Tom Paciorek
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marian Paciorek (born November 2, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan
) is a former Major League
outfielder
and first baseman
for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987. Prior to his career in the Major League, Paciorek was a collegiate baseball and football player for the University of Houston
.
from 1965 to 1968. A defensive back, he was picked by the Miami Dolphins
in the ninth round of the 1968 NFL Draft
. As a part of the Houston Cougars baseball
club, he was named to the All-Tournament team after the Cougars became the national runner-up in the 1967 College World Series
. Paciorek's number was retired by the Cougars as one of only three in the history of the team.
in , one of 14 players drafted by the Dodgers that year to reach the majors. A top prospect, he was The Sporting News
' Minor League Player of the Year in . He spent the through seasons as a fourth outfielder
and pinch hitter
. After hitting under .200 in 1975, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
as part of a trade for Dusty Baker
. He hit .290 in a platoon role for Atlanta in but he struggled to duplicate those numbers the following year.
The Braves released him after spring training in , but signed him again just a week later. However, six weeks and only nine at bats later, the Braves gave him his release a second time. Paciorek then signed with the Seattle Mariners
, where he finished the season hitting .299.
Following two solid years as a platoon player, Paciorek put together a career season with the Mariners in the season. Playing full-time for the only time in his career, Paciorek batted .326, second in the American League
, and was fourth in the AL in slugging percentage. He earned his only appearance to an All-Star
team in and was 10th in the AL MVP race.
In the offseason, the Mariners traded Paciorek to the Chicago White Sox
for three players, none of whom would make an impact with Seattle. Paciorek hit over .300 his first two years with the Sox, and was part of Chicago's division championship team in .
With the White Sox in , he set an unusual MLB record. Paciorek replaced Ron Kittle
in left field in the fourth inning of a May 8 game with the Milwaukee Brewers
- a game which then proceeded to last 25 innings, becoming the longest game in Major League history (as measured in time on the field). By the time the game ended the following day, Paciorek had amassed five hits in nine at bats, a record for most hits in a game by a player that did not start the game which still stands (several players have had four hits in a game as a substitute, most recently Quinton McCracken
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
in ).http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/585,http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198405080.shtml
He was traded to the New York Mets
in , then spent his final two years with the Texas Rangers
.
Tom was one of three brothers to play in the Majors. His younger brother Jim played for the Milwaukee Brewers
in , while older brother John
played one game for the Houston Colt .45's (in which he went 3-3 and walked twice) in .
for several years since retiring as a player, with his most notable stint as the color commentator
on White Sox television broadcasts alongside Ken Harrelson
, who affectionately called him by his baseball nickname, "Wimpy", on-air. Paciorek broadcast for the White Sox from 1988 to 1999, then called select Seattle Mariners
games from 2000-2001 and Atlanta Braves
games on FSN South
from 2002–2005. In 2006, he was the color commentator for the Washington Nationals
, but his contract was not renewed for 2007 http://www.callofthegame.com/news/index.php?itemid=2026. He is fondly remembered amongst Nationals fans for his distinct pronunciation of "Alfonso Soriano": "Eelfahnso Soriaahno".
In the spring of 2002, Paciorek told the Detroit Free Press
in a report that priest Gerald Shirilla had molested
him and three of his four brothers while working as a teacher at St. Ladislaus Catholic High School in Hamtramck
in the 1960s. "I was molested by him for a period of four years," Paciorek is reported to have said. "I would refer to them as attacks. I would say there was at least a hundred of them." The former All-Star said he didn't tell anyone because no one would have believed him. "When you're a kid, and you're not able to articulate, who's going to believe you?" he asked. "The church back then was so powerful, there's nothing that a kid could do." http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2002/0322/1356082.html
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
) is a former Major League
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987. Prior to his career in the Major League, Paciorek was a collegiate baseball and football player for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Collegiate career
Paciorek played baseball and football for the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
from 1965 to 1968. A defensive back, he was picked by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the ninth round of the 1968 NFL Draft
1968 NFL Draft
The 1968 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on January 30–31.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. As a part of the Houston Cougars baseball
Houston Cougars baseball
The Houston Cougars baseball team is the college baseball team of the University of Houston.Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field. In addition to numerous NCAA...
club, he was named to the All-Tournament team after the Cougars became the national runner-up in the 1967 College World Series
1967 College World Series
The 1967 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 12 to June 18. The twenty-first tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Bobby Winkles...
