Remembering Mets History (1976) Tom Seaver Becomes The First $200k Pitcher

April 1976: In the 1975 season, Tom Seaver earned his third Cy Young Award. He set an MLB record striking out over 200 batters for eight straight seasons. He led the NL in strike outs (243) for the fourth time, & led the league in wins (22) for the second time. He also posted a 2.38 ERA.

Seaver began negotiations for a new contract with the Mets, but the two sides were far apart. Things began to get ugly as the feuding went public in the press. The Mets fans didn't want to hear any of this nonsense, just give their beloved Tom Terrific, anything he wanted. They knew he was the best pitcher in all of baseball.

Seaver did want more money, by 1976 baseball salaries began to rise in the dawn of what was soon to become free agency. Seaver had asked for $825,000 for three years, saying that he would consider playing out his option then go elsewhere if he didn't get what he felt he deserved. 

With the Mets original owner Mrs. Joan Payson passing away recently, M. Donald Grant was in charge. The arrogant old-fashioned Mets president was furious at Seaver's demands. He even threatened to trade him, secretly trying to work out a deal with the Dodgers, which would have brought Don Sutton to New York in exchange for Seaver.

Tom Seaver asked Grant for a sit down to work out an agreement. It was the first time the two actually sat down together to ever negotiate a contract. 

In early April, at Fort Lauderdale Stadium after a Spring Training game against the AL New York team, the two sat down face to face for a meeting. 

The first meeting took place for over an hour, in the visitors' clubhouse. Seaver said he needed a break, to think things over. With nothing officially settled, the two men took a break, leaving without any smiles on their faces. 

They met again, finally, at 11:30 pm a deal was worked out under the stands in a dingy groundskeeper's office, on the third base side of Fort Lauderdale Stadium. 

The Mets officially made Tom Seaver, the highest paid pitcher in baseball, as he became the first pitcher to make over $200,000 a year. Seaver's base salary was to be $225,000, with incentives.

Quotes- Tom Seaver: "I'm glad it's all over. It's been a very trying six weeks. I found it difficult to concentrate on my pitching, the last two starts. I don't think there's any doubt it will help our entire ballclub, knowing the situation is over".

In 1976 Seaver went 14-11 with a 2.59 ERA leading the league in strike outs (243) for the fifth time. He continued his record of striking out 200 or more batters, now for the ninth straight year. The Mets won 86 games but finished third that year. 

By 1977 in the dawn of free agency & million-dollar contracts, the whole Tom Seaver contract issue would go to new levels. Seaver deserved more but Grant refused to give in to the players new salary demands & free agency. The battle went public, when his wife Nancy's name was brought up with a comparison to her friend Ruth, Nolan Ryan's wife it was the last straw. Seaver was traded on the Night remembered as the Midnight Massacre. 

Grants refusal to pay players led to all the Mets top players being dealt & no new free agents added. The team went on a seven-year miserable stretch. Shee Stadum became known as Grants Tomb.