The sad Tom Seaver news has mobilized Mets fans.
After it was announced Thursday the Hall of Fame pitcher had been diagnosed with dementia and will retire from the public eye, several fans took to social media, demanding a statute be erected at Citi Field in his honor. One fan, Nick Albicocco, even started a petition to COO Jeff Wipon to make it happen.
“Tom ‘The Franchise’ Seaver is long-deserving of a statue at Citi Field commemorating his achievements with the New York Mets,” the petition reads. “Sign this petition to show your support!”
“I came up with the idea after I read the article about his diagnosis,” Albicocco, a 19-year-old college student from Jericho, N.Y., and diehard Mets fan, said in a phone interview. “It’s terrible to see that happen to him. I never got the chance to watch him in person, but I know how much he meant to the franchise. He deserves to be honored. You go around stadiums around the country, and each team honors their legendary players. The Mets just don’t seem to be honoring their players I feel correctly.”
Albicocco said he’s received positive feedback from Mets fans and is hoping the petition can spark some action from the team.
“I figured it could help gather fan support in one place and hopefully higher powers in the organization see it and listen to the fans,” he said.
Seaver, 74, won 311 games with 3,640 career strikeouts in a memorable 20-year career that included three Cy Young Awards, 12 All-Star Game appearances, and a World Series title with the 1969 Amazin’ Mets. His No. 41 jersey is retired at Citi Field, but fans want more recognition for the pitching icon.
In a statement released by Wilpon, the team said it is planning “special” ways to honor Seaver and have notified his family of such plans. It is, however, unclear if those plans include a statue.
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