Matt Harvey might have been the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team on Tuesday, but the first pitch at Citi Field was thrown, fittingly, by the greatest Met of all, Tom Seaver.
Barton Silverman/The New York Times
Tom Seaver threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field. When told the pitch was high, he replied, "It was when it started, pal."
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Suzy Allman for The New York Times
David Wright with Tom Seaver after Seaver tossed the ceremonial first pitch.
Nicknamed the Franchise, Seaver came out to a standing ovation and drew quite a few laughs when he dug in at the rubber. In a nod to his advancing age, the once-powerful right-hander took a step forward before tossing a looping pitch to David Wright.
Asked if he was happy with the pitch, which was described to him by a reporter as high, Seaver refused to accept the assessment.
"It was when it started, pal," Seaver said. "It came down."
Seaver added, "I just wanted it to go in the air, that's all."
Asked what it meant to have another Met starting for the National League — as he did in 1970 and Dwight Gooden did in 1986 and 1988 — Seaver said that he rarely watched games. But Seaver, a former broadcaster, did criticize the current era, in which relief pitchers are often employed. He prefers the days of pitchers' finishing what they started.
"Say, 'Here's nine innings, chew on that for a while,' " Seaver said.
Harvey is a throwback of sorts, with his ability to limit hits, drawing comparisons to Nolan Ryan, a former teammate of Seaver's. But Seaver said he had yet to form a relationship with the 24-year-old Harvey.
"I'm duly impressed," Seaver said. "I've never talked to him. It would be interesting to talk to him to see what the mind-set is like. The numbers are good."
Gooden has been one of Harvey's biggest cheerleaders this season. In each game he starts, Gooden keeps a running "Matt Harvey K Count" on Twitter, posting each time Harvey records a strikeout.
Seaver, 68, who now focuses mostly on his vineyards, has battled health problems recently. There had been fears that he had dementia, but it turned out to be Lyme disease that was causing his forgetfulness.
While the disease can be life threatening, Seaver said the thought that he would not be available for Tuesday's festivities never occurred to him.
He summed up his current health succinctly, "I'm doing great."
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