Tom Hume
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hubert Hume is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Cincinnati Reds
and Philadelphia Phillies
from 1977 to 1987. Hume was drafted by the Reds with the 16th pick in the 1st round of the 1972 amateur draft (Secondary Phase).
Hume came into his own in 1979 with the Reds when manager John McNamara
started using him exclusively out of the bullpen in the latter part of July. Hume responded by recording 15 Saves over the last 10 weeks of the '79 season finishing runner-up to J. R. Richard of the Houston Astros
for the National League
lead with a 2.76 ERA
.
Hume followed up his 1979 breakout season with perhaps the best season of his career in 1980. Hume finished with a 9-10 record, however posted a 2.56 ERA and recorded 25 Saves, finishing a National League high 62 games. Hume was rewarded by being named the National League's Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News (sharing the award with Rollie Fingers
).
Hume followed up his Fireman of the Year season by having another solid season in the strike shortened campaign of 1981, compiling a 9-4 record with a 3.46 ERA and chalking up 13 saves. Hume was off to a fast start to the 1982 season, heading into the All-Star break 3rd in the National League with 16 saves. Hume was named to the National League All-Star team and recorded the Save for the NL in a 4-1 victory over the American League
.
Hume injured his knee and made his final appearance of the 1982 season on July 26, recording a Save against the Cubs. 1983 & 1984 were lackluster seasons for Hume as he struggled to regain his form following knee surgery and could not regain his closer's role with the Reds.
Hume rebounded back to form in 1985 with a solid season as a setup man in the Reds bullpen, however he was dealt after the season to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Gary Redus in exchange for John Denny
. Hume rewarded the Phillies with a solid 1986 season sporting a 4-1 record and nifty 2.77 ERA in 46 appearances. Hume however slumped again in 1987 and was dealt back to the Reds in mid-season, finishing out his career where he started.
was absent with cancer (Multiple myeloma). Ruhle died in January 2007. Prior to Ruhle's death, Dick Pole was signed to be the pitching coach for the Reds, and Ruhle was assigned to help with the minor leagues. Hume then went back to being the bullpen coach.
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...
who played 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....
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from 1977 to 1987. Hume was drafted by the Reds with the 16th pick in the 1st round of the 1972 amateur draft (Secondary Phase).
Hume came into his own in 1979 with the Reds when manager John McNamara
John McNamara (baseball)
John Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
started using him exclusively out of the bullpen in the latter part of July. Hume responded by recording 15 Saves over the last 10 weeks of the '79 season finishing runner-up to J. R. Richard 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...
for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
lead with a 2.76 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...
.
Hume followed up his 1979 breakout season with perhaps the best season of his career in 1980. Hume finished with a 9-10 record, however posted a 2.56 ERA and recorded 25 Saves, finishing a National League high 62 games. Hume was rewarded by being named the National League's Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News (sharing the award with Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
).
Hume followed up his Fireman of the Year season by having another solid season in the strike shortened campaign of 1981, compiling a 9-4 record with a 3.46 ERA and chalking up 13 saves. Hume was off to a fast start to the 1982 season, heading into the All-Star break 3rd in the National League with 16 saves. Hume was named to the National League All-Star team and recorded the Save for the NL in a 4-1 victory over 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...
.
Hume injured his knee and made his final appearance of the 1982 season on July 26, recording a Save against the Cubs. 1983 & 1984 were lackluster seasons for Hume as he struggled to regain his form following knee surgery and could not regain his closer's role with the Reds.
Hume rebounded back to form in 1985 with a solid season as a setup man in the Reds bullpen, however he was dealt after the season to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Gary Redus in exchange for John Denny
John Denny
John Allen Denny is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. He won the Cy Young Award in 1983.-Career:Denny was born in Prescott, Arizona and attended Prescott High School...
. Hume rewarded the Phillies with a solid 1986 season sporting a 4-1 record and nifty 2.77 ERA in 46 appearances. Hume however slumped again in 1987 and was dealt back to the Reds in mid-season, finishing out his career where he started.
Coaching career
The 2006 season was Hume's 11th consecutive season as the Reds bullpen coach. He was named to his current position in January 1996. He was serving as interim pitching coach because regular pitching coach Vern RuhleVern Ruhle
Vernon Gerald Ruhle was an American right-handed pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball who played thirteen seasons from 1974 to 1986, primarily with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros....
was absent with cancer (Multiple myeloma). Ruhle died in January 2007. Prior to Ruhle's death, Dick Pole was signed to be the pitching coach for the Reds, and Ruhle was assigned to help with the minor leagues. Hume then went back to being the bullpen coach.