Tony Bartirome
From BR Bullpen
Anthony Joseph Bartirome
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 10", Weight 155 lb.
- Debut April 19, 1952
- Final Game September 28, 1952
- Born May 9, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"Tony Bartirome was an absolute delight. . . one of the most positive guys I've ever seen." - Charlie Metro, about his Denver team
Tony Bartirome was one of those players, like Sparky Anderson, who had a regular infielder job in his only season in the majors. Tony signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 8, 1951 by Pie Traynor. Bartirome played in 124 games for the 1952 Pirates, a team which lost 112 games.
Only 20 years old, he was a year younger than 21-year-old shortstop Dick Groat. Bartirome came up in 1952 after having been signed in 1951. Bartirome, while listed as 20 years old because he was born in May, was actually only 19 when he made the Opening Day roster and appeared in his first game in April 1952. After the 1952 season Tony was drafted into the Army and served 2 years, returning to the Pirates minor leagues in 1955.
In the minors, Bartirome played for Denver and elsewhere. In the winter of 1958, he played in the Panama League and then in the 1958 Caribbean Series.
After his playing career ended, Tony Bartirome was the athletic trainer for the Columbus Jets from 1964 to 1966, and then was the head trainer for the Pirates from 1967 thru 1985. After Chuck Tanner was fired by the Pirates after the 1985 season, Bartirome accompanied him to the Atlanta Braves where he was a coach from 1986 to 1988.
Bartirome returned to baseball briefly, serving as traveling secretary for the Bradenton club in the short-lived Senior Professional Baseball Association. After the league folded, Bartirome retired. He has lived in Bradenton, FL since the early 1980s.
