Tom Bolton (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Bolton is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
(1987–1992), Cincinnati Reds
(1992), Detroit Tigers
(1993) and Baltimore Orioles
(1994). He batted and threw left-handed. Bolton led Antioch High School
to 1979 Tennessee High School Class AAA state championship.
Bolton spent 18 years in professional baseball, constantly moving from the starting
rotation to the bullpen
. A six-season minor league veteran, he reached the majors in 1987 with the Boston Red Sox, playing in part of six seasons with them before moving to Cincinnati, Detroit and Baltimore. His most productive season came in 1990 with Boston, when he had a 10-5 mark with a 3.38 ERA
in 16 starts. In 1996 he recorded a high-career 19 starts, but went 8-9 and 5.24. After that, he was used mostly as a middle reliever
and left-handed specialist
. In the 1992 midseason, he was sent to Cincinnati in the same trade that brought Billy Hatcher
to the Red Sox. In his last two seasons, he divided his playing time with the Tigers and Orioles.
In an eight-season career, Bolton posted a 31-34 record with a 4.56 ERA and 244 strikeout
s in 209 appearances, including 56 starts, three complete game
s, and 540-1/3 innings pitched
. Following his major league career, he pitched in the Pacific Coast League
for Calgary
(1996–97), Tucson
(1997) and Nashville
(1998). In 14 minor league seasons he went 72-58 with 743 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA in 1125-1/3 innings.
He is married to Diane Bolton (former Jones) from New York. Diane is an avid marathon runner, and on June 27, 2010 had accomplished the goal of running a marathon in all 50 states, with the Kona Marathon in Hawaii. Tommy and Diane currently reside in Nashville and have three children.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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 from through for 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"...
(1987–1992), Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1992), 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...
(1993) and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1994). He batted and threw left-handed. Bolton led Antioch High School
Antioch Comprehensive High School
Antioch High School is a public high school located in Antioch, Tennessee, USA. It is located at 1900 Hobson Pike. It is a comprehensive high school for grades 9-12 and one of 19 high schools administered by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools....
to 1979 Tennessee High School Class AAA state championship.
Bolton spent 18 years in professional baseball, constantly moving from the starting
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
rotation to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. A six-season minor league veteran, he reached the majors in 1987 with the Boston Red Sox, playing in part of six seasons with them before moving to Cincinnati, Detroit and Baltimore. His most productive season came in 1990 with Boston, when he had a 10-5 mark with a 3.38 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 16 starts. In 1996 he recorded a high-career 19 starts, but went 8-9 and 5.24. After that, he was used mostly as a middle reliever
Middle relief pitcher
In baseball, middle relief pitchers are relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th innings or in situations where several innings worth of work is required . In the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled for a pinch hitter...
and left-handed specialist
Left-handed specialist
In baseball, a left-handed specialist is a left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed...
. In the 1992 midseason, he was sent to Cincinnati in the same trade that brought Billy Hatcher
Billy Hatcher (baseball player)
William Augustus Hatcher is a former left and center fielder in Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers, and former first base coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
to the Red Sox. In his last two seasons, he divided his playing time with the Tigers and Orioles.
In an eight-season career, Bolton posted a 31-34 record with a 4.56 ERA and 244 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 209 appearances, including 56 starts, three complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, and 540-1/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Following his major league career, he pitched in 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...
for Calgary
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
(1996–97), Tucson
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
(1997) and Nashville
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
(1998). In 14 minor league seasons he went 72-58 with 743 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA in 1125-1/3 innings.
He is married to Diane Bolton (former Jones) from New York. Diane is an avid marathon runner, and on June 27, 2010 had accomplished the goal of running a marathon in all 50 states, with the Kona Marathon in Hawaii. Tommy and Diane currently reside in Nashville and have three children.
Sources
- Baseball Almanac
- Baseball Library
- Baseball Reference
- Retrosheet
- The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3