Thurman Tucker
Encyclopedia
Thurman Lowell Tucker was an American
center fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for nine seasons in the American League
with the Chicago White Sox
and Cleveland Indians
. In 701 career games, Tucker recorded a batting average
of .255, had 24 triples
, 9 home run
s, and 179 runs batted in (RBI). He was nicknamed "Joe E." Tucker because of his resemblance to comedian Joe E. Brown.
Born and raised in Texas, Tucker first played professionally with the Siloam Springs Travelers. He gradually progressed through minor league baseball until he was signed by the Chicago White Sox
before the 1941 season. He made his major league debut for the team a year later and spent two seasons as their starting center fielder before enlisting in the armed forces for World War II
. Upon his return, Tucker played two more seasons for the White Sox. Subsequently, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
, for whom he played four seasons, and continued to play minor league baseball throughout the 1950s. After retirement, he became a major league scout and insurance agent. He died in 1993.
. At high school, he was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball (where he was a second baseman
), basketball
, and track and field
. After graduating in 1935, he played semi-professional baseball, and enrolled in a baseball school located in Hot Springs, Arkansas
. At the age of 18, in 1936, Tucker signed as a professional with the Fayetteville Bears of the Arkansas-Missouri League
, but remained with the team for only two weeks and did not play a game. Soon after, he was signed by the Siloam Springs Travelers of the same league, where he began his professional career.
and 25 doubles
. The following year, he was to play for the El Dorado Lions of the Cotton States League
, but a back injury caused him to miss nearly the entire season. Tucker spent the 1938 season with two separate minor league clubs; he played 55 games for the Abbeville A's of the Evangeline Baseball League
and 50 games for the Greenville Bucks
of the Cotton States League. He remained in the Cotton States League for 1939, playing for the Clarksdale Red Sox, at the time a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
In 136 games for Clarksdale, Tucker had a .298 batting average and 10 triples
.
Tucker's breakthrough minor league season came in 1940, his second with Clarksdale. By the end of June, he was leading the Cotton State League with a batting average of .374. After playing in 97 games, finishing with an average of .390, Tucker played in 40 games for the Oklahoma City Indians
. At the end of the season, Chicago White Sox farm manager Billy Webb was impressed enough to purchase Tucker's contract from Oklahoma City. At the beginning of the 1941 season, Tucker failed to win the final outfield spot on the White Sox roster from Dave Short
, and consequently spent 1941 at Oklahoma City, where he was coached by Hall of Famer
Rogers Hornsby
. In 141 games for the Indians, Tucker had a batting average of .246 and 12 triples.
At spring training for the 1942 season, Tucker competed with Dave Philley
for the final outfield spot. Tucker was on the major league roster on opening day, and made his major league debut on April 14, 1942. He only played in two games before being sent to the Fort Worth Cats
of the Texas League
. He spent most of the season with the Cats, hitting .313 in 144 games. He was brought back up to the major league squad late in the season, and finished the year with seven games played for the White Sox.
was assured of a place. During spring training, manager Jimmy Dykes
liked what he saw from Tucker while competing for the starting center fielder position alongside Moose Solters
. As a result, after spring training Tucker became the starting center fielder for 1943, and the team's leadoff hitter. Partway through the season, Tucker's performance caught the eye of American League President Will Harridge
, who noted him as someone the public came out to watch in the absence of stars serving in World War II. Among Tucker's achievements during the season were a walk-off home run
to win a game against the New York Yankees
on July 26, 2–1. Tucker finished the season with a .235 batting average, six triples, and 79 walks
in 135 games. He also stole 29 bases, the third best total in the AL, and was caught stealing 17 times, which was second in the league.
