Remembering Mets History (1988) Mets Retire Tom Seaver's #41

Sunday July 24th, 1988: Tom Seaver Day- 46,056 fans came out to Shea Stadium as the Mets officially retired Tom Seaver's #41 & inducted him into the teams Hall of Fame.

All the fans in attendance got a white cap with the circled #41 on it with the words "Tom Seaver Day1988" written around it. 

They were also given a Tom Seaver painted poster artist by Don Mass.

Some of Tom's old team mates were on hand for the celebration. His long time battery mate Jerry Grote, former  roommate/short stop Bud Harrelson, teammate Rusty Staub, as well as his the left hander who was usually next in the rotation behind him, Jerry Koosman. 

The legendary pitching coach, Rube Walker, along with longtime Mets trainer Tom McKenna, were also in attendance. 

Tom & his wife Nancy came out from center field waving to the crowd in a convertible car circling the field. They were met on the field by their daughters Sarah & Anne as well as other family members, including Tom's proud father. 

The opening MC for the on field ceremonies was Mets' broadcaster Bob Murphy, donning a green jacket, white slacks & white shoes. Murph read a letter sent from the President of the United States; Ronald Regan honoring Seaver.

Murphy then introduced Ralph Kiner who took on the next segment of the honors. Speeches were made by long time Mets beat writer & Seaver supporter Jack Lang. Bud Harrelson & head of the Mets Hall of Fame Committee; Arthur Richman also made speeches.

1988 Mets team Captain, Keith Hernandez made a short speech & the brought out current Mets team mates Gary Carter & Lee Mazzilli. They presented Tom & his wife with a case of fine wine. Seaver, of course a wine enthusiast who would own a successful vineyard in Napa Valley.

Mets GM Frank Cashen gave out gifts to the Seaver family & officially made the announcement of retiring Tom's uniform #41.

The was was the first Mets player's uniform number retired by the organization in the franchise's first 36 years. Managers Casey Stengel & Gil Hodges number had previously been retired. 28 years later in 2016, Mike Piazza's number #31 would be the next player number retired. 

After the new ownership retired numbers became a usual thing. Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden & David Wright have since had their numbers retired. 

Quotes: Tom Seaver: "I don't know about you but I think 41 looks great out on that wall."

Seaver's speech included a tribute to his old manager Gil Hodges, telling the fans how proud he was to have his number retired besides Hodges'. 

Tom ran to the mound & took bows from all angles as he gave his very own thank you to all the Mets fans through the years. Seaver always refered to the mound as "his office".

Unfortunately that day, in the game following the Seaver ceremonies, Davey Johnson's first place Mets (58-39) lost a 4-2 game to Russ Nixon's last place Atlanta Braves (34-62).