Tom McAvoy
Encyclopedia
Thomas John McAvoy was a professional baseball
pitcher
. He appeared in one game in Major League Baseball
for the Washington Senators
in 1959. Listed at 6' 3", 200 lb., he batted and threw left handed. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Tom McAvoy was signed by the Senators in 1956 and played four seasons in the minor league
s before joining the big team on the final day of the 1959 season.
McAvoy was a player whose baseball career can be loosely described as a cup of coffee
. He debuted against the Boston Red Sox
on September 27, 1959, at Fenway Park
as a replacement for starter Jim Kaat
in the second inning, scattering one hit
and two walks
without strikeout
s over 2⅔ shutout
innings
and did not have a decision. In that game, McAvoy retired Ted Williams
on a grounder to second base.
McAvoy never appeared in a major league game again. His career was cut short when he broke his arm during a winter ball game in Nicaragua
in 1959. The following year, he broke his arm again while warming up in the bullpen
. After a long rehabilitation he was released by the Minnesota Twins
in 1961 (the Senators had moved to Minnesota that year).
In seven minor league seasons, McAvoy posted a 38-72 record and a 4.74 ERA in 176 pitching appearances.
In the early 1960s, McAvoy moved onto fastpitch softball
and was eventually inducted into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame, class of 2009, as a manager.
McAvoy died in Stillwater, New York
, at the age of 74, following complications from pancreatic cancer
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He appeared in one game in Major League Baseball
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...
for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1959. Listed at 6' 3", 200 lb., he batted and threw left handed. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Tom McAvoy was signed by the Senators in 1956 and played four seasons in the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
s before joining the big team on the final day of the 1959 season.
McAvoy was a player whose baseball career can be loosely described as a cup of coffee
Cup of coffee
A "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
. He debuted against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on September 27, 1959, at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
as a replacement for starter Jim Kaat
Jim Kaat
James Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
in the second inning, scattering one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and two walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
without strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s over 2⅔ shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
and did not have a decision. In that game, McAvoy retired Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
on a grounder to second base.
McAvoy never appeared in a major league game again. His career was cut short when he broke his arm during a winter ball game in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in 1959. The following year, he broke his arm again while warming up in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. After a long rehabilitation he was released by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1961 (the Senators had moved to Minnesota that year).
In seven minor league seasons, McAvoy posted a 38-72 record and a 4.74 ERA in 176 pitching appearances.
In the early 1960s, McAvoy moved onto fastpitch softball
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
and was eventually inducted into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame, class of 2009, as a manager.
McAvoy died in Stillwater, New York
Stillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
, at the age of 74, following complications from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
.