Remembering Mets History (1972) Tom Seaver Throws Independence Day One Hitter

Tuesday July 4, 1972:
On this Fourth of July, Holiday afternoon, it was an old-fashioned twin bill matinee at Shea Stadium followed by some fireworks at night.

Yogi Berra's second place Mets (43-28) were just one game behind the first-place reigning World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Today the Mets hosted Don Zimmer's last place; San Diego Padres (25-47). The Padres were playing in the franchise's fourth season of MLB play.
 
They would finish in sixth place (last in the NL West) their first six seasons through 1974. They would lose 100 games or more fur times in that stretch. The Padres best hitter was Nate Colbert who would hit 38 HRs & drive in 111 runs.

For the Mets, Tom Seaver who was already 10-4 was going up against the friars' Clay Kirby (5-7).

Seaver would win 21 games that year, the third time in his career he won twenty or more & the second straight year. He posted a 2.92 ERA; he had won the NL ERA title the two previous year & would post the league's best ERA the next season as well. The same goes for strike outs, he led the league in 1970 (283) & 1971 (289) he would K 249 (second in the NL) in 1972 & then lead the NL in 1973 (251) once again.


In the top of the 1st, Derrel Thomas attempted to start the game with a bunt base hit but he lined out to Seaver for the first out. After Dave Roberts grounded out, Seaver fanned Leron Lee to end the inning. 

In the top of the 2nd, Seaver started the inning striking out Padre slugger Nate Colbert then Cito Gaston for his third K.

 In the top of the 3rd, Pat Corrales pooped up to Bud Harrelson. Seaver then fanned Enzo Hernandez & got Clay Kirby on a grounder as he set down the first nine Padres.

In the home 3rd, with two outs Bud Harrelson singled & stole second. Then Clay Kirby lost all control. He walked four straight batters, first Wayne Garrett & John Milner to load the bases. He then walked in two runs giving free passes to Jim Fregosi & Ed Kranepool as the Mets had a 2-0 lead.

In the inning the Mets sent nine men to the plate, scoring two runs collecting just one hit & four walks.

In the top of the 4th Seaver had his roughest inning; after getting the first two outs, he walked Leron Lee & Nate Colbert. With Colbert being the first of just two Padres that would reach second base that afternoon. Seaver then struck out Cito Gaston to end the inning. 

In the top of the 5th, Seaver got two ground ball outs & a fly ball out keeping his no hitter intact.

In the top of the 6th, Seaver struck out Johnny Jeter, then got Derrel Thomas on a grounder to third base. He ended the inning fanning Dave Roberts for his seventh strike out.

Seaver got stronger as the game went on, in the top of the 7th after Leron Lee flew out, he struck out slugger Nate Colbert & Cito Gaston to reach nine K's.

In the top of the 8th, the Shea crowd were hanging on every pitch, they had seen Seaver do this before but fall short, they were hoping this was the day to see his first no hitter.

The first batter Jerry Morales flew out for the first out. Next pinch hitter Curt Blefary struck out as Tom Terrific reached ten strike outs on the day.

Trivia: Although it was the third time on the year he reached double digits in strike outs, he would reach that mark six times on the year.

Seaver then walked pinch hitters Larry Stahl & Garry Jestadt. As the Padres had two men on for just the second time in the game. Next, Derrel Thomas hit a sharp liner, but it was caught by Teddy Martinez in right field to end the inning.

Seaver carried a no hitter into the 9th inning, once again flirting to throw the first one in franchise history.

In the top of the 9th, the first batter, Dave Roberts grounded out to second baseman Wayne Garrett for the first out. The Shea crowd cheered & held their breath for two more outs.

In July 1969, Seaver had taken a no hitter into the 9th but with two outs, the Cubs Jimmy Qualls lined a base hit to left field breaking up not only a no hitter, but a perfect game.

On this Independence Day, the next Padres batter; Leron Lee would spoil Seavers no hit effort. Lee sailed a base hit into centerfield. The Shea Faithful let out a huge gasp, as they were heartbroken as was Seaver. 

Leron Lee Trivia: Leron Lee played eight seasons in the majors, first with the St. Louis Cardinals (1969-1970) then with the Padres (1971-1973). In 1972 he had his best season batting .300 with 12 HRs 23 doubles & 47 RBIs in 101 games played. He would go to the Cleveland Indians (1974-1975) & finish his career with the L.A. Dodgers (1975 & 1976). Lee was a career .250 hitter.

The crowd gave their beloved Tom a standing ovation; he walked back to his office of the pitcher's mound, continuing on with his business. 

The next batter Nate Colbert, who was now the tying run at the plate. Colbert grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game. 
The Mets won the game 2-0. 

Tom Seaver threw a one hit masterpiece, striking out eleven batters & walking four. 

One Hit Trivia: This was Tom Seaver's fourth complete game one hitter. He would go on to pitch five one hitters in his Mets career. It was the ninth one hit game thrown by a Mets pitcher in franchise history.

He went to 11-4 on the season with a 3.04 ERA. Seaver would throw three shut outs & have 13 complete games on the season.