Tom Ferrick

From BR Bullpen

Thomas Jerome Ferrick

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.

Debut April 19, 1941
Final Game September 28, 1952
Born January 6, 1915 in New York, NY USA
Died October 15, 1996 in Lima, PA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before embarking on a baseball career, Tom Ferrick spent time in a seminary preparing for the priesthood. He played in the minors from 1936 to 1938, then played semi-pro ball in 1939-1940. He made his big league debut with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1941, then was sold to the Cleveland Indians. Ferrick enlisted in the Navy in December 1942 and was discharged in January 1946.

Pitching for the New York Yankees, he won Game 3 of the 1950 World Series with one scoreless inning in relief of Ed Lopat on October 3; he won the game when Jerry Coleman hit a game-winning single off Russ Meyer in the bottom of the ninth.

On June 8, 1950, while a member of the St. Louis Browns, Ferrick was brought into a game against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. At the time, the Red Sox held a 29-3 lead over the Browns. He prevented further scoring by the home team, thus allowing his team to escape the indignity of becoming the first team in the post-1900 era to give up 30 runs in a game. A week later, he was traded to the Yankees.

After retiring as a player, he was a long time coach and scout. He was a Cincinnati Reds coach from 1954 to 1958 before spending 1959 on the Philadelphia Phillies staff. He was then with the Detroit Tigers from 1960 to 1963 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1964 and 1965. He later was a Kansas City Royals scout for over 20 years and was instrumental in the club's decision to draft George Brett.

Ferrick's son, Tom Ferrick, Jr., is a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and has occasionally shared reminiscences of his father's playing and coaching career in his column (which is not normally a sports column).

Sources: "Pitcher prevented historic run in '50"