Tom Umphlett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Mullen Umphlett is a former center
and right fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from 1953 to 1955 with the Boston Red Sox
and Washington Senators
.
At 6'2", 180 pounds, Umphlett - a right-hander - was originally signed by the Red Sox in . In 1950 with the Marion Red Sox
, he hit .319 in 94 games. He made his big league debut on April 16, 1953 at the age of 22 and wearing the number 38. He hit .283 in his rookie season, displaying a great eye at the plate-he averaged one strikeout every 16.5 at-bats. He was #2 in Rookie of the Year voting in '53.
His career never really amounted to much after his promising rookie season-he'd end up hitting only .246 with six home run
s in 360 career games (1,160 at bat
s). He averaged one strikeout every 10.8 at bats in his career. Never much of a threat on the basepaths, he stole only seven career bases. He had a .986 career fielding percentage
. He played his final major league game on September 24, 1955. In 1954, he wore number 4. In 1955, he wore 22. According to Baseball-Reference, the player he is most similar to statistically is Art Kruger
. He spent three of his seasons with Mickey McDermott
--longer than any other teammate.
He managed the Auburn Twins
in 1967 and the Appleton Foxes in part of 1968. In the other part of 1968, he managed the Wisconsin Rapids Twins
. He also managed the Lynchburg Twins in part of the 1970 season.
At last check, he lived in Ahoskie, North Carolina
.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
and right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
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 1953 to 1955 with 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"...
and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
At 6'2", 180 pounds, Umphlett - a right-hander - was originally signed by the Red Sox in . In 1950 with the Marion Red Sox
Marion Red Sox
The Marion Red Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1949 to 1951. Affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, they played in the Ohio-Indiana League in Marion, Ohio....
, he hit .319 in 94 games. He made his big league debut on April 16, 1953 at the age of 22 and wearing the number 38. He hit .283 in his rookie season, displaying a great eye at the plate-he averaged one strikeout every 16.5 at-bats. He was #2 in Rookie of the Year voting in '53.
His career never really amounted to much after his promising rookie season-he'd end up hitting only .246 with six home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 360 career games (1,160 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s). He averaged one strikeout every 10.8 at bats in his career. Never much of a threat on the basepaths, he stole only seven career bases. He had a .986 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. He played his final major league game on September 24, 1955. In 1954, he wore number 4. In 1955, he wore 22. According to Baseball-Reference, the player he is most similar to statistically is Art Kruger
Art Kruger
Arthur Theodore Kruger , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Naps, Boston Braves, and Kansas City Packers.-External links:...
. He spent three of his seasons with Mickey McDermott
Mickey McDermott
Maurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott Jr. was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Pre-professional career:...
--longer than any other teammate.
He managed the Auburn Twins
Auburn Twins
The Auburn Twins, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1967 to 1971. They played in the New York-Penn League and were located in Auburn, New York. They played their home games at Falcon Park....
in 1967 and the Appleton Foxes in part of 1968. In the other part of 1968, he managed the Wisconsin Rapids Twins
Wisconsin Rapids Twins
The Wisconsin Rapids Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1963 to 1983. Affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, they played in the Midwest League and were located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin...
. He also managed the Lynchburg Twins in part of the 1970 season.
At last check, he lived in Ahoskie, North Carolina
Ahoskie, North Carolina
Ahoskie is a town in Hertford County, North Carolina. The population was 4,523 at the 2000 census. Ahoskie is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. Its nickname is "The Only One" because no other town in the world is known by the same name...
.
Major transactions
- On December 9, 1953, he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Mickey McDermottMickey McDermottMaurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott Jr. was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Pre-professional career:...
to the Washington Senators for Jackie JensenJackie JensenJack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
. - On November 8, 1955, he was traded by the Washington Senators with Bob PorterfieldBob PorterfieldErwin Coolidge "Bob" Porterfield is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for twelve seasons between 1948 and 1959 for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs...
, Johnny SchmitzJohnny SchmitzJohn Albert Schmitz, nicknamed "Bear Tracks" , was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 seasons between and , missing 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. His nickname was inspired by the way he shuffled to the mound and his size 14 feet...
, and Mickey VernonMickey VernonJames Barton "Mickey" Vernon was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators for the majority of his career, as well as four other teams: the Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates...
to the Boston Red Sox for Karl OlsonKarl OlsonKarl Arthur Olson of Kentfield, California was a former backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers . He batted and threw right-handed.In a six-season career, Olson was a .235 hitter with six home runs and 50 RBI in 279...
, Dick BrodowskiDick BrodowskiRichard Stanley Brodowski is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1952 through 1955 for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians . He batted and threw right-handed.Brodowski was 19 years old when he reached the majors in 1952 with the Boston Red...
, Tex ClevengerTex ClevengerTruman Eugene "Tex" Clevenger is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher/spot starter who played for the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees from 1954-1962. He was 6'1" tall and 180 pounds, and threw and batted right-handed. He attended Fresno State...
, Neil ChrisleyNeil ChrisleyBarbra O'Neil Chrisley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1957 to 1961 with the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Braves. He was 6'3" tall, weighed 187 pounds and he threw right and batted left-handed.He was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a...
, and Al Curtis (a minor leaguer). - On June 12, 1962, he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with cash to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Billy GardnerBilly GardnerWilliam Frederick Gardner is an American former Major League Baseball player, coach and manager. Gardner was a scrappy light-hitting second baseman who batted and threw right-handed. Gardner played for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees,...
.