Name: Tom Seaver

Rank: 46

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1984-1986

Looking to bolster their starting rotation for another run at the AL West crown, the White Sox claimed Tom Seaver from the Mets on January 20, 1984 as compensation for Dennis Lamp leaving as a free agent.  Seaver, upset about leaving New York and his family, contemplated walking away from the game.  “Was retirement a serious option? Sure it was,” Seaver said.  “The first thing I asked the White Sox for was a no-trade contract.  I didn’t want them to make another off-season move and send me 3,000 miles away to Seattle–and I never play an inning in a White Sox uniform.”  Getting the security he desired, Seaver reported to the White Sox.  While the team faltered in 1984, Seaver was a steady force in the rotation, going 15-11 with a 3.95 ERA in his first go around through the junior circuit.  The highlight of the year came on May 9, when he pitched the final inning of a suspended, 25 inning contest from the day before and then started the regularly scheduled game against the Brewers, earning the victory in both.

With LaMarr Hoyt traded in the offseason, Seaver was on the mound for opening day in 1985, breaking Walter Johnson’s record of 14.  On August 4, back in New York against the Yankees, Seaver threw a complete game to earn his 300th career victory.  He finished the year with a 16-11 record and a sterling 3.17 ERA.

Seaver again got the opening day nod in 1986, extending his record to 15.  With the White Sox going nowhere, Seaver, now 41 years old, was looking to return to the east coast to be near his family after the death of his mother in May.  When a bum shoulder put him on the disabled list, he informed the White Sox he was thinking of retiring.  ”Another week or so and I was going home,” Seaver said. ”I made the club aware of that. I was totally, emotionally spent. I had my mom’s death, then my shoulder went on the blink, and there was the LaRussa situation.”  When manager Tony LaRussa was fired on June 20, his replacement, Jim Fregosi, said Seaver’s wishes should be honored.  On June 29, after going 2-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 12 starts, Seaver was traded to the Red Sox for Steve Lyons.

Seaver’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

Career Pitching

Wins	Losses	ERA	Saves	IP	Hits	Runs	ER	Walks	Strike Outs	HR	HBP	Appearances
0	2	4.22	0	21.333	21	10	10	4	10	1	0	3
33	28	3.67	0	547.333	505	248	223	157	296	58	15	81