Tommy Fine
Encyclopedia
Thomas Morgan Fine was an American
pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
(1947) and St. Louis Browns
(1950). A switch-hitter, he threw right-handed.
Fine was born in Cleburne, Texas
. Despite pitching just two seasons in the major leagues, Fine was a revered professional baseball pitcher for 20 years. He is most remembered for his career in Cuba
n baseball during five seasons, and especially for being the only pitcher ever to hurl a no-hitter
game in Caribbean World Series
history.
of the Eastern League, where in 1946
he broke the leagues record for most consecutive wins with 15.
He made his major league debut in 1947 with the Red Sox and finished with a 1-2 record in seven starts
. He appeared in the majors again in 1950 with the Browns and posted 0-1 in 14 games as a reliever
.
In a 37-game career, Fine compiled a 1-4 record with 16 strikeout
s and a 6.81 ERA
in 72.2 innings
. He was a competent hitting pitcher, batting .333 (6-for-18) with five runs
scored and one RBI
in 25 games
.
On February 21, 1952
, Fine appeared in the III Caribbean World Series
held at Panama
. He was called by the Cuban team as a late replacement for future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm
. Fine posted the only no-hitter pitched in any Caribbean series game, to give his team a 1–0 win against Venezuela
. Five days later, Fine faced Panama's club and was close to glory. He was three outs from consecutive no-hitters in the series, having allowed a single
in the ninth inning to break it up. His 17 hitless streak also is the longest in the series.
After retiring, Fine was a respected businessman. He also served as a deacon
in the Baptist church.
Fine died in Little Elm, Texas
at age 90.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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 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"...
(1947) and 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...
(1950). A switch-hitter, he threw right-handed.
Fine was born in Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
. Despite pitching just two seasons in the major leagues, Fine was a revered professional baseball pitcher for 20 years. He is most remembered for his career in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n baseball during five seasons, and especially for being the only pitcher ever to hurl a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
game in Caribbean World Series
Caribbean World Series
The Caribbean Series , also called the Caribbean World Series is the highest baseball tournament at club level in Latin America. The league winners from the Winter Leagues of Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela participate in the tournament...
history.
Major League Career
Fine played for the Scranton MinersScranton Miners
The Scranton Miners were an Eastern Professional Basketball League basketball team based in Scranton, Pennsylvania that was a member of the American Basketball League. Arthur Pachter was the Owner and coach for many years...
of the Eastern League, where in 1946
1946 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...
he broke the leagues record for most consecutive wins with 15.
He made his major league debut in 1947 with the Red Sox and finished with a 1-2 record in seven starts
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....
. He appeared in the majors again in 1950 with the Browns and posted 0-1 in 14 games as a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
.
In a 37-game career, Fine compiled a 1-4 record with 16 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 and a 6.81 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...
in 72.2 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 was a competent hitting pitcher, batting .333 (6-for-18) with five runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored and one 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 25 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
On February 21, 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
, Fine appeared in the III Caribbean World Series
1952 Caribbean Series
The IV edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1952. It was held from February 20 through February 26 featuring the champions teams from Cuba , Panama , Puerto Rico and Venezuela . The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Panama...
held at Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. He was called by the Cuban team as a late replacement for future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....
. Fine posted the only no-hitter pitched in any Caribbean series game, to give his team a 1–0 win against Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Five days later, Fine faced Panama's club and was close to glory. He was three outs from consecutive no-hitters in the series, having allowed a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in the ninth inning to break it up. His 17 hitless streak also is the longest in the series.
After retiring, Fine was a respected businessman. He also served as a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the Baptist church.
Fine died in Little Elm, Texas
Little Elm, Texas
Little Elm is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States and a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 3,646 at the 2000 census. By the 2010 census, the city total had jumped to 25,898...
at age 90.