On this day 75 years ago, George Thomas Seaver, the greatest Mets player ever and perhaps the best right-handed pitcher in Major League history, was born.

In addition to holding almost all of the significant Mets pitching records, he remains the only pitcher in Major League history to win the Rookie of the Year award and three Cy Youngs. This is part of the reason why, to date, no other starting pitcher has received a larger percentage of the Hall of Fame vote.

With all he accomplished, he was the first Mets player to have his number retired, and he will soon be the only Mets player honored with a statue. He closed out Shea with a final pitch to Mike Piazza, and he opened Citi Field by doing the same. Now, fittingly, Citi Field was the address 41 Seaver Way.

For all this and many other reasons, this is why he’s The Franchise.

Hopefully, given all of his health problems, he and his family are able to enjoy this day.