On this day in baseball history, on April 03rd, two noteworthy events happened. On this day in 1966, the New York Mets won the Tom Seaver sweepstakes and signed him. Also, on this day in 1987, The Oakland Athletics acquired Dennis Eckersley from the Chicago Cubs.
Tom Seaver becomes a Met
Tom Seaver attended USC and was selected in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers after his Sophomore season. However, the Dodgers decided to pass on Seaver due to his $70K signing bonus request. Before he started his Junior season, the Braves selected him in the Free Agent Draft in January of 1966 and signed him. However, rules prohibit players from signing a pro contract after starting the collegiate season. Atlanta would be forbidden from signing for at least three years, and Seaver was declared ineligible to play for USC. Commissioner Eckert would hold a lottery for other teams to bid for the services of Tom Seaver, Mets, Phillies, and Indians among the teams that entered. Commissioner Eckert pulled the Met's name out of the hat and signed him for $50K.
What happened?
Tom Seaver would not only become the greatest player in Mets franchise history, but three years later, the Mets would go on to win the World Series in 1969. The Dodgers are a well-accomplished and respectable franchise, but if you had to look back in Dodger history in terms of what they could've done, the biggest mistake made was not giving in to the demands of Tom Seaver.
Tom Seavers' Accomplishments
- 3x Cy Young Winner (1969, 1973, and 1975)
- 3x ERA Titles (1969, 1971, and 1973)
- 12x All-Star
- 5x Strikeout Leader (1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1976)
- 1969 World Series Champion
- First Ballot Hall of Famer
- 300 Game Winner
- 3,000 plus career Strikeouts
- 2.86 ERA throughout 4,783 Innings Pitched
Dennis Eckersley traded to Oakland
Now regarding the A's acquiring Dennis Eckersley. Before the 1987 season started, Eckersley was coming off the worse years in his career with the Chicago Cubs. Eckersley came up as a starting pitcher and had some good years in Cleveland and Boston, but that was years ago. At the age of 32, he dealt with some personal problems and, on the field, struggled as a starter. The Cubs moved him to save money, and the A's bought low. After starting two games with the Athletics, Tony La Russa came up with the idea to move Eckersley to the Closer role after an injury to Jay Howell.
What happened?
Eckersley would go on to pitch in the majors for twelve more seasons, nine of which would be with the Oakland Athletics. He'd become one of the greatest Relief Pitchers/Closers of all time. In 1988 he finished runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting, and as well in 1989, he finished fifth in the AL MVP voting. His brilliant pitching led the Athletics to the World Series in both 1988 and 1989, with the Athletics winning the 1989 World Series. It got better in 1992; he'd go on to win the AL Cy Young and AL MVP awards.
I may need to do some homework on the Athletics as a franchise, but the trade for Dennis Eckersley may be the greatest trade in Oakland Athletics' franchise history. Have to give credit to Tony La Russa, though. He went up to a 32-year-old starter who was washed up and said, you're the Closer, and all we need is 70-75 Innings out of you, but we need those innings to be explosive.
Written & Published by Robert Dobek
Follow on Twitter: @RobTheYankee
References:
Field, Marshall On This Date: Mets Win Lottery, Sign Tom Seaver via Metsmerized April 3rd 2020: https://metsmerizedonline.com/on-this-date-mets-win-lottery-sign-tom-seaver/
Hickey, John The Day Dennis Eckerskey Came Home to Oakland: 'It was Meant to be' via SI.com April 3rd 2020: https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/news/the-day-dennis-eckersley-came-home-to-oakland-it-was-meant-to-be
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