Tom Seaver: 1973 Mets Pennant Season & Second Cy Young Award
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Carlton had led the NL winning 27 games on a Phillies team that won just 59 games. On this Opening Day, Seaver pitched a five-hit shutout striking out eight & walking two.
Cleon Jones drove in another run with a sac fly & John Milner added an RBI single with both runs coming in the 1st inning. Gibson would face the Mets just once more that season, beating New York 4-3 on August 4th. But in the game, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out until September 29th, hurting the Cards pennant chances down the stretch.
On April 22, in the first game of a double header split with the Expos at Shea, Seaver went up against John Stromayer. The two pitchers pitched to a 1-1 tie thru nine innings, before Montreal's Tim Foli, the former Met hit drove in the games winning run in the top of the 10th inning off Phil Hennigan.
Three Game Losing Streak: On May 2nd, at Shea Stadium the Cincinnati Red roughed up Seaver for four runs, including HRs by Johnny Bench & Pete Rose in a 6-1 loss. It was the only time on the season Seaver suffered a personal three-game losing streak.
Two Hit Shut Out: On May 12th, in Pittsburgh, Seaver pitched a two-hit shutout over the Pirates. The only hits came off the pitcher Bob Moose, a single in the 3rd inning then a Willie Stargell triple in the 7th inning.
When the Pirates came to Shea, Seaver made his next start, giving up three runs including a solo
HR to Bob Robertson. But Wayne Garrett led the Mets with a two run HR in a multi-three RBI game leading to the 4-3 win. Rusty Staub added the other Mets run.
Season High 16 K Game: On May 29th in Candlestick Park, San Francisco just 187 miles from his hometown of Fresno, Seaver struck out a season high 16 batters, in a three hit two run victory. In the bottom of the 1st, he collected his first two Ks, the in the 2nd, struck out three more Giants.
Tom's HR: The only run was on Tom Seavers solo HR, pleasing his family & friends from Fresno in attendance. It was the only HR Seaver would hit all season. It was his sixth career HR & he had hit a career best three the season before (1972).
On June 13th at Shea, Seaver beat the Giants & Tom Bradley, who had won 15 games in each of the previous two seasons with the White Sox, allowing just one run on nine hits, with just four K on the nights. Seaver took a shutout into the 9th inning, when Dave Rader doubled & Bobby Bonds brought him in with a base hit for the only Giants run.
On June 29th the Cubs 14 game winner, Rick Reuschel matched Seaver into the 8th inning as both pitchers exited the game in a 2-2 tie. The Cubs Adrian Garrett, the Mets Wayne Garrett's brother & Gene Hiser both homered off Seaver making it the second time a team had a multi-HR game against him. For the first time on the season his ERA reached two (2.00). The Cubs won the game with a 10th inning walk off RBI single from Jose Cardenal.
On the Fourth of July, the Mets were in Canada taking a 7-5 loss to the Expos in Montreal Seaver gave up a season high up to that point, four walks in the game. Seaver was charged with three earned runs, two more runs scored unearned by a Ted Martinez error at short. Upon Seavers exit, Buzz Capra served up a three run HR to Ron Woods. On the Mets end, Willie Mays hit his 656th career HR.
On July 9th, in another pitcher's duel with one of league's top pitchers, Seaver went up against the Astros Don Wilson at Shea Stadium. The two pitchers matched zero's thru six innings, then in the top of the 7th slugger Lee May led off with a solo HR off Seaver.
On July 13th, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Tom lost another 2-1 heart breaker to Jack Billingham & the Big Red Machine. Billingham out dueled Seaver, pitching the complete game, while earning his league leading 13th win of the season. In the home 3rd, Pete Rose collected an RBI single & Joe Morgan followed with a HR for the two Reds runs. Cleon Jones RBI double accounted for the Mets only run.
Seaver gave up just one earned run in his ninth complete game of the year keeping his ERA just above two at 2.02. Tom struck out nine in the game, his highest total since the 16 K game on May 29th.
Game Winning RBI: On July 22nd, at the Astrodome it was the second season matchup with the Astros' Don Wilson. In the top of the 7th inning, with the score tied 2-2, Wayne Garret had stolen third base & Bud Harrelson was on first base. Tom Seaver dropped a sacrifice bunt off reliever Jerry Ruess scoring Garrett with what turned out to be the games winning run. Seaver completed his tenth complete game, earning his 11th win (11-5).
First Half of the Season: Seaver finished the first half of the season, at 11-5 with a 202 ERA, 157 strike outs & 38 walks in 169.2 innings after 21 starts heading into the All-Star break.
