PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. _ The New York Mets are finally giving Tom Seaver a tribute worthy of his enormous stature within the franchise.
The team announced Thursday that Citi Field will get a new address honoring Seaver.
The team also will reveal plans in June for a statue honoring Seaver, the ace who led the Mets to their first World Series title in 1969. The statue will be completed in 2020, a source confirmed.
Citi Field sits at the intersection of 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue with a current address of 123-01 Roosevelt Ave. The plan is to change the name of 126th Street, which borders the stadium's east side, to Seaver Way, a source confirmed.
The change will become official once approved by New York City.
These are permanent and fitting tributes for Seaver, who is regarded as the best player in franchise history.
In addition to leading the Mets to their first championship, Seaver won the National League Cy Young award three times and led the National League in strikeouts five times. He also won the Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season with the Mets in 1967, and helped the Mets claim the NL Pennant in 1973.
Seaver was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. He and Mike Piazza are the only two players to wear a Mets cap on their Hall of Fame plaque.
Seaver's family announced earlier this month that he had been diagnosed with dementia and would be retiring from public life.
Three of Seaver's former teammates _ Ron Swoboda, Jerry Grote and Wayne Garrett _ were at First Data field on Thursday as the Mets ramp up to honor the 50th anniversary of their first World Series. The team plans to honor the 1969 team June 28-30 at Citi Field.
Swoboda said that Art Shamsky recently organized a visit of Several teammates to visit Seaver in California.
"Let's not talk about Tom like he's gone," Swoboda said. "Tom's still out there in Calistoga and he's going to walk out there in the vineyard with his dogs when he feels up to it. We're only upset because it means that this dementia that he's struggling with is just making his life more difficult.
"We had a great visit with him ... and he had a great day. Tom's here, man. We only wish he could be with us in physical presence."
And 50 years later, his teammates leave no doubt that he was the leader of that championship team. And that his impact remains strong, despite all the years that have passed.
"Tom was a legend in himself," Garrett said, clearly moved by the thought of Seaver. "I mean, there was a presence about him. Whenever you were around him, especially when he walked out on that mound, there was a presence there. And you knew that you were going to win that game. And even when he didn't have his best stuff, he would beat you. He would find a way to beat you.
"I get emotional now just thinking of him. But, you know. Tom meant a lot to all of us, meant a lot to me."
