Tom Funk
Encyclopedia
Thomas James Funk is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Houston Astros
during the 1986 season. He appeared in eight games and enjoyed early success before faltering and being sent down to the minors. He would never again pitch in the big leagues. The Astros would go on to win the 1986 National League
Western Division title without him.
. The Astros selected him in the 28th round of the June 1983 free agent draft
. The 6' 2" 210 lbs left-hander quickly began to work his way through the Houston minor league system. He was enjoying a good year with the Columbus Astros when he was called to the parent club.
had been traded to the Chicago Cubs
. In his first seven games Funk would record a stellar era of 2.45. On August 23, 1986 he was summoned from the bullpen at Busch Memorial Stadium
to relieve Mike Scott
in what was a 3-1 St. Louis Cardinals
lead. Funk would proceed to get hammered during the course of the inning. He surrendered four earned runs and helped pad the Cardinals lead to 7 to 1. Funk's era ballooned to 6.48 and he was quickly demoted back to the minors at the behest of manager Hal Lanier
. Jeff Calhoun would assume his spot as the left-handed reliever in the Astros bullpen for the remainder of the season. For the year, and his career, Funk finished with no decisions or saves over 8⅓ innings in 8 games with 6 walks, 2 strikouts (Mariano Duncan
and Len Matuszek
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
), and the aforementioned 6.48 earned run average.
at Veterans Stadium
. He pitched the 9th and last inning of the game. The first batter he faced hit a home run. The following is the play by play;
PHILLIES 9TH: Craig Reynolds replaced Larry Andersen (PLAYING 1B); Funk
replaced Glenn Davis
(PITCHING); John Mizerock
stayed in the game (PLAYING C );
John Russell homered; Steve Jeltz
grounded
out (third to first); Greg Gross
grounded out (second to first);
Luis Aguayo
flied out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 9,
Phillies 3.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
during the 1986 season. He appeared in eight games and enjoyed early success before faltering and being sent down to the minors. He would never again pitch in the big leagues. The Astros would go on to win the 1986 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Western Division title without him.
Background
Funk was born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The Astros selected him in the 28th round of the June 1983 free agent draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. The 6' 2" 210 lbs left-hander quickly began to work his way through the Houston minor league system. He was enjoying a good year with the Columbus Astros when he was called to the parent club.
1986 season
Upon reaching the Majors, Funk quickly filled the role of a left-handed reliever for the Astros bullpen. The team was in the middle of a pennant race and had been lacking a lefty since Frank DiPinoFrank DiPino
Frank Michael DiPino is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals...
had been traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. In his first seven games Funk would record a stellar era of 2.45. On August 23, 1986 he was summoned from the bullpen at Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
to relieve Mike Scott
Mike Scott (baseball)
Michael Warren "Mike" Scott is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He won the National League Cy Young Award in...
in what was a 3-1 St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
lead. Funk would proceed to get hammered during the course of the inning. He surrendered four earned runs and helped pad the Cardinals lead to 7 to 1. Funk's era ballooned to 6.48 and he was quickly demoted back to the minors at the behest of manager Hal Lanier
Hal Lanier
Harold Clifton Lanier is a former infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From through , Lanier played for the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees...
. Jeff Calhoun would assume his spot as the left-handed reliever in the Astros bullpen for the remainder of the season. For the year, and his career, Funk finished with no decisions or saves over 8⅓ innings in 8 games with 6 walks, 2 strikouts (Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman and shortstop who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Managers Grady Little and Joe Torre...
and Len Matuszek
Len Matuszek
Leonard James Matuszek was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He is an alumnus of the University of Toledo where he played both varsity baseball and basketball...
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
), and the aforementioned 6.48 earned run average.
Debut game
Funk appeared in his first big league game on Thursday, July 24, 1986 in a 9-3 Houston win over the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
. He pitched the 9th and last inning of the game. The first batter he faced hit a home run. The following is the play by play;
PHILLIES 9TH: Craig Reynolds replaced Larry Andersen (PLAYING 1B); Funk
replaced Glenn Davis
Glenn Davis (baseball)
Glenn Earl Davis is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting . He batted and threw right-handed....
(PITCHING); John Mizerock
John Mizerock
John Joseph Mizerock was a backup catcher for the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves. He was the eighth overall pick in the 1979 draft.Since retiring as a player he has served as an interim manager and coach for the Kansas City Royals, and as a manager in the minor leagues.Mizerock managed...
stayed in the game (PLAYING C );
John Russell homered; Steve Jeltz
Steve Jeltz
Larry Steven Jeltz is a former professional baseball player. He played in parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals...
grounded
out (third to first); Greg Gross
Greg Gross
Gregory Eugene Gross , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1973-1989, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies...
grounded out (second to first);
Luis Aguayo
Luis Aguayo
Luis Aguayo Muriel is the former third base coach of the New York Mets baseball team. He is a former major league baseball player. An infielder, Aguayo played with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1980 to 1988. During the season, Aguayo was traded for pitcher Amalio Carreno to the New York Yankees...
flied out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 9,
Phillies 3.
Sources
- http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pfunkt001.htm
- http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065168/1/index.htm