1973 All Star Game: Tom Seaver & Willie Mays in his 23rd & final All-Star appearance, represented the Mets at the All-Star Game played in Kansas City.
On July 26th, in his first start after the All-Star Game, Seaver made the start in St. Louis against another eleven-game winner, Rick Wise. In another pitching thriller, where both pitchers went the distance, Seaver earned his 12th win taking the 2-1 win, giving up nine hits, with eight strike outs & two walks. He lowered his ERA down under two (1.96) as well. The offense was led by Rusty Staub's two doubles & John Milner's solo HR, his 15th of the season.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Pirate pitcher Steve Blass helped New York, walking four batters & hitting Felix Millan with a pitch with the bases loaded for a 2-0 lead. From the 5th inning into the 9th, Seaver retired 13 batters in a row, before Willie Stargell doubled. But Seaver retired Richie Hebner to end the game & secure the shut out.
On August 5th, the St. Louis Cardinals who were now riding high in first place, swept a double
header from the Mets at Shea Stadium, increasing their lead to five games.
The Mets put up seven runs in the game, led by Wayne Garrett's three run HR, while another Dominican, Mets reserve infielder Teddy Martinez enjoyed a multi- three hit game.
Two Hit Shut Out: On August 15th, the Mets were down the coast in San Diego to face Steve Arlin & the Padres. Seaver held did not allow a hit until the 5th inning, then another in the 6th inning. He then retired 12 Padres in a row, to complete a two-hit shutout, his third shutout of the year, his 15th win & the back-to-back complete game gave him 13 complete games on the season.
The Reds put up two runs on Seaver early with HRs from Joe Morgan & Larry Stahl. The Mets came back to tie it with an RBI double from Felix Millan & a sac fly from John Milner scoring Millan. Seaver held the Reds scoreless for eight innings, from the 4th thru the 12th inning, giving up just three hits in that time. He struck out the side on both the 7th & 9th innings, finishing with 12 strike outs for the game in 12 innings pitched. It was his fourth double digit strike out game of the season.
As a team, the Mets finished the day twelve games under .500 (55-67) seven games under .500 at the bottom of the NL East but only seven games out of first. From this point on, they went 27-12 climbing their way up into first place. At this point the team was at it's healthiest as most regular players came back from their injuries, timely hitting, solid defense & spectacular pitching led to the winning.
On August 30th in St. Louis, Reggie Cleveland & Al Hrabosky "the Mad Hungarian" combined on a four-hit shutout to hand Seaver his second straight loss. Seaver pitched 10 innings in this game with Jose Cruz finishing it off with a walk off single.
The Expos Rookie Steve Rogers who was second in the Rookie of the Year voting that season & starting out his fine career, held the Mets to a run on four hits handing Seaver his ninth loss (16-9). The Expos were just 2.5 games behind the first place Cardinals & 1.5 games ahead of the Mets in the division.
Tonight, Seaver did not have his stuff, giving up a season high five runs, matching his June 8th outing vs the Dodgers. He gave up two HRs for just the fifth time on the year, with Willie Stargell hitting his league leading 40th HR of the season.
The Mets scored early going up 4-0 with a pair of two run doubles from Cleon Jones & Jerry Grote. Although the Pirates got two runs back in the bottom frame, Seaver would not allow another run & scatter just three more hits the rest of the way as New York went on to the 10-2 win taking over first place.
On September 26th, Seaver who may have been a bit tired at this point, made his earliest exit of the year. The Expos roughed him up for four earned runs after just two innings at Shea Stadium. In the top of the 1st, Seaver gave up four runs, issued four walks, a passed ball & two hits.
Trivia: The Expos were one of three teams including the Reds & Dodgers that Seaver did not earn a win against that season. He made four starts vs. Montreal, three vs. the Reds & two vs. LA.
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In the first game of the twin bill, Jon Matlack lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Rick Reuschel who combined with Bob Locker for a five-hit shutout. The Mets won the second game as Jerry Koosman beat Ferguson Jenkins, as Cleon Jones hit a two run HR & Rusty Staub drove in three runs with a multi-three hit/ three RBI game including his 36th double of the year.
Seaver may not have been at his best form but was still very good. After a 1-2-3 first inning, he gave up hits in each of the next three innings but kept the Cubs off the board. In the bottom of the 5th, he gave up four singles with Don Kessinger & Billy Williams collecting RBI hits getting the Cubs to within 5-2. Seaver then retired Ron Santo & struck out Jose Cardenal to end the inning.
