Mets Tom Seaver Strikes Out 19 Padres

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Today In Mets History: 1970- “The Franchise” Tom Seaver Strikes Out 19 Padres

On April 22, 1970 Tom Seaver received his 1969 Cy young Award in a pre game ceremony at Shea Stadium. It was Toms 1st Cy Young of the three he would earn in his career.

He took the mound against the San Diego Padres that afternoon day to Shea crowd of just under 15,000. Many were school kids on class trips, it was also the 1st Earth Day to be recognized.

Seaver would be historic on this outing as he would tie the single game strikeout record by fanning 19 Padres. On top of that he set a record that still stands today, by striking out 10 consecutive batters who were also the last 10 batters of the game. Four of them struck out looking, just to show you how good Seaver’s stuff was that day.

In addition to the last 10 batters striking out, he had retired the last 16 batters of the game as well. Seaver threw 136 pitches in the game, 81 fastballs, 34 sliders, 19 curve balls, & only 2 change ups. The win was his 13th regualr season win in a row, dating back through the 1969 season, he was 3-0 at that point for 1970. Interestingly, Seaver’s 19 strikeout performance broke Nolan Ryan’s record of 15 which he had been set five days earlier against the Phillie’s at Shea Stadium.

Tom Terrific only gave up two Padre hits that game, one was a HR by Al Ferrara. In the ninth with two outs, Ferrara was up again and Seaver was on the brink of history. Seaver threw two sliders and two fastballs past him to tie Steve Carlton’s record.

Quotes: TOM SEAVER: “I was still worried I’d make a mistake and Ferrara might hit it out,” Seaver said. “But when I got two strikes on him, I thought I might never get this close again so I might as well go for it.”

“Everybody congratulated me when I got No. 16 in the eighth inning,” Seaver said. “I just told them, ‘Let’s get some more runs.’ All I could think of was that Carlton had struck out 19 of us and still lost.”

The Mets won the game 2-1, in the 1st inning Bud Harrelson singled then scored on a Ken Boswell double. In the 3rd inning Tommie Agee singled and Bud Harrelson tripled to right field scoring Agee. It was already Harrelsons third triple & 5th RBI in the young season.