Tom Carroll (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Michael Carroll (born November 5, 1952 in Oriskany, New York
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Cincinnati Reds
.
The Reds selected Carroll in the sixth round of the June 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
out of North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
at just seventeen years old. At eighteen, Carroll went 18-5 with a 2.39 earned run average
and 148 strikeouts with the Florida State League
's Tampa Tarpons
. He was also a part time student studying political science and foreign affairs at Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh.
Carroll tossed a no-hitter to improve his career minor league record to 51-33 with a 3.38 ERA when he received his first call to the majors. He made his major league debut on July 7, at Riverfront Stadium. Facing Bob Forsch
(who was also making his major league debut) in the first game of a doubleheader
with the St. Louis Cardinals
, he held the Cardinals to just two hits
over seven innings while striking out six. Following an August 11 victory over the New York Mets
, Carroll's record stood at 4-0. However, he lost his final three decisions of the year, and ended the season at 4-3 with a 3.68 ERA.
He began the season with the triple A Indianapolis Indians
, but got a call to the majors when Reds ace Don Gullett fractured his left thumb. He made the most of this opportunity, going 4-1 with a 4.98 ERA in place of Gullett. Though he did not participate in the Big Red Machine's World Series
victory over the Boston Red Sox
, he was voted a three-quarter share by his teammates.
He spent all of the season with Indianapolis, going 9-15 with a 5.38 ERA. Following the season, the Reds traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for Jim Sadowski
. He was then taken from the Pirates in the 1976 Rule V draft by the Montreal Expos
. He remained in Montreal's farm system until arm problems ended his career in . He attempted a comeback with the independent Alexandria Dukes
of the Carolina League
in , but was unsuccessful. He is currently a chief analyst with MITRE's Center for Integrated Intelligence Systems (CIIS).
came on July 17, 1974 against Bob Gibson
as Gibson stood with 2999 career strikeouts. The next batter, Cesar Geronimo
, ended up being Gibson's three thousandth career strikeout.
Oriskany, New York
Oriskany is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 2,744 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Iroquois word for "nettles."The Village of Oriskany is in the Town of Whitestown, southeast of the City of Rome...
) is a former 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...
pitcher
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...
for the 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....
.
The Reds selected Carroll in the sixth round of the June 1970 Major League Baseball Draft
1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
out of North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
at just seventeen years old. At eighteen, Carroll went 18-5 with a 2.39 earned run average
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...
and 148 strikeouts with the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
's Tampa Tarpons
Tampa Tarpons
The Tampa Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They played in the Class A Florida State League from 1957–1988, when they were sold, relocated, and renamed the Sarasota White Sox...
. He was also a part time student studying political science and foreign affairs at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh.
Carroll tossed a no-hitter to improve his career minor league record to 51-33 with a 3.38 ERA when he received his first call to the majors. He made his major league debut on July 7, at Riverfront Stadium. Facing Bob Forsch
Bob Forsch
Robert Herbert Forsch was an American right-handed starting pitcher who spent most of his sixteen years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his playing career with the Houston Astros...
(who was also making his major league debut) in the first game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, he held the Cardinals to just two hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
over seven innings while striking out six. Following an August 11 victory over the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Carroll's record stood at 4-0. However, he lost his final three decisions of the year, and ended the season at 4-3 with a 3.68 ERA.
He began the season with the triple A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, but got a call to the majors when Reds ace Don Gullett fractured his left thumb. He made the most of this opportunity, going 4-1 with a 4.98 ERA in place of Gullett. Though he did not participate in the Big Red Machine's World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
victory over 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"...
, he was voted a three-quarter share by his teammates.
He spent all of the season with Indianapolis, going 9-15 with a 5.38 ERA. Following the season, the Reds traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Jim Sadowski
Jim Sadowski
James Michael Sadowski is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Sadowski batted and threw right-handed...
. He was then taken from the Pirates in the 1976 Rule V draft by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He remained in Montreal's farm system until arm problems ended his career in . He attempted a comeback with the independent Alexandria Dukes
Alexandria Dukes
The Alexandria Dukes were a baseball team in the minor-league Class A Carolina League. The team was formed in 1978 by the then-floundering Carolina League, which had only four teams when the Dukes were formed...
of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
in , but was unsuccessful. He is currently a chief analyst with MITRE's Center for Integrated Intelligence Systems (CIIS).
Career stats
A poor hitter, even for a pitcher, Carroll struck out twenty times in forty career at-bats. One of his four career singlesSingle (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
came on July 17, 1974 against Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
as Gibson stood with 2999 career strikeouts. The next batter, Cesar Geronimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
, ended up being Gibson's three thousandth career strikeout.