Tucker passed a physical examination for the United States Navy
before the 1944 season began, and was projected to be called up to serve in the war that year. However, he was not called in, and played the entire season for the White Sox. Tucker hit very well during the first month of 1944; he had a .403 batting average on May 16, which comfortably led the American League. His hitting and fielding abilities, combined with the possibility of joining the Navy at any time, led to sportswriter Fred Lieb
noting him as a breakout performer that year. Tucker and Dixie Walker
led their respective leagues in batting average throughout June; at the end of the month, Tucker had an average of .369 in the American League while Walker had an average of .377 in the National League. Owing to his achievements, Tucker was named to the All-Star
roster for the only time in his career. He was the leadoff hitter in the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
and went hitless in four at-bats.
Tucker's form faded after the All-Star Game; in early July, he had a hitless streak of 28 at-bats, causing his batting average to shrink from .375 to .327. In the process, he lost his status as league leader in batting average. After his batting average fell to .320 after hitting once in 35 at-bats, he was benched for a weekend matchup against the Detroit Tigers
in an attempt to halt his decline. At the end of July, both Tucker and George Case
participated in a 75–yard dash at part of the White Sox's annual benefit for the war; Tucker lost the race to Case by a yard. Tucker finished the season with a batting average of .287 and six triples. After the season ended, Tucker formally joined the Navy, and spent the 1945 season serving in the warI.
When the players returned to their teams at the end of the war, Tucker was slated to be the starting center fielder for the 1946 season began, working alongside Wally Moses and Taffy Wright
. Unlike the previous season, he struggled with the bat at first, and was relegated to his original status as a good fielder but a poor hitter. At the end of June, Tucker had a batting average of .229, nearly 150 points lower than his average at the same point in 1944. He recovered in the second half of the season, finishing the year with a batting average of .288 and 20 doubles, both career highs. As the 1947 Chicago White Sox season
began, Tucker remained in his center field position after hitting .400 in the last month of the 1946 season, while rookie Dave Philley was in left field and Taffy Wright and Bob Kennedy
platooned
in right field. However, he started the year by missing some playing time due to a stomach ailment, and did not play full time for the White Sox until the middle of May. Tucker ended up splitting time with Philley due to his light hitting, and he finished the season with a .236 batting average in 89 games.
for Ralph Weigel
; the Indians regarded Tucker as "the finest defensive player in baseball." He started off the year as the starting center fielder for the Indians, and in one early matchup against the Detroit Tigers, was the only player not to record a hit in an 8–2 victory. He missed a couple weeks of playing time in June after breaking a finger when he was hit by a pitch. Upon returning to the lineup, Tucker spent most of the second half of the season as a fourth outfielder
, splitting time with Allie Clark
and playing in the outfield alongside Larry Doby
and Dale Mitchell
. He finished the season with a .260 batting average and 52 runs in 83 games, and also ended the season with a perfect fielding percentage
of 1.000. Tucker also participated in game six of the 1948 World Series
, scoring a run in the sixth inning on a walk en route to a 4–3 win for the Indians.
The Indians planned to use Tucker as their fourth outfielder for the 1949 season when he served mostly as backup to Doby. He was relegated mostly to pinch hitting duties, and finished the season with a .244 batting average in 20 games and under 200 at-bats. Due to his hitting struggles, Indians manager Lou Boudreau
tried converting Tucker to a switch hitter
to start off the 1950 season. Tucker was again set to be a backup outfielder in 1950. His performances during the year included hitting a home run, the only one he hit that season, in an 8–5 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers; the teams raised $60,000 in that game to benefit sandlot
teams in Cleveland. Tucker finished the season with a .178 batting average in 54 games, the lowest mark of his career.
Tucker and Allie Clark were both looking to crack the Indians roster to begin the 1951 season, as the additions of Harry Simpson
and Minnie Miñoso made it likely that one or both of them would be traded or released. Tucker played only one game for the Indians, on April 29 when he recorded a strikeout in his lone at-bat. In early May, the Indians sent him to their Triple-A minor league affiliate, the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
, a move that ended his major league career.
of the Texas League
. Tucker played in 72 games for the Indians that season, hitting .263. He retired from baseball during the 1953 season, and did not play with any professional team during that time.
