Tommy Byrne (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Byrne was an American
left-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for four American League
teams from through , primarily the New York Yankees
. He also played for the St. Louis Browns
(1951–52), Chicago White Sox
(1953) and Washington Senators
(1953). Byrne batted and threw left-handed.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Byrne attended the Baltimore City College
high school and Wake Forest College.
After making his debut on April 27, 1943, he had four years with more than 130 innings pitched and more than 6 walks per nine innings, a record later tied by Nolan Ryan
. Byrne led the league in hit batsmen
five times and in walks
three times. Despite his wildness, he won 15 games twice (1949–50) and enjoyed a career season in with a 16-5 record and a 3.15 ERA
, and led the league in winning percentage
(.762).
But Byrne was a dangerous hitter. He hit well enough during his career to be called on by his managers for pinch-hitting
duties. He batted
.238 in his career (143-for-601) with 14 home run
s and 98 RBI
in 377 games, including two grand slams
and 80 pinch hits.
In a 13-year career, Byrne posted an 85-69 record with a 4.11 ERA in 1362 innings
. He had a disappointing 0.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio (766-to-1037). In four World Series
, he went 2-2 with 11 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA in 21.1 innings. He made the American League All-Star
team in . He played his final regular-season game on September 21, 1957 before ending his career in the World Series
defeat to the Milwaukee Braves
.
, where he had attended college. Prior to the 1963 season, he joined the New York Mets organization as a minor league scout. When Clyde McCullough
was promoted to the Mets as a coach, Byrne took over the manager's job for the Raleigh Mets of the Carolina League
. He managed the team from July 29 through the end of the season.
Byrne later became mayor of Wake Forest from 1973 through 1987. http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2007-09-09-0018.html. He died on December 20, 2007 at age 87 in Wake Forest, North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left-handed starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
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...
who played for four 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...
teams from through , primarily the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He also played for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1951–52), 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...
(1953) and 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...
(1953). Byrne batted and threw left-handed.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Byrne attended the Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
high school and Wake Forest College.
Baseball career
Byrne was a hard-thrower pitcher who never hesitated to pitch inside, but he had really struggled with his control most of his career, earning him the nickname "Wild Man".After making his debut on April 27, 1943, he had four years with more than 130 innings pitched and more than 6 walks per nine innings, a record later tied by Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
. Byrne led the league in hit batsmen
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
five times and in 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...
three times. Despite his wildness, he won 15 games twice (1949–50) and enjoyed a career season in with a 16-5 record and a 3.15 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, and led the league in winning percentage
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(.762).
But Byrne was a dangerous hitter. He hit well enough during his career to be called on by his managers for pinch-hitting
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...
duties. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.238 in his career (143-for-601) with 14 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 98 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 377 games, including two grand slams
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
and 80 pinch hits.
In a 13-year career, Byrne posted an 85-69 record with a 4.11 ERA in 1362 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...
. He had a disappointing 0.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio (766-to-1037). In four World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, he went 2-2 with 11 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA in 21.1 innings. He made the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team in . He played his final regular-season game on September 21, 1957 before ending his career in the World Series
1957 World Series
The 1957 World Series featured the defending champions, the New York Yankees , playing against the Milwaukee Braves . After finishing just one game behind the N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, the Braves came back in 1957 to win their first pennant since moving from Boston in 1953...
defeat to the Milwaukee 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....
.
Later life
After the conclusion of his baseball career, Byrne returned to Wake Forest, North CarolinaWake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
, where he had attended college. Prior to the 1963 season, he joined the New York Mets organization as a minor league scout. When Clyde McCullough
Clyde McCullough
Clyde Edward McCullough was an American catcher in Major League Baseball. After his playing career ended, he also managed in the minor leagues and was a major-league coach...
was promoted to the Mets as a coach, Byrne took over the manager's job for the Raleigh Mets of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He managed the team from July 29 through the end of the season.
Byrne later became mayor of Wake Forest from 1973 through 1987. http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/news.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2007-09-09-0018.html. He died on December 20, 2007 at age 87 in Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile and chronology
- Baseball Historian - article
- Why I Like Baseball - article by Cecilia Tan
- Tommy Byrne Day to honor Yankees star, former mayor (Sept. 9, 2007
- Obituary
- Grave and memorial which lists additional details about "Big Tommy"
- Tommy Byrne at Find a Grave.com