Tommy Tucker
From BR Bullpen
Thomas Joseph Tucker (Foghorn)
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut April 16, 1887
- Final Game September 13, 1899
- Born October 28, 1863 in Holyoke, MA USA
- Died October 22, 1935 in Montague, MA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Tommy Tucker was a 19th century expert at getting hit by the pitch. He led the league five times, and is third on the all-time list for getting plunked. He also had one great season when he used his bat to make contact with the ball, hitting .372 to lead the league in 1889.
He was a good-fielding first baseman, choosing to pick up the balls one-handed rather than double-handed as was usually done at the time.
His name "Foghorn" came about because he was quite loud in his approach to coaching at the bases.
He once had a big fight with John McGraw in 1894. As stated in a Sporting News article from August 1, 1994:
John McGraw waits at third base for a hell-bent baserunner named Tommy Tucker who plays for the Boston Beaneaters. Tucker slides hard, and McGraw, who's been feuding with Tucker (McGraw feuds with everyone), kicks Tucker in the head as he lays on the tag. Tucker jumps to his feet and the two start punching. The crowd rises to egg on the pair, eating up the action. Midway through the fight, someone notices that the right-field stands are on fire. But McGraw and Tucker keep fighting as the fire spreads through Boston's old South End Grounds and destroys the grandstand behind home plate.
He closed out his career as a regular starter for the ill-fated 1899 Cleveland Spiders, a team that finished the season with only 20 victories - the most hapless record for any major league baseball team that played a full season in history.
[edit] Records Held
- Batting average, switch hitter, season, .372, 1889
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AA Batting Average Leader (1889)
- AA On-Base Percentage Leader (1889)
- AA OPS Leader (1889)
- AA Hits Leader (1889)
- AA Singles Leader (1889)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1894)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 5 (1887, 1889-1891 & 1894)
- 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 2 (1887 & 1889)
