Lucky Number 41

By Jay Horwitz

One of the highlights for me this summer will be the unveiling of the statue for Tom Seaver.

Tom was the person who transformed our franchise from lovable losers into winners. But if not for an event that happened 55 years ago today, there might not have been a 1969 World Series and certainly there would have been no statue.

On this day in 1966, the New York Mets won a special lottery with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cleveland Indians to get the rights to Seaver. Tom signed with the Mets and the rest is history. A world title, 311 wins, three Cy Young Awards and the almost unanimous Hall of Fame induction.

Now generations of fans can walk by the statue, read the inscription on the plaque and have a full understanding of the greatness of Tom Seaver.