Link: ‘Baseball is beautiful when it’s played right’

On July 27, 1981, Sports Illustrated published a story on Tom Seaver. Seaver, who was still pitching for the Cincinnati Reds, took a deep dive into his love for the art of pitching.

Last month, Seaver was inducted as the first member of MetsRewind Hall of Fame along with Mike Piazza, Gil Hodges, David Wright and Jerry Koosman.

Seaver nearly doubled the number of total points of all other candidates on the write in ballot, receiving 29.1% of the total points. Piazza finished second with 13.7%, followed by Hodges (13.6%), Wright (4.7%) and Koosman (4.6%).

Seaver pitched 12 seasons (1967-1977, 1983) for the Mets, winning 198 games and compiling a 2.57 ERA. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, three Cy Young Awards (1969, 1973 and 1975) as was selected to nine All-Star teams as a member of the Mets. He was a member of the 1969 World Series champions and 1973 National League champions.

Fox Sports has announced it will release a new Tom Seaver documentary titled “Seaver” on October 13. The film is produced and directed by Edward Burns. According to the media release from Fox, the film “provides unique insight into Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver — a reclusive icon and his relationship with New York City.”

“Pitching is a physical art form, I think. I know that it’s going to be very difficult to find something that will supply me with as much fulfillment and satisfaction for another 25 years, because baseball’s been the one thing I’ve loved since I was a little boy, and I haven’t yet come close to finding anything as rewarding as pitching. Baseball is just so beautiful when it’s played right. God, but it can be a beautiful thing out there.”