This Date in Mets History: April 13 — Tom Seaver makes a terrific-ish debut
Tom Seaver made his first MLB start 46 years ago today and showed glimpses of greatness. He also showed plenty of adequateness, which is something the Mets desperately needed.
(snip) -— According to the announced attendance figure, a mere 5,005 fans showed up to Shea Stadium on April 13, 1967. That means the three-year old arena was at less than ten percent capacity when Tom Seaver, the man who’d later become “the Franchise”, stalked out to the mound to make his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Presumably, Seaver was received warmly by the sparse home crowd, then less so by Bucs leadoff batter Matty Alou, who opened the game with a double to right. He’d wind up pinned at second, however, as Seaver induced groundouts from the next two batters and close the frame with his first MLB strikeout, a whiff of future teammate Donn Clendenon.
-— To me watching Seaver pitch was like watching an experienced, methodical safe cracker do his work.
Well said!