Manager Yogi Berra knew Seaver had enough on this cold wet day. He summoned Tug McGraw who by now was the league's best reliever to enter the game.
1973 Stats: Tom Seaver won his second Cy Young Award that season, leading the league in ERA (2.08) strike outs (251) & complete games (18).
He went 19-10 (2nd most wins in the NL) with three shut outs in 290 innings pitched (3rd most in the NL). Research shows that with a little more run support he could have easily won 25 games.
The Mets Cleon Jones led the way with two HRs driving in all three Mets runs having a multi-three hit/three RBI game.
In Seaver's second start of the season, he beat another future Hall of Famer taking a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals Bob Gibson in St. Louis. Seaver went eight innings giving up one run, a solo HR to Jose Cruz.
In his next two starts, Seaver allowed just one run over 16 innings but did not get a win. On April 17th, he took a 1-0 heartbreaking loss at Wrigley Field, to yet another Hall of Famer, the Cubs Ferguson Jenkins. The only run came on Rick Monday's 4th inning solo HR.
It was just one of three starts for Stromayer who did not get the decision & did not earn any wins that season in 24 games. In July he would get placed on waivers & get picked up by the Mets, making seven relief appearances.
On April 27th, Seaver gave up back-to-back HRs to the Braves Henry Aaron & Darrel Evans, taking a 2-0 loss in Atlanta. The Braves Pat Dobson shut out New York on a three hitter. That season Aaron, Evans & Davey Johnson became the first MLB trio of teammates to all hit 40 or more HRs.
In those final three games of April, Seaver took two losses & a no decision, but had only allowed four earned runs in 25 innings of work. The Mets dismal offense at that point had only scored one run in the three games.
From May 7th to June 3rd, in his next six starts Tom won five games going 5-0, allowing ten earned runs in 51 innings for a 1.76 ERA, striking out 46 batters & throwing four complete games. In that stretch he only allowed more than two runs in one game.
On May 7th at Shea, the Mets were trailing the Braves 2-1 going into the bottom of the 8th inning, as Pat Dobson held the Mets in check. The lone Atlanta run came on Dusty Baker's 7th inning HR.
But on this night, the Mets gave Seaver run support, in the bottom of the 8th inning they put up six runs, collecting just four hits & getting help with five walks from Braves pitchers.
In the inning, Seaver himself drove in a run on a ground out force play, stole second base & scored a run on Feliz Millan's RBI single.
Moose had held the Mets to a run thru the first seven innings, then New York put up two in the 8th & three more in the top of the 9th. Seaver struck out just three in the game, his lowest total in any of his league leading 18 complete games on the season.
HR to Bob Robertson. But Wayne Garrett led the Mets with a two run HR in a multi-three RBI game leading to the 4-3 win. Rusty Staub added the other Mets run.
On May 24th in Los Angeles, Seaver & Tommy John started out a what was to be a 19 inning, five hour forty-two-minute affair, with the Mets taking a 7-3 victory. In six innings Seaver gave up three runs on nine hits.
As a team, the Mets went on a west coast road trip having one of their lowest points of the season. They lost seven of nine games in California, with the two wins belonging to Seaver.
In the bottom of the 6th, one of Seaver's favorite players growing up, Willie McCovey hit a two run HR giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. By the 7th inning, he had notched his tenth strike out, he collected two more in the 8th but was still trailing 2-1 as Jimm Barr held the Mets to a run.
On June 3rd in San Diego, Seaver beat the Padres in his fourth straight complete game win. In the top of the 9th inning, the Padres Gary Ross beaned George Theodore with a pitch, breaking his glasses. Theodore had collected an RBI single earlier in the game. In the dugout Seaver was fuming as he thought the pitch was intentional. He did not hit anyone in the bottom of the inning but finished off his 9-2 complete game victory to get to 7-3 on the season. His ERA was one of the league's best at 1.74.
On June 8th, he gave up a season high five runs, taking a 7-4 loss to the Dodgers.
On June 24th in Pittsburgh, Seaver beat the Pirates for the third time of the season. He gave up just two runs, in nine innings for his eighth complete game of the season & his ninth victory. Seaver kept his season ERA below two at 1.97.
On the Fourth of July, the Mets were in Canada taking a 7-5 loss to the Expos in Montreal Seaver gave up a season high up to that point, four walks in the game. Seaver was charged with three earned runs, two more runs scored unearned by a Ted Martinez error at short. Upon Seavers exit, Buzz Capra served up a three run HR to Ron Woods. On the Mets end, Willie Mays hit his 656th career HR.
