Tom Qualters
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis Qualters (born April 1, 1935), nicknamed Money Bags, is a former right-handed major league baseball pitcher, born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania
. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies
and the Chicago White Sox
in the 1950s.
At six feet tall (183 cm), 190 lb. (86 kg), pitcher Tom Qualters was a bonus baby with the Philadelphia Phillies, signed out of high school for $40,000. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1953. He had an unusual rookie year, as he posted an ERA
of 162.00. In his only appearance that year, he allowed six earned runs and retired just one batter. However, he remained on the Phillies' roster for two years, earning the nickname "Money Bags" from his teammates. After spending two years in the International League
, he had a couple more cups of coffee
with Philadelphia before being sent to the Chicago White Sox
. He pitched respectably for the Sox in 1958, but an arm injury ended his career. His final game was September 25, 1958.
In total, Qualters appeared in 34 games without a major-league decision. He holds the distinction of being the only pitcher to appear on a Topps
baseball card four times without ever recording a win or loss.
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
. He played with the 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...
and 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...
in the 1950s.
At six feet tall (183 cm), 190 lb. (86 kg), pitcher Tom Qualters was a bonus baby with the Philadelphia Phillies, signed out of high school for $40,000. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1953. He had an unusual rookie year, as he posted an 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...
of 162.00. In his only appearance that year, he allowed six earned runs and retired just one batter. However, he remained on the Phillies' roster for two years, earning the nickname "Money Bags" from his teammates. After spending two years in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, he had a couple more cups of coffee
Cup of coffee
A "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
with Philadelphia before being sent to 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...
. He pitched respectably for the Sox in 1958, but an arm injury ended his career. His final game was September 25, 1958.
In total, Qualters appeared in 34 games without a major-league decision. He holds the distinction of being the only pitcher to appear on a Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
baseball card four times without ever recording a win or loss.