Tom Seaver establishes a big league record with his 15th Opening Day assignment, earning the victory in the White Sox’s 4-2 win over Milwaukee at County Stadium. The right-hander, who also got the first-day nods from the Mets (1968-77, 1983) and Reds (1978-79, 1981), will extend the mark previously held by Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators to 16 next season.
Striking out Marvell Wynne in the sixth inning, Dwight Gooden breaks the season strikeout record for a rookie. By whiffing 16 Pirates, Doc’s total of 251 is six more than Herb Score’s 1955 mark.
On January 20, 1984, the Chicago White Sox claim 39 year old Tom Seaver from the New York Mets as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Dennis Lamp to the Toronto Blue Jays.. The 39-year-old Seaver won only nine games in 1983, and the Mets left Seaver off their protected list…
Mets reliever Jesse Orosco garners four votes for the National League Most Valuable Player Award, ending a six-year drought in which not one player on the team received a single vote for the honor. The last time a writer cast an MVP vote for a New York National Leaguer was on the 1976 ballot when the writers gave Tom Seaver was given consideration.
On April 5, 1983, Tom Seaver makes his first appearance for the Mets since 1977. Seaver defeats the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, on Opening Day at Shea Stadium. For Seaver, it’s his 14th Opening Day assignment, tying the record set by Walter Johnson…
Tom Seaver agrees to contract terms with the New York Mets
On April 18, 1981, Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds notches the 3,000th strikeout of his Hall of Fame career. Seaver fans Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals, joining Bob Gibson, Walter Johnson, Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan as members of the exclusive pitching club.
1979 – Cincinnati overtakes Houston for the N.L. West lead during a tense 9-8 loss at Riverfront Stadium. It is the Astros’ first true pennant-race showdown. Both aces, Tom Seaver and J.R. Richard, start. They are long gone by the time Dave Concepcion and George Foster homer off Joe Sambito for the decisive runs. Rafael Landestoy goes 5-for-5 to pace Houston.
On June 16, 1978, Tom Seaver hurls the first no-hitter of his brilliant career at Riverfront Stadium. Seaver strikes out three and walks three as the Cincinnati Reds halt the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0. Seaver had barely missed pitching no-hitters on three previous occasions, during the first 12 years of his career. losing the bid…
1978 – The traditional Opening Day in Cincinnati is an 11-9 loss to the Reds. Terry Puhl begins the season with a leadoff homer against Tom Seaver and is later joined by Cesar Cedeno and Joe Ferguson in the longball department. Ferguson also starts a triple play when he catches strike three from Joe Sambito, throws out George Foster stealing second then watches Joe Morgan get caught in a rundown between third and home.