. Paciorek's number was retired by the Cougars as one of only three in the history of the team.
Major league career
He was drafted by the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
in , one of 14 players drafted by the Dodgers that year to reach the majors. A top prospect, he was The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
' Minor League Player of the Year in . He spent the through seasons as a fourth outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. After hitting under .200 in 1975, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as part of a trade for Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He hit .290 in a platoon role for Atlanta in but he struggled to duplicate those numbers the following year.
The Braves released him after spring training in , but signed him again just a week later. However, six weeks and only nine at bats later, the Braves gave him his release a second time. Paciorek then signed with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, where he finished the season hitting .299.
Following two solid years as a platoon player, Paciorek put together a career season with the Mariners in the season. Playing full-time for the only time in his career, Paciorek batted .326, second in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, and was fourth in the AL in slugging percentage. He earned his only appearance to an All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team in and was 10th in the AL MVP race.
In the offseason, the Mariners traded Paciorek to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for three players, none of whom would make an impact with Seattle. Paciorek hit over .300 his first two years with the Sox, and was part of Chicago's division championship team in .
With the White Sox in , he set an unusual MLB record. Paciorek replaced Ron Kittle
Ron Kittle
Ronald Dale Kittle is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year...
in left field in the fourth inning of a May 8 game with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
- a game which then proceeded to last 25 innings, becoming the longest game in Major League history (as measured in time on the field). By the time the game ended the following day, Paciorek had amassed five hits in nine at bats, a record for most hits in a game by a player that did not start the game which still stands (several players have had four hits in a game as a substitute, most recently Quinton McCracken
Quinton McCracken
Quinton Antoine McCracken is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball, and was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise's first center fielder and batter on March 31, 1998....
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in ).http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/585,http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA198405080.shtml
He was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in , then spent his final two years with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Tom was one of three brothers to play in the Majors. His younger brother Jim played for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in , while older brother John
John Paciorek
John Francis Paciorek is an American baseball player with three career Major League at-bats, all for the Houston Colt .45s in 1963.He is famous for having arguably the greatest one-game career in baseball history...
played one game for the Houston Colt .45's (in which he went 3-3 and walked twice) in .
After baseball
Paciorek has served as a broadcasterPresenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
for several years since retiring as a player, with his most notable stint as the color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on White Sox television broadcasts alongside Ken Harrelson
Ken Harrelson
Kenneth Smith Harrelson , nicknamed "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball...
, who affectionately called him by his baseball nickname, "Wimpy", on-air. Paciorek broadcast for the White Sox from 1988 to 1999, then called select Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
games from 2000-2001 and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
games on FSN South
FSN South
Fox Sports South is a regional sports network that airs sports programming in the Southern United States. It is part of the larger Fox Sports Net group of regional sports networks...
from 2002–2005. In 2006, he was the color commentator for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, but his contract was not renewed for 2007 http://www.callofthegame.com/news/index.php?itemid=2026. He is fondly remembered amongst Nationals fans for his distinct pronunciation of "Alfonso Soriano": "Eelfahnso Soriaahno".
In the spring of 2002, Paciorek told the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
in a report that priest Gerald Shirilla had molested
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
him and three of his four brothers while working as a teacher at St. Ladislaus Catholic High School in Hamtramck
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
in the 1960s. "I was molested by him for a period of four years," Paciorek is reported to have said. "I would refer to them as attacks. I would say there was at least a hundred of them." The former All-Star said he didn't tell anyone because no one would have believed him. "When you're a kid, and you're not able to articulate, who's going to believe you?" he asked. "The church back then was so powerful, there's nothing that a kid could do." http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2002/0322/1356082.html