Tom Walker (1970s pitcher): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American baseball player (1948–2023)}} |
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{{Infobox baseball biography |
{{Infobox baseball biography |
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|name=Tom Walker |
|name=Tom Walker |
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|bats=Right |
|bats=Right |
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|throws=Right |
|throws=Right |
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|birth_date={{Birth date |
|birth_date={{Birth date|1948|11|7}} |
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|birth_place=[[Tampa, Florida]], U.S. |
|birth_place=[[Tampa, Florida]], U.S. |
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|death_date={{Death date and age|2023|10||1948|11|7}} |
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|death_place= |
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|debutleague = MLB |
|debutleague = MLB |
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|debutdate=April 23 |
|debutdate=April 23 |
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'''Robert Thomas Walker''' ( |
'''Robert Thomas Walker''' (November 7, 1948 – October 2023) was an American professional baseball [[pitcher]]. Walker pitched all or part of six seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), from 1972 until 1977, for the [[Montreal Expos]], [[Detroit Tigers]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[California Angels]].<ref name="MLB-Walker-Clemente-Jan2013">{{cite news|last1=Singer|first1=Tom|title=Living legacy: Walker carries spirit of Clemente; Father of Bucs infielder nearly took fateful plane trip that claimed life of legend|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/40840542/living-legacy-pirates-second-baseman-neil-walker-carries-spirit-of-roberto-clemente|accessdate=9 June 2016|work=[[Major League Baseball]]|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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In July 2015, Walker was elected to the [[Texas League Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Milb-TexasLeagueHOF-July2015" /> |
In July 2015, Walker was elected to the [[Texas League Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Milb-TexasLeagueHOF-July2015" /> |
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Tom Walker died in October 2023, at the age of 74.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Walker former MLB pitcher and father of Neil has died |url=https://www.audacy.com/937thefan/sports/pittsburgh-pirates/tom-walker-former-mlb-pitcher-and-father-of-neil-has-died |access-date=23 October 2023 |publisher=Audacy |date=23 October 2023}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Tom}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Tom}} |
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[[Category:1948 births]] |
[[Category:1948 births]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2023 deaths]] |
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[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]] |
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Baseball players from Tampa, Florida]] |
[[Category:Baseball players from Tampa, Florida]] |
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Revision as of 16:31, 23 October 2023
| Tom Walker | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: November 7, 1948 Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| Died: October 2023 (aged 74) | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 23, 1972, for the Montreal Expos | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 23, 1977, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 18–23 |
| Earned run average | 3.87 |
| Strikeouts | 262 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Robert Thomas Walker (November 7, 1948 – October 2023) was an American professional baseball pitcher. Walker pitched all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1972 until 1977, for the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and California Angels.[1]
Career
After graduating from Chamberlain High School in Tampa, Florida in 1966, Walker was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1968 January amateur draft.[1][2] On August 4, 1971, while playing for the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs in the Double-A Dixie Association, Walker threw a 15-inning no-hitter to beat the Albuquerque Dodgers 1–0. He threw 193 pitches to win the game.[1][2][3] In 1972, Walker was selected by the Montreal Expos in the Rule 5 draft and made his major league debut that season.[3] He was traded along with Terry Humphrey from the Expos to the Tigers for Woodie Fryman on December 4, 1974.[4] The last batter he faced in the majors, Lyman Bostock, lined into a triple play.[5] Walker posted an 18–23 record in 191 major league appearances over six seasons.[3]
Brush with death
In 1972, while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, Walker and several other players helped Roberto Clemente load a plane carrying relief supplies to survivors of the Nicaragua earthquake after Christmas. He offered to accompany Clemente on the trip to the Central American nation, but the plane was full and Clemente told him to stay behind and enjoy his New Year's Eve. A few hours later, Walker returned to his condo and saw the news reports that Clemente's plane had crashed off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.[1]
Personal life
Tom's son, Neil Walker, is a former MLB player who retired in 2021.[1][6] Another son, Matt, played in the minor leagues as an outfielder in the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles systems, while another son, Sean, pitched for George Mason University. Tom is also the brother-in-law of former Montreal Expos pitcher, Chip Lang. Meanwhile, Don Kelly, a former player for the Detroit Tigers, married his daughter Carrie, a former professional basketball player, in 2007.
In July 2015, Walker was elected to the Texas League Hall of Fame.[2]
Tom Walker died in October 2023, at the age of 74.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Singer, Tom (January 3, 2013). "Living legacy: Walker carries spirit of Clemente; Father of Bucs infielder nearly took fateful plane trip that claimed life of legend". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ a b c "Class of 2015: Eight Elected to the Texas League Hall of Fame". Texas League. Minor League Baseball. July 1, 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Tom Kayser; David King (31 August 2012). "45". Baseball in the Lone Star State: The Texas League's Greatest Hits. Trinity University Press. pp. 162–164. ISBN 978-1-59534-119-8. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ Durso, Joseph. "Orioles Send McNally to Expos; Allen Balks at Trade to Braves," The New York Times, Thursday, December 5, 1974. Retrieved May 3, 2020
- ^ Associated Press (July 24, 1977). "Angels Turn Triple Play". Lakeland Ledger. Bloomington, Minnesota. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates' Second Baseman on the Gift of Life"
- ^ "Tom Walker former MLB pitcher and father of Neil has died". Audacy. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- Crasnick, Jerry (July 16, 2012). "Neil Walker actually living his dream". ESPN.