Sponsored by Shea Stadium Remembered
Tom Seaver makes his major league debut at Shea Stadium. Facing a Pirates lineup with three future Hall of Famers (Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Bill Mazeroski), plus the defending batting champ (Matty Alou), and a former MVP (Maury Wills), the 22-year-old Seaver goes 5-1/3 innings and leaves a tie game. His first strikeout is future Mets teammate Donn Clendenon—and it comes with two on in the first inning. Though the Mets pull out a 3-2 victory, Seaver does not get the decision—reliever Chuck Estrada gets the last win of his career, ironically. There will be plenty of wins for Seaver, 311 to be exact (198 as a Met); all of them seemingly by the same tight 3-2 score.