Tucker returned to baseball in 1954 to play for the Lubbock Hubbers
of the West Texas-New Mexico League
. He played part-time for the team, serving as a replacement when players needed time off, whether through injury or to spend time with their families. He hit .360 in 25 games for the Hubbers. The following year, he served as player-manager for the Carlsbad Potashers of the Longhorn League
. He noted during his time there that the Hobbs Sports were the top team in heckling
. Tucker hit .275 in 114 games for the Potashers, hitting 25 doubles and eight home runs. He continued as player-manager for the Potashers in 1956, but the management considered firing him during a 14-game losing streak. He finished the year with a .306 batting average in 128 games. The following season, he was the player-manager of the Hobbs Sports, but only played in 16 games for them, hitting .273. In 1958, he ended his playing career, and became the general manager of the Hobbs team.
After retiring, Tucker became an insurance agent and lived in Oklahoma City
with his wife and four children. His son Ronald served in the Vietnam War
. In 1962, he also became one of the Houston Astros
' first scouts
. Tucker died on May 7, 1993 in Oklahoma City and is buried at Gordon Cemetery in his hometown of Gordon, Texas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for nine seasons in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. In 701 career games, Tucker recorded a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .255, had 24 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 9 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 179 runs batted in (RBI). He was nicknamed "Joe E." Tucker because of his resemblance to comedian Joe E. Brown.
Born and raised in Texas, Tucker first played professionally with the Siloam Springs Travelers. He gradually progressed through minor league baseball until he was signed by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
before the 1941 season. He made his major league debut for the team a year later and spent two seasons as their starting center fielder before enlisting in the armed forces for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon his return, Tucker played two more seasons for the White Sox. Subsequently, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, for whom he played four seasons, and continued to play minor league baseball throughout the 1950s. After retirement, he became a major league scout and insurance agent. He died in 1993.
Early life
Thurman Tucker was born and raised in Gordon, TexasGordon, Texas
Gordon is a city in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 Census.Former Olympic athlete and conservative political figure Bob Richards raises miniature horses in Gordon.-Geography:...
. At high school, he was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball (where he was a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
), basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. After graduating in 1935, he played semi-professional baseball, and enrolled in a baseball school located in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
. At the age of 18, in 1936, Tucker signed as a professional with the Fayetteville Bears of the Arkansas-Missouri League
Arkansas-Missouri League
The Arkansas-Missouri League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball that operated from 1936-1940. It was formerly known as the Arkansas State League.-Cities Represented:*Bentonville, AR: Bentonville Mustangs 1936...
, but remained with the team for only two weeks and did not play a game. Soon after, he was signed by the Siloam Springs Travelers of the same league, where he began his professional career.
Minor league career
In 1936, his first season with the Travelers, Tucker changed positions and became an outfielder. In 117 games, he had a .319 batting averageBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and 25 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. The following year, he was to play for the El Dorado Lions of the Cotton States League
Cotton States League
The Cotton States League name was used five different times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six '08 members returning for the new...
, but a back injury caused him to miss nearly the entire season. Tucker spent the 1938 season with two separate minor league clubs; he played 55 games for the Abbeville A's of the Evangeline Baseball League
Evangeline Baseball League
The Evangeline Baseball League began in 1934 as a six-team Class-D minor league in and around Louisiana, United States. The following season, the league was expanded to eight teams and ceased operations in 1942, with six teams, during World War II. It resumed activities in 1946, getting promoted to...
and 50 games for the Greenville Bucks
Greenville Bucks
The Greenville Bucks were a Cotton States League baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1955. They were affiliated with the Memphis Chicks in 1936 and the Detroit Tigers 1955. Their home fields included High School Park, Recreation Park and Sportsman Park....
of the Cotton States League. He remained in the Cotton States League for 1939, playing for the Clarksdale Red Sox, at the time a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
In 136 games for Clarksdale, Tucker had a .298 batting average and 10 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
.
