Mets rename street, Citi Field address for Seaver

NEW YORK -- The Mets renamed a portion of 126th Street in Flushing Seaver Way in honor of Mets great and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, and Citi Field's new address is now 41 Seaver Way.

Seaver’s wife, Nancy, announced some time ago that Seaver, 74, is dealing with dementia, and therefore the couple was unable to attend the ceremony on Thursday. However, Seaver’s children, Sarah Seaver Zaske and Annie Seaver, grandchildren and teammates from the 1969 World Series team -- Bud Harrelson, Jerry Grote, Cleon Jones, Jerry Koosman and Ron Swoboda -- were in attendance.

“This is appropriate because Tom Seaver is the best thing that ever happened to the New York Mets,” Swoboda said. “He gave them the credibility they have been searching for. He was a Hall of Famer from Day 1. There was no break-in period for Tom Seaver. He had that Hall of Fame confidence, that Hall of Fame stuff and that Hall of Fame attitude.”

It was Seaver Zaske who went on the podium on behalf of her father. She talked about the message her father instilled in the family, the one he was known for throughout his career -- a legendary work ethic.

“His message to us is, the work is in your heart, that puts a pep in your step,” she said. “Show how excited you feel. Work your rear end off and follow it. Whatever that thing is in your heart, do it to the very best of your ability. That is the Tom Seaver way.”

Seaver worked wonders for the Mets for all or parts of 12 seasons from 1967-77 and again in '83. During his time with the Mets, Seaver won 198 games, won three National League Cy Young Awards ('69, ’73 and ’75) and helped the Mets win two pennants ('69 and '73) and one World Series title ('69). No wonder he was called “Tom Terrific” and “The Franchise.”

Jones, Seaver’s teammate for nine seasons, said naming a street after Seaver is well-deserved.

“What you saw was the guy on the mound, the guy that won all the games,” Jones said. “What I saw was the guy that did all the hard work, the guy that stayed at the ballpark after the game was over, to try to work out the kinks. He was a guy who came to work early to make sure he could help all the guys on the ballclub. He was a team player in every sense of the word. As a result, he helped mold and shape the 1969 Mets.”

The Mets also commissioned a statue of Seaver that will be located outside of Citi Field. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said he expects the statue to be ready within 12 to 18 months. The Mets plan to give additional details about the statue at a later date. According to Wilpon, Seaver and his wife were “overcome with joy” about the statue.

“The [statue] will be more accessible to the public,” Wilpon said. “We have to go through the process with the city for planning purposes, the arts commission has to weigh in. There are a bunch of different pieces that have to happen.”