms.

Related Topics:
Basketball - University of Southern California - 1966 - Atlanta Braves - NCAA - Baseball Commissioner - William Eckert

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