Tucker's breakthrough minor league season came in 1940, his second with Clarksdale. By the end of June, he was leading the Cotton State League with a batting average of .374. After playing in 97 games, finishing with an average of .390, Tucker played in 40 games for the Oklahoma City Indians
Oklahoma City Indians
The Oklahoma City Indians were an American minor league baseball franchise representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that played in the Texas League in 1909, 1933-42 and from 1946-57, and in the Western League from 1918-32...
. At the end of the season, Chicago White Sox farm manager Billy Webb was impressed enough to purchase Tucker's contract from Oklahoma City. At the beginning of the 1941 season, Tucker failed to win the final outfield spot on the White Sox roster from Dave Short
Dave Short
David Orvis Short was a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder for parts of two seasons with the Chicago White Sox...
, and consequently spent 1941 at Oklahoma City, where he was coached by Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
. In 141 games for the Indians, Tucker had a batting average of .246 and 12 triples.
At spring training for the 1942 season, Tucker competed with Dave Philley
Dave Philley
David Earl Philley is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, he debuted on September 6, and played his final game on August 6, . He was born in Paris, Texas....
for the final outfield spot. Tucker was on the major league roster on opening day, and made his major league debut on April 14, 1942. He only played in two games before being sent to the Fort Worth Cats
Fort Worth Cats (Texas League)
The Fort Worth Cats were a minor league baseball team that played in the Texas League from 1932 to 1942, from 1946 to 1958, and in 1964. They were affiliated with the Indianapolis Indians in 1933, the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1946 to 1956, and with the Chicago Cubs from 1957 to 1958 and in...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. He spent most of the season with the Cats, hitting .313 in 144 games. He was brought back up to the major league squad late in the season, and finished the year with seven games played for the White Sox.
Chicago White Sox
Of the Chicago White Sox outfielders at the beginning of the 1943 season, only Wally MosesWally Moses
Wallace Moses was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1951, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox . Moses batted and threw left-handed...
was assured of a place. During spring training, manager Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
liked what he saw from Tucker while competing for the starting center fielder position alongside Moose Solters
Moose Solters
Julius Joseph "Moose" Solters was a major league outfielder between 1934 and 1943.-Career:...
. As a result, after spring training Tucker became the starting center fielder for 1943, and the team's leadoff hitter. Partway through the season, Tucker's performance caught the eye of American League President Will Harridge
Will Harridge
William Harridge was an American executive in professional baseball whose most significant role was as president of the American League from 1931 to 1958...
, who noted him as someone the public came out to watch in the absence of stars serving in World War II. Among Tucker's achievements during the season were a walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
to win a game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on July 26, 2–1. Tucker finished the season with a .235 batting average, six triples, and 79 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 135 games. He also stole 29 bases, the third best total in the AL, and was caught stealing 17 times, which was second in the league.
Tucker passed a physical examination for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
before the 1944 season began, and was projected to be called up to serve in the war that year. However, he was not called in, and played the entire season for the White Sox. Tucker hit very well during the first month of 1944; he had a .403 batting average on May 16, which comfortably led the American League. His hitting and fielding abilities, combined with the possibility of joining the Navy at any time, led to sportswriter Fred Lieb
Fred Lieb
Frederick Lieb was an American sportswriter and baseball historian. He and his wife Mary were especially close to Lou Gehrig. Walter Brennan's character in the movie The Pride of the Yankees was loosely based on him...
noting him as a breakout performer that year. Tucker and Dixie Walker
Dixie Walker
Fred E. "Dixie" Walker was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
led their respective leagues in batting average throughout June; at the end of the month, Tucker had an average of .369 in the American League while Walker had an average of .377 in the National League. Owing to his achievements, Tucker was named to the All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
roster for the only time in his career. He was the leadoff hitter in the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 12th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 1944, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the home...
and went hitless in four at-bats.
