Nancy Lynn McIntyre is frequently identified in the public eye through her association with the late baseball great Tom Seaver, but that connection only tells part of her story. She has her own background, personality, and contributions that helped shape the life she shared with Tom.
Their move into parenthood became a defining chapter, underscoring Nancy’s role as a mother while navigating the demands and attention that come with a high-profile marriage. Their family life added depth and nuance to the couple’s public narrative.
Looking back at Nancy’s formative years reveals the foundations of her character—an outlook and set of values influenced strongly by her upbringing and the lessons passed down from her parents.
Raised as the Only Daughter Among Four Children
McIntyre, born on February 24, 1945, grew up with three brothers, the sole daughter in a family of four. Her parents, William Dean McIntyre Sr. and Julia Norma McIntyre, were originally from Kansas before relocating to Fresno, California, where they lived for more than 50 years. Nancy was raised in Fresno and the family was well-known in the community. Her mother, Julia, passed away in August 2007, and her father, William, died in 2011.
William served in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific theater. After the war he returned to civilian life, working as a farmer and eventually starting his own business. He was also an avid sports fan.
Nancy’s brothers are Terry Michael McIntyre, William Dean McIntyre Jr., and Michael Dean McIntyre. Between them they have children and grandchildren, keeping the family line growing.
From Fresno High Romance to a Family Vineyard
Nancy and Tom Seaver first met as teens at Fresno High School, where Tom was already standing out as a baseball talent. The couple dated for a couple of years before tying the knot on June 9, 1966.
Shortly after their marriage Tom began his professional career in the Minor Leagues. By 1967 he had joined the New York Mets and rapidly established himself as a Major League star.
The early part of Tom’s big-league career brought both triumph and strain. He faced intense physical demands as he rose to the top, along with tensions with Mets management. To decompress after the 1970 season, Tom and Nancy embarked on a 29-day road trip, stopping to see relatives in several states, including Nancy’s grandparents in Kansas.
During that cross-country trip the Seavers were expecting their first child, Sarah, who was born soon after they returned. Their second daughter, Anne Seaver, arrived on October 28, 1975. Following Tom’s notable trade to the Cincinnati Reds, the family lived in Cincinnati for a period before eventually returning to California after his long tenure with the Reds.
An old photo of Nancy and Tom Seaver with their two daughters
Back in California the Seavers launched Seaver Vineyards in Calistoga, producing two cabernet labels, “Nancy’s Fancy” and “GTS.” Their daughters, Sarah Zaske and Anne Buckley, now help run the winery and vineyard, keeping the family enterprise going. Anne has also pursued other interests locally, including work as a yoga instructor.
How the “Midnight Massacre” Played Out
The term “Midnight Massacre” refers to a dramatic 1977 transaction in which Tom Seaver was abruptly sent from the New York Mets to the Cincinnati Reds. The move followed a newspaper report that implied Seaver’s wife, Nancy, had been upset because Nolan Ryan was earning more money than Tom.
Seaver reacted strongly when his family was dragged into the story and came to believe Mets executives were responsible for the leak. Feeling betrayed, he insisted on a trade.
The Mets ultimately dealt Seaver away in exchange for four players. None of those newcomers matched Seaver’s talent, and many fans viewed the deal as one of the franchise’s most damaging decisions.
After Seaver’s departure, the Mets struggled on the field and at the turnstiles: attendance fell and the club finished last in its division for three consecutive seasons.
Seaver, meanwhile, performed well in Cincinnati, and the episode remains remembered as a major misstep in Mets history.
Tom Seaver, Husband of Nancy Lynn, Passed Away at 75
Tom Seaver passed away at the age of 75 on August 31, 2020. His death was attributed to complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19 after a difficult health decline. Seaver lived in Calistoga, California, where he and his wife Nancy founded Seaver Vineyards in 2002 — a Diamond Mountain vineyard that became a major focus for him following his retirement from baseball.
In 2019 the family revealed that Seaver had been diagnosed with dementia and would be withdrawing from public life. He had also faced a recurrence of Lyme disease in 2012, which brought on additional problems such as Bell’s palsy and memory impairment.
Late Tom Seaver with his wife, Nancy, and their grandchildren
Seaver’s influence on the Mets and the wider baseball world continues to be felt; former teammates, fans and fellow stars paid tribute to his legacy. He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughters Sarah and Anne, and his grandsons, who remember him not only as a Hall of Fame pitcher but as a devoted family man.