In the bottom of the 9th, with Don Wilson going for the shut out, Rusty Staub & Ron Hodges singled, the pinch hitter Jim Beachamp tied the game with an RBI single to left field. Wilson would pitch 11 innings giving way to Jim York, who gave up a 12th inning base hit to Willie Mays, who advanced on a fielder's choice then scored on Felix Millan's walk off single.
On July 18th, the Mets scored 12 runs for Seaver as he earned his first win in three weeks, giving him his 10th win of the year reaching double digits in wins in his first seven seasons.
Trivia: From July 18th thru August 15th, Seaver would win six of his next seven decisions. allowing seven earned runs in 61 innings for a 1.03 ERA.
Seaver the Hitter: That season Seaver would hit .161 (15-93) with two doubles, a triple, a HR five RBIs & nine runs scored.
As a team the Mets were in last place, ten games under .500 (42-52) falling 7.5 games behind the first place Chicago Cubs & St, Louis Cardinals who were tied. But the Montreal Expos were just one game ahead, the third place Phillies two games ahead & the second place Pirates just three games ahead of the Mets in a wild NL east.
In the bottom of the 8th, Tom Seaver, came on to pitch with the NL leading 7-1. Seaver got three ground ball outs & issued a walk to the Tigers Ed Brinkman. The NL won the game 7-1.
Four Hit Shut Out: On August 1st, the Mets swept a double header from the Pirates at Shea Stadium. In the first game, a rescheduled game from an earlier rain out, Seaver pitched a four-hit shutout, his second shutout & 11th complete game of the season.
In the 1st, he struck out the side around an Al Oliver double. In the 2nd, after a one Richie Zisk double he struck out Milt May & Dal Maxvill.
Seaver was now 4-0 against the Pirates for the season. In four starts he had given up four runs in 36 innings. This was his 13th win overall as he still kept his ERA under one at 1.87.
header from the Mets at Shea Stadium, increasing their lead to five games.
In the first game, Seaver held a 2-1 lead into the 7th inning, the only run was unearned, then RBI singles from Bake McBride & Lou Brock put the Cards ahead for good. Alan Foster took the win to hand Seaver his first loss since July 13th. Seaver was now 13-6 with his ERA still under two at 1.90. The Cards would win six of eight games but then go on to lose 11 of their next 12.
On the second Mets West Coast Road trip of the season, Seaver got another start in San Francisco, close to his home town. In another matchup of future Hall of Famers, he went up against "the Dominican Dandy" Juan Marichal.
In the top of the 2nd, with Cleon Jones & Martinez on, Seaver bashed a double to left field scoring both runners for his fifth RBIs of the season. In his two games at San Francisco, Seaver had collected three hits with a HR, double, three RBIs & two runs scored. No doubt he had many family members & friends on hand coming from in his hometown of Fresno.
On the mound, Tom allowed one run on eight hits as he struck out seven, earning his 14th victory (14-6) lowering his ERA to 1.86 in his 12th complete game of the season.
On August 20th back at Shea Stadium, the Reds were in town as Seaver went up against Jack Billingham once again. Billingham came into the game at 16-8 having just shut out the Pirates.
Tug & Ya Gotta Believe Trivia: This game marked the low point for Tug McGraw who had pitching problems all season, at one point he claimed he forgot how to throw a baseball. Tug fell to 0-6 with a 5.45 ERA having blown seven saves.
But from this point on Tug became the best reliever in baseball, from August 22 thru the end of the regular season, he went 5-0 with eleven saves posting a 0.95 ERA in 18 appearances. The rally cry "Ya Gotta Believe" was born as Tug led the way with the cheering.
In his last two starts of August, Seaver took two straight 1-0 losing decisions. On August 25th at Shea, the Giants Gary Maddox 1st inning RBI single was all Tom Bradley needed as he shut out the Mets on a four hitter.
The Cardinals were still in first place 2.5 games ahead of the Pirates & now had a 6.5 game lead over New York.
On September 4th at Shea Stadium, the Mets knocked out the Phils Jim Lonborg in the 3rd inning, scoring five runs leading to Seaver's 16th win of the year. Tom allowed just one run o five hits as he struck out 13 batters, for the second time of the season. The 13 Ks were his second highest strike out total of the season & his sixth double digit strike out game. He kept his league leading ERA at 1.74 while notching his league best 17th complete game.
