1984 tom seaver

the bumbling mets left team legend tom seaver unprotected and he was selected by the white sox in the free agent compensation draft prior to the 1984 season.  here is his 1984 o-pee-chee card:

here's the topps front:

now the o-pee-chee back:

and the topps back:

white sox gm roland hemond selected seaver as compensation for the white sox' loss of dennis lamp to toronto via free agency.  the pale hose didn't really need pitching - they had the reigning cy young winner lamarr hoyt, rich dotson, floyd bannister and others - but the addition of tom terrific allowed them to trade hoyt to the padres for a starting shortstop named ozzie guillen.  hemond also wanted to keep seaver from going to oakland, an al west rival, who also had a pick in the draft.

although he contemplated retirement, seaver reported to chicago and went on to win 15 games in '84.  he threw four shutouts, including a 3-hitter against the royals and even picked up a win in relief.  that victory game with courtesy of seaver pitching the last inning in the white sox/brewers' 8-hour, 25-inning game on may 8th that harold baines won with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 25th.  the next season, he won 16 games for the white sox, including his 300th career game which came back in new york, although it was at yankee stadium, not shea.

voici à vous, 1984 tom seaver!