Tom Seaver Dead at 75

I grew up a New York Met fan. Tom Seaver was my baseball hero. I was 8 years old when the Miracle Mets won the World Series in 1969. Tom Seaver is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. 2020 continues to be a tough year.

Tom Seaver Dead at 75

 

As a 12-year old with $6.00 in tips in my pocket from my Star Ledger newspaper route, I used to take the PATH train from Harrison to 33rd street in Manhattan. I would then take the uptown BMT to Times Square and the #7 train to Shea Stadium. I would buy a general admission ticket and get a hotdog, pretzel, and Coke and watch the Mets play. I watched Seaver pitch many times. He was an artist on the mound. Even sitting in the upper deck I could hear his pitches hit Jerry Grote's glove - not with a whack, but with a thump. The dirt smudge on his right knee came from his perfect form on the mound.

 

Using 1973 prices, here is what I remember:

The PATH train was .25 cents from New Jersey to New York. $0.50 round trip.
The Subway was .35 cents each way (with unlimited transfers). $0.70 round trip.
General admission (upper deck) was $2.25.
Soda was $0.50
Hot dog was $0.50
Pretzel was $0.50

I usually had $6-$10 on me when I went to a game. If I had at least $8 I could skip the PATH train on the way home and get the DeCamp 101 bus from the Port Authority in Manhattan to Belleville Pike on the Kearny-North Arlington border. I could then walk home in 3 minutes. I had a paper route in 1973 and would make about $40 a week in tips. Not bad for a 12-year old kid in 1973. My mom made me save most of it. I was never allowed more than $10 out of my tips for spending.

 

Gulden's Spicey Brown Mustard!

Did you not know? Everyone who has died in 2020 has died because of COVID-19.