In 1983, with a returned Seaver, the Mets finished in last place. That same year, all of their minor league affiliates were winning championships and the Mets were named Organization of the Year. The parent club (despite the cellar-dwelling) already had Darryl Strawberry, Jesse Orosco and Mookie Wilson as examples of the great talent the system was producing. The trade for Keith Hernandez was made. Signs of a bright Mets' future that had nothing to do with Seaver were clearly evident.

Frank, of course, knew all of this. He likely also knew that Tom would have been a hindrance to the progress the Mets were making. Seaver was 39 years old and too self-centered to be helpful to a young rising team. He could have even prevented them from becoming a contender just by being there. For this reason, leaving him available for the White Sox to take was a logical decision.

In 1984, the Mets won 90 games, fourth most in Major League Baseball. From that year until 1990, they won more games than any other MLB team and a few titles along the way. Had Seaver stayed, it's possible that none of this would have happened.

The press still likes to think that letting Seaver go at that time was an error. The truth is that the Mets were better off because of it. This is why Frank was the Mets' General Manager and the media only reports on the team's success that resulted from his input.

A Baltimore guy from birth and possibly harboring a bad taste in his mouth over 1969, with no love or fidelity for NY or Mets fans, the first indignity was discarding Ed Kranepool. His fetish for ex-Orioles began with the acquisition of reliever Dyar Miller. Then came a trade that ranks with the best of the Payson-Grant regime: Jeff Reardon for Ellis Valentine. He acquired Randy Jones?! He brought back Rusty and Dave Kingman, who would’ve been better suited for the AL as DHs. Then George Foster, ex-Oriole George Bamberger to manage, and traded Mike Scott for Danny Heep. He caught a break with Keith Hernandez (though he gave up too much for Gary Carter) but his disregard for Tom Seaver after the reacquisition was degrading, dishonest and to his everlasting disgrace, places him right next to M. Donald Grant. Cashen prioritized his ex-Oriole, the “younger player” Mike Torrez who was long washed-up by 1983.

Like MDG, he proceeded to dismantle the WS team he “built”, wasting little time with the “2Kevins deal.” Instead of Grant’s Tomb, he’s immortalized in the Mets HofF alongside two of the men he backstabbed.

J. Francis Cashen : pompous, stodgy, terse (“We’re trying to improve the ballclub.”) The takeaway: don’t bring-in an outsider with strong ties to another market and little appreciation for the fans sensitivities.

Ironically, the bowtie never bothered me!

Frank's primary focus as general manager was the development of talent in the Mets' farm system. This was the core of the successful team of the 1980s that came about under him. More then half the players on the '86 World Series championship club had spent time with Mets' minor league affiliates. Others like Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Ray Knight and Bob Ojeda came in quality trades. Frank may have given up a bit much for Carter, but it didn't matter. Gary was a valuable addition.

As for letting Tom Seaver get away, just check the entry from Hank M about Frank on this site. I find it quite accurate. Seaver was over the hill and didn't fit in with the new Mets club that had emerged. However, there seem to be many people in Mets Nation who are so obsessed with "Tom Terrific" that they completely ignore or just don't want to accept this fact.