… the status of Tom Seaver hung over the team. He was scheduled to throw on Thursday, but even GM Lou Gorman was hedging his hopes, saying that even if Seaver is not ready for the playoffs, he could be activated for the World Series. After Seaver’s session, Dr Pappas, as usual, was optimistic, though the hurler was still experiencing soreness. But pitching coach Bill Fischer was not as hopeful: “If he’s hurt,” said Fischer, “he can’t pitch. His knees are so important to the way he pitches. I’m sure the last thing he wants to do is go out and do something that would affect him permanently.”
Fischer was right. On October 3, as the Sox were swept in a twinbill by the Yankees (losing pitchers: Steve Crawford and Al Nipper), the story came from Dan S:”Tom Seaver announced he will not be available for the playoffs (replaced on the roster by Crawford)…it ‘s more likely that he’s thrown his last pitch in the big leagues.”