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Thomas Harold Phoebus (April 7, 1942 – September 5, 2019) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs between 1966 and 1972. He batted and threw right-handed.
| Tom Phoebus | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: April 7, 1942 Baltimore, Maryland | |
| Died: September 5, 2019 (aged 77) | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 15, 1966, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1972, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 56–52 |
| Earned run average | 3.33 |
| Strikeouts | 725 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Education
Phoebus attended high school at Mount Saint Joseph College, a private high school in Baltimore. As a boy he played baseball in Baltimore through the Mary Dobkin Athletic Clubs.[1]
Professional career
Phoebus began his career with Baltimore pitching shutouts in his first two starts, on September 15 and 20, 1966, against the Angels and Kansas City A's. He became just the fourth American League pitcher ever to do it. In 1967, Phoebus finished 14–9 with 179 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA, en route to being selected The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.
On April 27, 1968, Phoebus no-hit the Red Sox 6–0 at Memorial Stadium.[2] Converted outfielder Curt Blefary was the catcher. Meanwhile, third baseman Brooks Robinson helped with the bat and made a great catch to rob a hit from Rico Petrocelli in the 8th inning. Phoebus won a career-high 15 games in that season, and 14 in 1969, including the American League Eastern Division clincher over Cleveland. He also won Game Two of the 1970 World Series in relief duties.[3]
In the Minors, Tom led the Florida State League with 12 losses while playing for the Leesburg Orioles in 1961. In 1962, he was tops in the Northern League with 195 strikeouts and 152 bases on balls while playing for the Aberdeen Pheasants. The next season, 1963, he led the Eastern League with 124 bases on balls while playing for the Elmira Pioneers. The minor leaguer's pitch count didn't let up in 1964 when he again led the International League with 120 bases on balls while playing for the Rochester Red Wings. In 1966 his walks were down and his Ks were still high, but he still managed to get the league lead in the International League with 208 strikeouts and 95 bases on balls while playing for the Rochester Red Wings.
Although Tom couldn't hit for average, batting .170 (57-for-335), he hit his two major league home runs against all-stars Jim Coates (1967) and Jim Kaat (1968).
Phoebus was sent to San Diego in the same trade that brought Pat Dobson to the Orioles, and finished his career with the Cubs in 1972.
In a seven-year career, Phoebus compiled a 56–52 record with 725 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA in 1,030 innings pitched.
Phoebus died September 5, 2019.[4]
See also
References
External links
- Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet