Open Mic: The Disappointment of Tom Seaver's Almost-Perfect Game

Seeing Marvelous Marvin Hagler (his legal name) fight to a draw in the Boston Garden against Vito Antuofermo pissed me off...it wasn't a disappointment. So rare it is to get out to see a live sporting event that I have always just tried to enjoy.

But that night came a full 10 years after three buddies and I were swept up in the emotion of the July 9 Mets-Cubs game at Shea in the 1969 Miracle Mets year.

Tom Seaver was having a great year and we got tickets. We had brought in the year with the Jets winning Super Bowl III ...and it had only been a couple of months earlier that "we" had landed on the moon. There were celebrations all over the NY metro area, and we didn't miss too many of them.

This day at the park separated a game from the sport and a player from the game. It separated the fan from the fanatic. Looking back, I realize that I grew that day. I would be better in many ways.

I saw the differences that measure extraordinary individual effort and team support. Because I was there when, not after four or six innings you get a feeling history is being made, but after a few batters.

Seaver threw so hard and had such control. His stretch, his extension...the way he bit on his tongue as he reared back to throw a pitch telegraphed something more like a punch.  Guessing what kind of punch was coming next was the Cubs' quandary. Seaver had some help in the field, but nothing heroic, as I recall. 

Either we had poor tickets or many of the fans found their way down closer to the field. Regardless, we had enough room around us to be standing, even sort of pacing, as much as sitting while he pitched through the innings.

We were on the third base side up at least a little bit...a decent spot for foul balls, but not this day. Halfway through the game we were mesmerized by Seaver. Go Mets!...but don't run it up 'cause we want Tom back on the rubber.

Well, you know the ending. One out in the ninth and a no-name spoils "our" perfect game. I remember the guy's name. Its a trivia question that comes up every now and then. It is unimportant. He is unimportant.

But that ending was the beginning of the final run to get into the World Series and win it all. The series helped take the sting out the missed perfect game...and for New Yorkers, well, we had the Knicks winning the NBA Championship on deck.