Former Reds pitcher Tom Seaver to be immortalized with statue outside Citi Field

Known much more for his time with the New York Mets, former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Seaver will be immortalized today with a ceremony beginning at 10:30 AM eastern time in Flushing. The Mets are unveiling a larger-than-life statue of Seaver that's set to be situated at the rotunda near the main entrance outside Citi Field.

Seaver passed away in September 2020 due to complications of COVID-19 and a form of dementia. Seaver spent 12 years in the Big Apple, but also graced the Queen City with his presence for six seasons.

Though he never won a Cy Young Award during his time with the Reds, Tom Terrific finished among the Top 5 vote-getters for the honor twice and went to three All-Star Games. Seaver also played for the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox.

Former Reds pitcher Tom Seaver to be honored at Citi Field today.

The statue, said to stand 13-foot-6-inches tall and weigh almost 3,000-pounds, will portray Tom Seaver in his signature drop and stretch delivery. Seaver, already a member of the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, was inducted into Cooperstown in 1992. The right-hander was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot, collecting 98.84% of the vote.

When the Mets dealt Seaver to the Reds, a trade that was dubbed the Midnight Massacre by some New York sports reports, it was a bit of shock. After all, Seaver had already won three Cy Young Awards at the time and it wasn't as if New York received a nice return in exchange for Seaver. Doug Flynn, Pat Zachary, and two minor leaguers were dealt to the Mets.

Seaver finished third in the Cy Young voting during his first season in Cincinnati and won 21 games while pitching 19 complete games including a career-high seven shutouts. On June 16, 1978, Tom Seaver pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the first, and only no-hitter of Seaver's career. Seaver was traded back to the Mets in 1983.

Seaver's No. 41 has already been retired by the New York Mets, and the statue outside of Citi Field feels like a fitting tribute to "The Franchise". Tom Seaver will always be remember fondly by the Cincinnati Reds faithful.