Remembering Mets History: (1967) Tom Seaver's MLB Debut

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April 13th 1967: In a much anticipated debut it was tonight that Mets history changed. For it was on this night that a young rookie pitcher named Tom Seaver took the mound for the first time.

 A small Shea Stadium crowd of just 5005 got to see Tom Terrifics debut on a Thursday afternoon matinee at Shea. Wes Westrum's Mets took on Harry Walker's Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs sent Woodie Fryman to the mound vs. Seaver.

Starting Lineups

Pittsburgh Pirates       New York Mets
1Matty AlouCF1Don BoschCF
2Maury Wills3B2Cleon JonesRF
3Roberto ClementeRF3Ken Boyer3B
4Willie StargellLF4Ron Swoboda1B
5Donn Clendenon1B5Tommie ReynoldsLF
6Bill Mazeroski2B6Jerry Buchek2B
7Gene AlleySS7Jerry GroteC
8Jesse GonderC8Bud HarrelsonSS
9Woodie FrymanP9Tom SeaverP

The first batter Seaver ever faced in the majors, was former batting champion Matty Alou, Alou greeted Seaver with a double to right field. After two ground outs he walked slugger Willie Stargell. Then future Met & 1969 World Series MVP Donn Clendennon became Seaver's first ever strike out.

In the 2nd Seaver struck out Bill Mazeroski & Gene Alley. The first run Seaver gave up in his career was a single to Roberto Clemente. Later in the 4th inning he gave up an RBI single to Maury Wills. That hit tied up the game as the Mets second baseman, Jerry Buchek had hit a two run HR off Fryman back in the 2nd inning. Tommie Reynolds had singled prior to the Buchek HR.

Seaver pitched into the 6th inning, he allowed the two runs gave up six hits, walked four & struck out an impressive eight. Seaver was relieved by Chuck Estrada who would pitch 2.2 scoreless innings getting to the 9th inning. Estrada would get the win when in the 8th inning, Buchek singled & was moved over to second on Jerry Grote's sac bunt. He would move over to third on a Larry Stahl ground out & then the game winning hit came on Chuck Hiller's double.

Ron Taylor came in the 9th & earned a save way before it was an official statistic. 

Tom Seaver went on to a twenty year Hall of Fame career, winning three Cy Young Awards & making a dozen All Star games. He won 311 games (311-205) 18th most wins all time, striking out 3640 batters (6th most all time) with 61 shut outs (7th most all time) & posting a 2.86 ERA.

He won a World Series with the 1969 Mets & pitched in two World Series overall, both with the Mets. He was a member of the 1986 Red Sox who lost to the Mets.

For the Mets Seaver pitched 12 years overall going 198-124 with 2541 strike outs & a 2.57 ERA with 44 shut outs, all team bests.


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