NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Former New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver has been diagnosed with dementia and will retire from public life, his family said in a statement released Thursday through the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"The Seaver family announced today that Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver has recently been diagnosed with dementia," the statement reads. "Tom will continue to work in his beloved vineyard at his California home, but has chosen to completely retire from public life. The family is deeply appreciative of those who have supported Tom throughout his career, on and off the field, and who do so now by honoring his request for privacy. We join Tom in sending warmest regards to everyone."
The 74-year old, whose name is George Thomas Seaver, earned the nicknames Tom Terrific and The Franchise.
He pitched from 1967 to 1986, but he is known primarily for his time with the Mets -- especially his role in the team's 1969 World Championship.
He also has the sixth-most career strikeouts -- 3,640 -- in Major League Baseball.
