Tom Kramer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Kramer is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Cleveland Indians
during the 1991 and 1993 seasons.
. He worked his way up from the Indians' then-Rookie League affiliate, the Burlington Indians
, to their AAA affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, over a period of four seasons from 1987 to 1991; in this time span, he amassed a record of 52 wins and 31 losses in 704.6 innings pitched.
Kramer made his major league pitching debut for the Cleveland Indians on September 12, 1991; in four games of relief pitching for the Indians, he gave up nine earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched for an earned run average
of 17.36. Following the conclusion of the 1991 season, he was called back down to the Sky Sox, where he pitched a full season in 1992 and compiled a record of 8 wins and 3 losses with an earned run average of 4.86 in 76.0 innings pitched.
Kramer was called up to the Indians for the 1993 season
; after mostly pitching in relief until mid-May, he won his first game as a major league pitcher on May 24, throwing a complete game one-hitter against the Texas Rangers
. This would largely prove to end up being Kramer's one large success in a short major league playing career; despite finishing the season with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses and an earned run average of 4.02, he was assigned to the Charlotte Knights
for the beginning of the 1994 season, compiling a record of 1 win and 3 losses with an earned run average of 4.74 in 19.0 innings pitched.
, Kramer was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
for fellow minor leaguer John Hrusovsky. He would pitch the rest of that season for their then-AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians
, where he compiled a record of five wins and four losses with a 4.47 earned run average in 102.2 innings pitched.
Despite starting the 1995 season
with a record of twelve wins and one loss and a 3.33 earned run average in 127.0 innings pitched for the Reds' then-AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts
, Kramer was traded to the Detroit Tigers
midway through the season, finishing out the season pitching for then-AAA affiliate Toledo
.
Kramer spent the next three seasons after 1995 pitching for the Colorado Rockies
, spending his time exclusively with AAA-affiliated Colorado Springs
; this was a return of sorts for Kramer, as he had pitched for them a few seasons earlier, albeit as an Indians affiliate. After three years of lackluster numbers, he retired from baseball as a minor leaguer at the conclusion of the 1998 season
, having never made it back to the major leagues since his 1993 rookie debut for Cleveland.
on May 24, 1993
; the one hit came on a Julio Franco
home run in the fourth inning. Combined with eight strikeouts and no walks, if Kramer had not given up a home run to Franco, it would have been a perfect game
.
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 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...
during the 1991 and 1993 seasons.
Career with the Indians
Kramer was drafted by the Indians in the fifth round of the 1987 amateur draft, and signed by the team on June 10, 19871987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
. He worked his way up from the Indians' then-Rookie League affiliate, the Burlington Indians
Burlington Royals
The Burlington Royals are a minor league baseball team in Burlington, North Carolina, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since September 1, 2006. For the previous 21 years, the team had been affiliated with the Cleveland...
, to their AAA affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, over a period of four seasons from 1987 to 1991; in this time span, he amassed a record of 52 wins and 31 losses in 704.6 innings pitched.
Kramer made his major league pitching debut for the Cleveland Indians on September 12, 1991; in four games of relief pitching for the Indians, he gave up nine earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched for an 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...
of 17.36. Following the conclusion of the 1991 season, he was called back down to the Sky Sox, where he pitched a full season in 1992 and compiled a record of 8 wins and 3 losses with an earned run average of 4.86 in 76.0 innings pitched.
Kramer was called up to the Indians for the 1993 season
1993 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies ; Paul Molitor, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series MVP: Curt Schilling...
; after mostly pitching in relief until mid-May, he won his first game as a major league pitcher on May 24, throwing a complete game one-hitter against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. This would largely prove to end up being Kramer's one large success in a short major league playing career; despite finishing the season with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses and an earned run average of 4.02, he was assigned to the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
for the beginning of the 1994 season, compiling a record of 1 win and 3 losses with an earned run average of 4.74 in 19.0 innings pitched.
Post-Indians and eventual retirement
Midway through the 1994 season1994 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
, Kramer was traded to 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....
for fellow minor leaguer John Hrusovsky. He would pitch the rest of that season for their then-AAA affiliate, the 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...
, where he compiled a record of five wins and four losses with a 4.47 earned run average in 102.2 innings pitched.
Despite starting the 1995 season
1995 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Atlanta Braves over Cleveland Indians ; Tom Glavine, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at The Ballpark in Arlington: National League, 3-2; Jeff Conine, MVP-Other champions:...
with a record of twelve wins and one loss and a 3.33 earned run average in 127.0 innings pitched for the Reds' then-AA affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
, Kramer was traded to 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...
midway through the season, finishing out the season pitching for then-AAA affiliate Toledo
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
.
Kramer spent the next three seasons after 1995 pitching for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, spending his time exclusively with AAA-affiliated Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
; this was a return of sorts for Kramer, as he had pitched for them a few seasons earlier, albeit as an Indians affiliate. After three years of lackluster numbers, he retired from baseball as a minor leaguer at the conclusion of the 1998 season
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
, having never made it back to the major leagues since his 1993 rookie debut for Cleveland.
One-hitter
Kramer threw a one-hitter for the Indians against the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
on May 24, 1993
1993 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Philadelphia Phillies ; Paul Molitor, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Dave Stewart*National League Championship Series MVP: Curt Schilling...
; the one hit came on a Julio Franco
Julio Franco
Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....
home run in the fourth inning. Combined with eight strikeouts and no walks, if Kramer had not given up a home run to Franco, it would have been a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
.