“Nicknamed ‘Tom Terrific’ and ‘The Franchise,’ Seaver was a five-time 20-game winner and the 1967 NL Rookie of the Year. He went 311-205 with a 2.86 ERA, 3,640 strikeouts and 61 shutouts during an illustrious career that lasted from 1967 to 1986. He became a constant on magazine covers and a media presence, calling postseason games on NBC and ABC even while still an active player.” Tom Seaver, Hall of Fame pitcher and Mets legend, dies at 75.

+ “But even acknowledging how the passage of time can idealize most hero stories into the stuff of legend, make no mistake: The legend of Seaver’s exceptional mastery needs no exaggeration.”