Tom Veryzer, 1953-2014

[seawolf17]

Tom Veryzer, Long Island resident and 1982 Met.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Veryzer is pretty young still. I believe he spent his minor-league years battling Jerry Manuel for infield jobs in the Tigers organization.

[Edgy MD]

Mets deserve their own thread.

Tom, the #11 overall pick in the 1971 draft (by Detroit) joined 1980/1987 Met Bill Almon (1974's #1 overall by San Diego) in the line of Bobby Valentine (#5 overall, 1968) --- former bonus babies with generally disappointing careers washing ashore in Flushing as adequate Met utility infielders.

[Edgy MD]

He was apparently more than adequate for a while there. Replaced the chronically injured Ron Gardenhire (who would nonetheless get protected over Tom Seaver) and was hitting the ball hard, until Claudell Washington took issue with his leg.

[G-Fafif]

...

[G-Fafif]

Was relatively fixated on Tom Veryzer's hot start his one Met May. Was sorry to lose him so quickly then, very sorry he leaves us altogether now.

[Edgy MD]

A real look of the times. Kind of a grownup Kelly Leake. Looks like a guy who drove a gold Nova and was all lean-in jumpers and elbow-fueled rebounds on the basketball court, before cracking a Bud and lighting up a Winston during the break.

[G-Fafif]

Veryzer's passing means 1984 is the only pre-1990 Mets team that hasn't lost at least one member. Post-1989, 1997 (Cory Lidle) and 2006 (Jose Lima, Geremi Gonzalez) are the only teams whose complete roster remains intact.

[Edgy MD]

Thirteen-year-old UMDB memory.

The Mets were 27-21 and Tom Veryzer was hitting .333 on June 1, 1982. On that day Veryzer injured his leg and was lost for the season. The Mets record for the rest of the year was 38-76. Coincidence? I think not.

Wow.