Mets found a unique way to pay tribute to Tom Seaver
The New York Mets said goodbye to the greatest player to their history on Wednesday, with Hall of Famer Tom Seaver dying at the age of 75 after a battle with dementia.
Few players in baseball meant more to their franchises than Seaver did to the Mets. Seaver powered the Mets from perennial embarrassment to the World Series during their first years as an expansion team, and earned three Cy Young Awards and 10 All-Star selections during his tenure in New York.
The loss of that kind of legend meant the Mets had to go all out to pay tribute to Seaver, and that included a rather unique move from their players.
Mets use dirt to honor Tom Seaver
Before the Mets’ game against the New York Yankees on Thursday, Mets players all rubbed dirt on their knees before a moment of silence. The dirt is in honor of Seaver’s pitching motion, a drop-and-drive that frequently dragged his right knee along the pitching mound.
In tribute to Seaver, all the Mets have dirt on their right knee. #dropanddrive pic.twitter.com/L1t4BBayLb
— Roger Cormier (@yayroger) September 3, 2020
In addition to the dirt, the Mets tipped their caps toward Seaver’s retired No. 41 at Citi Field and observed a moment of silence followed by a tribute video.
The @Mets tip their caps toward Tom Seaver's retired number at Citi Field. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tMiIr0sSnK
— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2020
A No. 41 jersey was also hung in the dugout during the game, which the Mets won with a walkoff homer from Pete Alonso.
Per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the Mets will reveal a commemorative jersey patch this weekend, and will wear the patch for the rest of the season.
More from Yahoo Sports:
