- Was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1967.
- Three-time Cy Young Award winner (1969, 1973, and 1975).
- Struck out 200 or more batters in nine consecutive seasons (1968-1976), a major league record.
- Struck out 19 San Diego Padres on April 22, 1970 including the last 10 in a row, the latter a new major league record.
- Won his 300th career game on August 4, 1985 over the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.
- Retired after attempting a comeback with the Mets during the 1987 season. Compiled a lifetime 311-205 record, 3,640 strikeouts, and a 2.86 ERA.
- Uniform number 41 retired by the New York Mets.
- Voted Male Athlete of the Year for 1969.
- Pitched a no-hitter while with the Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 16, 1978.
- New York Mets All-Time Wins Leader (198).
- New York Mets All-Time ERA Leader (2.57).
- New York Mets All-Time Games Started Leader (395).
- New York Mets All-Time Complete Games Leader (171).
- New York Mets All-Time Shutout Leader (44).
- New York Mets All-Time Innings Pitched Leader (3,045 1/3).
- New York Mets All-Time Strikeouts Leader (2,541).
- Made major league debut on 13 April 1967.
- Was unable to pitch for the Red Sox against the Mets in the 1986 World Series due to injury. He received a standing ovation during pre-game introductions before Game One at Shea Stadium.
- Reggie Jackson once said of him: "blind people come out to the park just to hear him pitch".
- Led the National League in earned run average in 1970, 1971 and 1973. His 1.76 ERA in 1971 was a Met record until Dwight Gooden broke it with a 1.53 effort in 1985.
- Won 20 or more games in a season in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1977.
- Boyhood idol was Hank Aaron.
- Inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
- No longer a member of the broadcast team for the New York Mets, a job he had held since 1999. (April 2006)
- He's been a member of the broadcast team for the New York Mets on WPIX since 1999. (2003)
- Traded by the Mets to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, 1977 for pitchers Pat Zachary and Dan Norman, infielder Doug Flynn, and outfielder Steve Henderson.
- Reacquired by the Mets before the 1983 season, then was selected by the Chicago White Sox before the 1984 season in the free agent compensation draft after the Mets left him unprotected.
- Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. His vote percentage of 98.84% was the record until 2016, when Ken Griffey Jr. was voted in with 99.32% of the ballots.
- Became the youngest major leaguer to reach the $100,000 salary plateau at the age of 27 when he signed a $120,000 contract for 1972.
- Was signed by the Mets in April of 1966 when a special lottery was held after an earlier contract he had signed with the Braves was voided. Any team willing to match the Braves' offer of $50,000 could participate, and three scraps of paper representing the Phillies, Indians, and Mets were put in a hat. Then-commissioner William Eckert reached into the hat and pulled out the scrap marked, "Mets".
- Originally enrolled at USC as a pre-med student with the intent of becoming a dentist. Switched his major to journalism after his baseball career got started, took courses on a part-time basis, and completed his degree in 1975. Earned credit for a geology course by writing a paper on the soil consistency of National League infields.
- Came to within two outs of pitching a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on July 9, 1969, only to have Jimmy Qualls break it up with a clean single.
- Pitcher for New York Mets (1967-1977, 1983), Cincinnati Reds (1977-1982), Chicago White Sox (1984-1986) and Boston Red Sox (1986).
- Played for 1969 World Series Champion New York Mets team. Played for 1973 National League Champion New York Mets team. Played for 1979 and 1981 National League Western Division Champion Cincinnati Reds teams. Played for 1986 American League Champion Boston Red Sox team.
- Finished in top 10 in voting for National League Cy Young Award in 1970-1972, 1976-1977, 1979 and 1981.
- Named to 12 National League All Star Teams (1967-1973, 1975-1978 and 1981).
- Finished in top 10 in voting for National League MVP in 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1981.
- Was an excellent hitting pitcher; hit 13 home runs during his career.
- Led the National League in strikeouts in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976. His 289 strikeouts in 1971 was a National League record for righthanders until J. R. Richard broke it.
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