Tucker's form faded after the All-Star Game; in early July, he had a hitless streak of 28 at-bats, causing his batting average to shrink from .375 to .327. In the process, he lost his status as league leader in batting average. After his batting average fell to .320 after hitting once in 35 at-bats, he was benched for a weekend matchup against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in an attempt to halt his decline. At the end of July, both Tucker and George Case
George Case
George Washington Case was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Washington Senators...
participated in a 75–yard dash at part of the White Sox's annual benefit for the war; Tucker lost the race to Case by a yard. Tucker finished the season with a batting average of .287 and six triples. After the season ended, Tucker formally joined the Navy, and spent the 1945 season serving in the warI.
When the players returned to their teams at the end of the war, Tucker was slated to be the starting center fielder for the 1946 season began, working alongside Wally Moses and Taffy Wright
Taffy Wright
Taft Shedron "Taffy" Wright was an outfielder in professional baseball from 1938 to 1949. Wright made a splash in his rookie season, leading the American League in batting with a .350 average...
. Unlike the previous season, he struggled with the bat at first, and was relegated to his original status as a good fielder but a poor hitter. At the end of June, Tucker had a batting average of .229, nearly 150 points lower than his average at the same point in 1944. He recovered in the second half of the season, finishing the year with a batting average of .288 and 20 doubles, both career highs. As the 1947 Chicago White Sox season
1947 Chicago White Sox season
The 1947 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 47th season in the major leagues, and their 48th season overall. They finished with a record 70-84, good enough for 6th place in the American League, 27 games behind the first place New York Yankees....
began, Tucker remained in his center field position after hitting .400 in the last month of the 1946 season, while rookie Dave Philley was in left field and Taffy Wright and Bob Kennedy
Bob Kennedy
Robert Daniel Kennedy was a right fielder/third baseman, manager and executive in Major League Baseball.From 1939-1957, Kennedy played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed...
platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
in right field. However, he started the year by missing some playing time due to a stomach ailment, and did not play full time for the White Sox until the middle of May. Tucker ended up splitting time with Philley due to his light hitting, and he finished the season with a .236 batting average in 89 games.
Cleveland Indians
On January 27, 1948, Tucker was traded to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Ralph Weigel
Ralph Weigel
Ralph Richard Weigel was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for three seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians in 1946, then was traded to the Chicago White Sox on January 27, 1948 for Thurman Tucker. He played for the White Sox in 1948 and the Washington Senators in 1949.-External...
; the Indians regarded Tucker as "the finest defensive player in baseball." He started off the year as the starting center fielder for the Indians, and in one early matchup against the Detroit Tigers, was the only player not to record a hit in an 8–2 victory. He missed a couple weeks of playing time in June after breaking a finger when he was hit by a pitch. Upon returning to the lineup, Tucker spent most of the second half of the season as a fourth outfielder
Fourth outfielder
In baseball, a fourth outfielder is a backup outfielder, who does not have the hitting skills to regularly play in the corner outfield, but does not have the fielding skills to play center field; for these players, this often leads to playing time that has been called "erratic and unpredictable"...
, splitting time with Allie Clark
Allie Clark
Alfred Aloysius "Allie" Clark is a former professional baseball player playing most notably for the New York Yankees. He made his pro debut on August 5, 1947 with the Yankees and played his final game on June 5, 1953 with the Philadelphia Athletics...
and playing in the outfield alongside Larry Doby
Larry Doby
Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball....
and Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell may refer to:* Dale Mitchell , American baseball player* Dale Mitchell , Canadian soccer player...
. He finished the season with a .260 batting average and 52 runs in 83 games, and also ended the season with a perfect fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of 1.000. Tucker also participated in game six of the 1948 World Series
1948 World Series
The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the "Miracle Braves" team of . The Indians spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston...
