Going vine-yard
Hello again, everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading comments on my first blog.
Let me answer some of your questions. Joe_Lisa@hotmail.com, we are looking at about two and a half years before our wine will be ready to be sold. I have a waiting list already, and if you are serious just send an email with your address and we will put you down on the list.
As you all probably know, I have built a vineyard on about three acres and we have Cabernet grapes. It truly has become my passion.
Even though it has become my passion, baseball will always be right there among everything in my life, so let me not lose my focus.
Let’s talk about Interleague Play, which resumes Monday with the second round. I wasn’t a big fan of it when it started but Interleague Play has added in certain areas a v
ery interesting draw. The matches that everybody is watching — such as Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, St. Louis-Kansas City — are wonderfully obvious attractions. But trying to find a natural matchup with a team like Seattle is very difficult in Interleague Play. It was pretty amazing that last weekend, the Mets drew their largest crowd ever for a three-game series in their history. (Here’s a picture of that catch in the stands by David Wright.)
As far as the National League East goes, I think it will be a horserace to the end. Atlanta has always been able to figure out a way to get there, and the Mets are much improved; and the Marlins with their pitching are going to be right in the hunt.
Thanks for listening to another Seaver blog and don’t forget to check out my website at www.tomterrificseaver.com or our partner website at mabcelebrity.com.
HAPPY BLOGGING!!!!!!!
On the Hill with Tom Terrific 
Mr. Seaver?
First, welcome to the blogosphere. As the admin of mets.mlblogs.com, it?s odd for me to think I now share something in common with one of my childhood idols?
Second, speaking on Interleague play, what are your thoughts regarding the influence it has on the fairness of each team’s schedule?for instance, while the Mets are playing the Yankees six times a year, the Marlins are playing the Devil Rays?
Best of luck blogging, Tom?
Matthew Cerrone
It’s wonderful Tom to have yoy back in the Met Family, we wouldn’t be the same without you. A lifer, I became a Met fan in 62 and thankyou for all the wonderful days you gave us here. By the way, I’m the fan they spoke of who was calling the “near-perfect” game up in the right field grandstand seat. Sorry I didn’t know who the heck Qualls was, lol.
at age 43 i finally appreciate how graet you and gibby were if your offense scored 2 u would give up 1. as a child i was priviledged to see u v gibby at shea. i am a met fan thru and thru but i am still a baseball fan first. mr Seaver u made many a weekend afterneen and doubleheader( u remember the twin bill) a great time in my childhood thx sorry for the spelling mistakes im real tired and had too much to drink as usual.. man i miss the simple days of baseball. ps where is grote now
Tom,
If you’re wine’s half as good as your pitching, it’ll be World Class…..I’m wondering if you’ll call it “Shea Cabernet”…..
Thanks for the memories~
Hartz
Tom:
I usually do not consider myself a “celebrity hound” or a “hero-worshipper”, however, I guess you are the exception to my rule. I am almost 45 years old, so I was 9 years old when the Mets won their first World Series back in 1969. I have always been a very loyal Mets fan (even during the “bad” years), and of course Tom Seaver was my favorite player. You provided me (and my family) many wonderful memories. Thank you. Good luck in your vineyard.
Dave B.
Mr. Seaver,
With the addition of Pedro Martinez (an addition that seems more and more brilliant with each start — sprinklers or not) it’s clear that the Mets are recreating the formula that brought us home both our world titles — strong staffs lead by a Cy Young caliber hoss that not only was a ‘stopper’ but who really assumed the identity of the team every fifth day. How much of a pick me up is it to the rest of the clubhouse knowing that even when the bats are cold that when you, Doc or Pedro are dealing there is a chance for a “shut ’em out hit one one out” win to build on every fifth day (though I doubt Pedro is going to be jacking one soon)?
P.S. Keep Kiner in line for all us former pitchers this summer,
Justin.
Dear Mr. Seaver,
Sorry for the lack of relevance to the topic of vineyards, but I had just written a profile for you in my paper detailing the lives and careers of all the 300-game winners. I figured, there is no better place to have it checked than where Tom Terrific and all of his fans can see it and make comments to it…:p…so here goes.
—
In the past, there has been many pitchers that studied both the arts and the sciences of pitching, but none of them had taken it to the level that George Thomas Seaver did. Not only does he study the scouting reports of hitters every day before a game (a common practice of most pitchers in the modern era), but he also studied the mechanics of pitching, like what Ted Williams had done for hitting. He analyzed each pitch, looking for the best way to grip it, the best way to throw it, and the best place to throw it to frustrate hitters. He studied the motions involved in pitching, and determined how to make use of every individual part of the body to deliver pitches most effectively without wear and tear. He looked at the muscles involved in pitching and devised deceptively simple methods of stretching and exercising to keep the body loose and effective. Finally, he surveyed other pitchers to get a complete picture of pitching.
With his broad knowledge on the subject, which he shared in his book The Art of Pitching, he became a sturdy and dependable moundsman. His scientific look had given him durability as well as control of the delivery and location of his many pitches, and allowed him to become the cornerstone of the New York Mets in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He also took an optimistic outlook into playing the game. This gave him the perseverance that was required to become a successful ballplayer. Finally, he was like the second coming of Christy Mathewson: clean-cut, handsome, and smart. With his talent and image, Seaver became the most popular pitchers of his time.