On September 8th in Montreal, Seaver would give up a two run HR to his former Mets teammate Ken Singleton & a solo HR to Veteran Ron Fairly. It was the fourth time in 31 starts that Seaver allowed more than one HR in a game.
On September 13th, Seaver would beat the Phillies again, this time at Veterans Stadium, as he & Ken Brett both pitched 11 innings exiting in a 2-2 tie. Ken was the older brother of George Brett who had just made his MLB debut in Kansas City. In this game Seaver struck out 12 making it the fifth time he had reached 12 K's in a game & his sixth double digit strike out game.
Seaver vs Philly in '73: In his last two starts against the Phillies, he struck out 25 batters in 19 innings. In three starts that season against the Phillies he was 3-0 with 33 Ks holding them to three earned runs in 27.2 innings (0.98 ERA).
On September 17th, the Mets were in Pittsburgh for an important game at Three Rivers Stadium. The Mets had won nine of their last 12 & were now just 2.5 games behind Pirates who had taken over first place. The Mets & Pirates were to play the next five games against each other, two in Pittsburgh & three in New York as things heated up.
In three starts at Three Rivers Stadium, Seaver gave up three HRs the most in any opposing ballpark that year. It was the first time in five games the Pirates were able to beat Seaver.
Mets Take Over First Place: On September 21st, four nights later, the Mets were now just a half game in back of the Pirates having won three straight games over them. On this Friday night 51,381 paid fans filled up Shea Stadium as Tom Seaver took on Steve Blass looking to take over the Eastern Division.
Seaver earned his 19th victory (18-10) maintaining his league leading 1.88 ERA notching his 18th complete game of the season. He gave up just five hits, struck out eight & walked two.
Seaver vs. Pirates in '73: On the season he saw the most action against the Pirates making six starts, two more than any other opponent. He won five of those games, two more wins than any other opponent as well. He struck out 37 Pirates in 48 innings with the team hitting .188 against him as he posted a 2.25 ERA.
He exited the game a bit sore getting no decision in the loss, spoiling any chance for another
twenty-win season as he had just one more start to go.
twenty-win season as he had just one more start to go.
The loss snapped a Mets seven-game win streak, but they still held a half game lead of first place
with four games left scheduled to play at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
with four games left scheduled to play at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Three days of rain in Chicago postponed the Mets until Sunday, September 30th where they would play a double header with the Cubs. In the mean time, the Pirates lost three straight games, two of them to the Expos giving the Mets a 1.5 game lead heading into Sunday's action.
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Mets Clinch NL East Title: On Monday October 1st, in what was the final day of the 1973 regular season, the Mets & Cubs were scheduled for another double header on another drizzly dreary day. Tom Seaver was scheduled to pitch his most important game of the regular season & one of his biggest since the 1969 World Series. All the Mets needed to do was win one of the two games in order to clinch the NL Eastern Division.
A small crowd of just 1,913 fans, showed up at a cold rainy Wrigley Field as Seaver went up against the knuckle curve ball specialist Burt Hooton.
In the 2nd, the hot hitting Cleon Jones hit a HR to put the Mets ahead 1-0. In his final six games Cleon hit four HRs with six RBIs. In the 4th Jerry Grote added a two-run single. In the 5th Rusty Staub & John Milner added RBIs giving the Mets a 5-0 lead.
The Mets tacked on a run leading 6-2 thru six. In the top of the 7th inning, Dave Rosello singled & then Rick Monday blasted a two run HR making it a 6-4 game.
Tom Seaver went six innings, allowing four runs on eleven hits striking out two & walking no one.
Tug McGraw retired the side & went on to complete the three inning save. In the bottom of the 9th, Ken Rudolph led off with a base hit. McGraw struck out Dave Rosello then got Glenn Beckert to line out into a game ending double play to John Milner at first base.
It was all over; the Mets had clinched the NL Eastern title & were heading to the playoffs for a date with the Big Red Machine. In the clubhouse Tom Seaver & the Mets celebrated.
He went 19-10 (2nd most wins in the NL) with three shut outs in 290 innings pitched (3rd most in the NL). Research shows that with a little more run support he could have easily won 25 games.
In the second half of the season, Tom went 8-5 with a 2.17 ERA striking out 104 batters & walking 26 in 15 starts. For the season, at Shea Stadium he was 7-5 with a 2.01 ERA with opponents hitting .199 against him while on the road he was 12-5 with a 2.13 ERA & batters hitting .211, showing he got more run support on the road.