, scoring a run in the sixth inning on a walk en route to a 4–3 win for the Indians.
The Indians planned to use Tucker as their fourth outfielder for the 1949 season when he served mostly as backup to Doby. He was relegated mostly to pinch hitting duties, and finished the season with a .244 batting average in 20 games and under 200 at-bats. Due to his hitting struggles, Indians manager Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
tried converting Tucker to a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
to start off the 1950 season. Tucker was again set to be a backup outfielder in 1950. His performances during the year included hitting a home run, the only one he hit that season, in an 8–5 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers; the teams raised $60,000 in that game to benefit sandlot
Sandlot ball
Sandlot ball is a North American adolescent game that generally follows the basic rules of baseball. More specific rules can be set for games and may vary each time the game is played. These rules are usually agreed upon before the game begins by teams of young boys or girls usually from the same...
teams in Cleveland. Tucker finished the season with a .178 batting average in 54 games, the lowest mark of his career.
Tucker and Allie Clark were both looking to crack the Indians roster to begin the 1951 season, as the additions of Harry Simpson
Harry Simpson
Harry Leon "Suitcase" Simpson was an African American outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for a number of teams. He played in the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1957, where they lost....
and Minnie Miñoso made it likely that one or both of them would be traded or released. Tucker played only one game for the Indians, on April 29 when he recorded a strikeout in his lone at-bat. In early May, the Indians sent him to their Triple-A minor league affiliate, the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, a move that ended his major league career.
Later life
After being sent to the Padres, Tucker completed the 1951 season with them. In 88 games, Tucker had two triples and a .222 batting average. In the offseason, Tucker began to operate a taxicab in Texas, and he contemplated retirement from baseball during a contract in February 1952. He did end up playing 47 games for the now-unaffiliated Padres, hitting .225 in the process. In mid-June, the Padres sold his contract to the Oklahoma City IndiansOklahoma City Indians
The Oklahoma City Indians were an American minor league baseball franchise representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that played in the Texas League in 1909, 1933-42 and from 1946-57, and in the Western League from 1918-32...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. Tucker played in 72 games for the Indians that season, hitting .263. He retired from baseball during the 1953 season, and did not play with any professional team during that time.
Tucker returned to baseball in 1954 to play for the Lubbock Hubbers
Lubbock Hubbers
The Lubbock Hubbers were a minor league baseball team based in Lubbock, Texas, USA that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1956. They played in the West Texas League , Panhandle-Pecos Valley League , West Texas-New Mexico League and Big State League...
of the West Texas-New Mexico League
West Texas-New Mexico League
The West Texas-New Mexico League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1937 through 1955. The league was not active in 1943-1945 because of World War II...
. He played part-time for the team, serving as a replacement when players needed time off, whether through injury or to spend time with their families. He hit .360 in 25 games for the Hubbers. The following year, he served as player-manager for the Carlsbad Potashers of the Longhorn League
Longhorn League
The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from through in the Southwestern United States. In , it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through before changing its name to the Sophomore League....
. He noted during his time there that the Hobbs Sports were the top team in heckling
Heckler
A heckler is a person who harass and try to disconcert others with questions, challenges, or gibes.Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or interrupts set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or...
. Tucker hit .275 in 114 games for the Potashers, hitting 25 doubles and eight home runs. He continued as player-manager for the Potashers in 1956, but the management considered firing him during a 14-game losing streak. He finished the year with a .306 batting average in 128 games. The following season, he was the player-manager of the Hobbs Sports, but only played in 16 games for them, hitting .273. In 1958, he ended his playing career, and became the general manager of the Hobbs team.
After retiring, Tucker became an insurance agent and lived in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
with his wife and four children. His son Ronald served in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In 1962, he also became one of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
' first scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
. Tucker died on May 7, 1993 in Oklahoma City and is buried at Gordon Cemetery in his hometown of Gordon, Texas.