Posted on 03/07/2019 3:48:50 PM PST by SMGFan
The family of Tom Seaver announced Thursday that the Hall of Fame pitcher was recently diagnosed with dementia and is retiring from public life.
According to the statement, released through the Baseball Hall of Fame, Seaver will continue work in his vineyard in Calistoga in California's wine country. According to MLB.com New York Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo, the team was hoping Seaver could attend a 50th anniversary celebration of the 1969 Miracle Mets but confirmed that in light of Thursday's news, he will not.
"We've been in contact with the Seaver family and are aware of his health situation," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said in a statement. "Although he's unable to attend the '69 Anniversary, we are planning to honor him in special ways and have included his family in our plans."
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
“With pitching it’s all about mechanics and brother he had that.”
Saw him pitch for the Reds, against Tug McGraw, at Shea—
He used every muscle in his body when he pitched, even the ones in his fingernails and hair!!!
Very sad, especially with the 50th anniversary of the
Miracle Mets.
Wow, sorry to hear that.
Yep, coaches get fired the minute the team drops below .500 but nobody in the front office gets fired for screwing up something like this.
He was a Red Sox too.
Sad news. When I was a kid a family friend had Seaver send me an autographed photo. Even addressed and mailed it himself to me - return address was riverfront stadium! It was on my bedroom wall my entire childhood. This was after they started charging for autographs, too.
When he was on, his right knee would be dirty from hitting the mound as he released the ball. Talk about bending at the waist (which is one of the first things a good coach teaches a kid learning to pitch).
Yep. The Mets made a huge mistake letting him go.
It all came out in Chico's book...
I grew up in Queens and have been a lifelong Mets fan. Our house was just a short walk from Shea Stadium, and we went to a LOT of games. Seaver was pitching the very first time I remember going to a game; it was his rookie year. I also remember thinking he was SO HANDSOME up there on the mound.
I wept when he was traded.
This diagnosis is heartbreaking for me.
Sad regards,
1969. Hell frezes over, what a great series.
Baseball is even better when youre old.
ff
In 1991, Seaver was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which caused Bell's palsy. In 2012, after a period of lying dormant in his system, the disease reoccurred. He suffered from loss of memory not even remembering long term acquaintances; "sleep disorder, nausea, and a general overall feeling of chemical imbalance." In January 2013, Seaver was diagnosed with Stage 3 of the disease. As of that July, after a treatment regimen of mostly vitamins, Seaver was feeling much better.[18][19] According to former teammate Bud Harrelson, Seaver has "some short term memory loss, but is otherwise doing well."[20]
A gifted pitcher and a great human being.
I watched him pitch for the White Sox from 1984 to 1986, and met him in July of 1999 at Shea Stadium when he was an announcer for the Mets.
In addition to his physical skills, he was extremely intelligent, and a master at analyzing and out-thinking his opponents.
Prayers for Tom Terrific and his family. He will be sorely missed.
The following year (1987) he tried a comeback but got knocked around at Tidewater against the Mets.
One of the first games that I saw in person was at the Vet, and during that game Seaver threw his 1,000th strikeout. I must admit, it felt a little bit lonely to be a Mets fan there, but it was very enjoyable when they won the game.
This diagnosis is a damned shame. Of course, he’s not unique, this strikes people in all walks of life and steals away a true person while their body still lives. I am very fortunate to have never had a parent or grandparent with this awful disease. My heart goes out to Seaver and to his family. Father Time is stealing another one of my boyhood heroes.
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