Tom Seaver: A Terrific Life

Product Description

An authoritative, “must-read” (Keith Hernandez) biography of Hall of Fame pitching legend Tom Seaver, still the greatest player ever to wear a Mets jersey, by a journalist who knew him well.

He was called Tom Terrific for a reason. Tom Seaver is “among the greatest pitchers of all time” (Bob Costas). He is one of only two pitchers with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and an ERA under 3.00. He was a three-time Cy Young award winner, twelve-time All Star, and was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame with the highest percentage ever at the time. Popular among players and fans, Seaver was fiercely competitive but always put team success ahead of personal glory.

Born in Fresno, California, Seaver signed with the New York Mets in 1967, leading them to their stunning 1969 World Series victory. After a legendarily lopsided trade, he joined the Cincinnati Reds, then later played for the White Sox and the Red Sox before ending his career following the 1986 season. After his playing days, Seaver retired back to California to establish a successful vineyard. The in 2013, a recurrence of Lyme disease severely affected his memory, which Madden was the first to report. In 2019, Seaver’s family announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and was withdrawing from public life. Tom Seaver died on August 31, 2021.

Madden began following Seaver’s career in the 1980s. Seaver came to trust Madden so completely that, eager to return to New York from Chicago, he asked Madden to explore a possible trade to the Yankees which never materialized. Drawing in part on their long relationship, Madden “has crafted a biography as terrific as the subject” (Jane Leavy,
New York Times bestselling author of
Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy).

Review

“A biography that bolsters Seaver’s reputation as a thinker on the mound, who won by outleveling hitters in their mental preparation.” — Oskar Garcia ―
New York Times Book Review

“Tom Seaver is among the greatest pitchers of all time. He is also one of the most thoughtful and perceptive athletes I have ever known. Sadly, this deeply interesting man is now unable to provide us with a memoir of his own. The closest we will ever come is found here, from the Hall of Fame baseball writer who was exceptionally close to Tom and chronicled his entire career. Bill Madden renders  Tom Seaver’s story with the detail, insight and care it deserves.”  — Bob Costas

“A vivid portrait of one of modern baseball’s legendary players. . . . A fitting tribute to a great, memorable pitcher.” ―
Kirkus Reviews

“In the mind’s eye, Tom Seaver, the consummate power pitcher who transformed the hapless Metsies of my youth into the Miracle Mets of 1969, is forever reaching back for that last ounce of strength and thrust, his knee grazing the dirt of the pitching mound. 
New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden witnessed and chronicled it all—the misbegotten trade of The Franchise, the failure of the front office to ensure his place on the team after his return, and the cruel descent into dementia that forced him to withdraw from public life. Drawing on their longtime friendship and thirty hours of exclusive interviews with Seaver and his wife Nancy, Madden has crafted a biography as terrific as its subject.” — Jane Leavy, author of New York Times bestseller Sandy Koufax: a Lefty’s Legacy

“Tom Seaver mastered the craft of pitching about as well as any man who ever climbed a mound. A true virtuoso, he also was intellectually curious and very much in touch with the world around him. Precise. Creative. Thorough. Enthralling. The same descriptions apply to the work Bill Madden has done here. This is the biography an icon like Seaver deserves.” — Tom Verducci, New York Times bestselling author, Fox & MLB Network analyst

“I’ve known Bill Madden since my playing days in New York. Never was there a more straightforward writer on the New York beat. He brings all his knowledge and experience to the fore in this terrific book