Seaver grew up watching Robin Roberts, and yearned to become a pitcher like his idol, but he did poorly in his high school baseball career. He spent two years in the Marines, where he built up his strength, discipline, and abilities. He found success in USC, and was eventually signed by the Braves. The transaction was deemed illegal, and three teams (Mets, Phillies, and Indians) entered a lottery to determine who gets the coveted prospect. In the end, the Mets won. (Imagine Seaver in the same rotation as Steve Carlton.)
Seaver found himself in the majors after one season in the minors and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1967 by going 16-13. By 1969, he had won his first of three Cy Young awards. That year, he went 25-7 while leading the formerly dismal Mets to the pennant. Backed by a solid pitching staff that included Seaver and three other promising youngsters by the names of Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, and Nolan Ryan, the Mets swept the Braves and overcame the powerful Orioles to win their first World Series.
In 1971, Seaver won 20 games and posted a career low 1.76 ERA. He won 20 games again in 1972 with 21, but the Mets finished third both years. Seaver failed to reach 20 in 1973, but he won the Cy Young award as the Mets finished with their second division title and pennant. Seaver pitched well in the World Series, but he was simply overpowered by the Oakland Athletics. As he would later realize, sometimes the hitters could hit even his best pitches. He won his third Cy Young award with a 22-9 record in 1975.
By this time, he was getting dissatisfied with the Mets management, who were paying him far below what he was worth. They tried trading Seaver to the Dodgers for Don Sutton, but that deal was cancelled when fans heard the news. By 1977, Seaver really wanted to be traded. The Mets complied and dealt him to the Reds. He won 21 games, but struck out only 196 batters, ending a record streak of compiling over 200 strikeouts in 9 straight seasons.
In 1978, he pitched his first (and only) career no-hitter after three other attempts had failed in the 9th. His best season with the Reds came in the strike-shortened 1981 season. He won 14 games and lost only 2 as he led the Reds to the best record in baseball. But the Reds missed the playoffs because of the screwy system used (in which the season is divided into halves), and lost the Cy Young to the most famous rookie ever: Fernando Valenzuela.
Injuries killed off his 1982 season (5-13) and his return to the Mets was far from dazzling (9-14). In 1984, Seaver went to the White Sox. He found his stuff again in Chicago, and won 31 games in 1984 and 1985. On August 4, 1985, the Yankees were celebrating the career of Phil Rizzuto, but Seaver ruined the moment with a one-run gem in which he rang up seven strikeouts in nine innings. The White Sox won 4-1, with all four of their runs coming in the 6th. It was Seaver’s 300th career victory, the first in almost two years to get it. (Joe Cowley was the losing pitcher).
With the milestone behind him, Seaver decided it was about time to retire, for he was no longer helping his team. With a 2-6 record with Chicago in 1986, the White Sox traded him to the other Sox team. There, he imparted his pitching smarts to a promising young pitching star having a great season. A knee injury forced Seaver out of the postseason, and he retired with 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts.
After retirement, Seaver served as a color commentator for television broadcasts of baseball games in the postseason, and then for the Yankees. He returned to the Mets before the 1999 season as a broadcaster and a front office executive specializing in marketing and “community outreach.” He still finds joy in spreading his knowledge to help young pitchers with their careers, something he did many times in his own career. In 1992, his popularity shone through when he was elected to the Hall of Fame with the highest voting percentage ever: a mind-boggling 98.87%. Apparently fans still think that the man they called Tom Terrific is a terrific fellow.
Tom Terrific,
Good luck with the wine thing, however I wouldn’t quit my “day job” if I were you.
I’m sure you agree this Mets team is easy to root for. This is a great group of veterans (Pedro, Piazza, Floyd, Cameron) and young stars (Beltran, Reyes, Wright) who are the future of the franchise. Along with the new management, Shea Stadium is once again the place to watch baseball in this town!
I’m sure all your former Met teammates are liking what they are seeing about the direction this club is headed towards.
It’s good to see Piazza finally coming out of his shell offensively, maybe you can give some hitting instructions to Mientkiewicz…that way he can pull his average safely above the “Mendoza line”!!!
Looking forward to reading your expert commentary during the course of the year.
Don’t sugarcoat things Tom Terrific…call ’em the way you see ’em…the fans will appreciate your honesty.
-TT
Mr. Seaver,
I’m tremendously excited to read your thoughts on this blog. Althought I never saw you pitch for the Mets (I was born the year you were traded to the Reds), the first REAL baseball card I was ever given was your 1968 Topps card. It still remains 1 of my 2 my favorite cards (the other being a 1962 Topps Sandy Koufax).
Anyway, thank you again, Tom Terrific.
ChiroDocMetsFan
Danville, CA
Mr. Seaver,
A Terrific article was published today in the New York Times profiling you and the vineyard. It is entitled, “Warming Up in the Vineyard, Tom Terrific”.
For subscribers to the New York Times Select on the web, the article can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/28/dining/28seav.html
Best of luck with the 2005 grapes and sign me up for a case or 2 of wine when its ready in 2008.
Seth Marlowe
Stamford, CT
sethmarlowe@yahoo.com
Dear Mr. Seaver, How are you doing?Well I trust. I’m writing to you because the Lord has layed you on my heart to pray for you. You see, like yourself, HE HAS A VINEYARD.He loves and cares for it. So much so that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us.All we have to do is confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.(Romans 10:9).I hope that you will put your faith and trust in Jesus TODAY if you have’nt already.God bless you and your family.