By BRIAN COSTELLO
June 8, 2008
As both New York baseball stadiums prepare to close, The Post looks back at the 25 most memorable moments in the history of Shea. This week, No. 16.
Aug. 21, 1977
Two months after the most unpopular trade in Mets history, Shea Stadium welcomed back Tom Seaver in a Reds uniform.
"The Franchise" pitched his first game against the Mets after pitching 367 games for the team. He beat his longtime pal, Jerry Koosman, 5-1, before 46,265 fans at Shea. He struck out 11 and gave up six hits to complete a four-game sweep of his former mates.
It was Seaver's first time back at the ballpark since June 16, the day after the Mets traded him to Cincinnati, and the fans welcomed him with several ovations. He responded by pitching a gem and he even doubled off Koosman in his return and scored two runs.
"It's awfully nice to come home," Seaver said. "But this was no fun. It would've been fun if this had been spring training, but it was too emotional. I was aware that they were up there at bat, but I tried to block it out of my mind. And now I'm awfully glad it's over."
Seaver, 32, threw a complete game on 118 pitches, walking two and moving his record to 14-5.
The crowd was the second largest of the season at Shea. There were some empty seats, though, alongside the home dugout. The private box of M. Donald Grant, the chairman of the board, was empty. Grant orchestrated the trade of Seaver and had become the fans' whipping boy ever since. The Mets said Grant was on vacation and couldn't attend the game.
Every time Seaver was announced he was greeted with loud cheers. He showed his fans he still had it when he retired the side on 13 pitches in the first inning. He struck out four of the first six batters and sat down 11 in a row before Steve Henderson singled.
