Tom Sturdivant
Encyclopedia
Thomas Virgil Sturdivant II (April 28, 1930 – February 28, 2009) was an American
Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the New York Yankees
, Kansas City Athletics
, Boston Red Sox
, Washington Senators
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, Detroit Tigers
, and New York Mets
. He was nicknamed "Snake" for his excellent curveball
.
, he was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent out of Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
in May, 1948. He finally made his major league debut seven years later, working exclusively out of the bullpen
during the regular season
and the third and fourth games of the 1955 World Series
. He was a sixteen-game winner in each of the next two campaigns, starting a World Series
game in each year, and pitching a complete game to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 of the 1956 World Series
(the game before Don Larsen
's perfect game). In 1957, his 16-6 record led the American League in won-lost percentage (.727), and his 2.54 ERA
was second in the league.
A rotator cuff
injury in 1958 greatly limited his effectiveness for the remainder of his baseball career. On May 26, 1959, he, along with Johnny Kucks
and Jerry Lumpe
, was sent to Kansas City for Héctor López
and Ralph Terry
. Sturdivant wore uniform number 32 for the A's that year.
On December 3, 1959, he was traded by the Athletics to the Red Sox for Pete Daley
. He wore uniform number 15 for the Red Sox.
On December 14, 1960, he was drafted by the Senators from the Red Sox in the 1960 expansion draft. Initially he wore uniform number 35 for the Senators, but later was given the same number 47 which he had worn for the Yankees.
On June 29, 1961, he was traded by the Senators to the Pirates for Tom Cheney
. He wore uniform number 15 for the Pirates, the same number he had worn on the Red Sox.
On May 4, 1963, he was purchased by the Tigers from the Pirates. He wore uniform number 22 for the Tigers.
On July 23, 1963, he was purchased by the Athletics from the Tigers. He wore uniform number 18 for the A's this time.
After he was released by the Athletics on May 10, 1964, he signed as a free agent with the Mets later that day. He wore uniform number 47, his old Yankees number, for the Mets. He was released by the Mets on June 27.
business, concentrating on the former during the 1980s. He was once part-owner
of R&R Trucking, Inc. He later served on the board of directors
of Metro Tech in Oklahoma City and the Integris Hospice of Oklahoma County
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
who played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The 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...
, Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, 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"...
, Washington Senators
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...
, 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
. He was nicknamed "Snake" for his excellent curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
.
Career
Born in Gordon, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, he was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent out of Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
in May, 1948. He finally made his major league debut seven years later, working exclusively out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
during the regular season
1955 Major League Baseball season
For the third consecutive season, a franchise changed homes as the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City, MO and played their home games at Municipal Stadium.-Statistical leaders:-External links:*...
and the third and fourth games of the 1955 World Series
1955 World Series
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn . The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World...
. He was a sixteen-game winner in each of the next two campaigns, starting a 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...
game in each year, and pitching a complete game to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-2 in Game 4 of the 1956 World Series
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...
(the game before Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
's perfect game). In 1957, his 16-6 record led the American League in won-lost percentage (.727), and his 2.54 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...
was second in the league.
A rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
injury in 1958 greatly limited his effectiveness for the remainder of his baseball career. On May 26, 1959, he, along with Johnny Kucks
Johnny Kucks
John Charles Kucks was a pitcher for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics in Major League Baseball. In 1952, he was signed as an amateur free agent...
and Jerry Lumpe
Jerry Lumpe
Jerry Dean Lumpe is a former Major League Baseball second baseman for the New York Yankees , Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers ....
, was sent to Kansas City for Héctor López
Héctor López
Héctor Headley López Swainson is a former left fielder and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees from to...
and Ralph Terry
Ralph Terry
Ralph Willard Terry is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , Kansas City Athletics , Cleveland Indians and New York Mets...
. Sturdivant wore uniform number 32 for the A's that year.
On December 3, 1959, he was traded by the Athletics to the Red Sox for Pete Daley
Pete Daley
Peter Harvey Daley is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1955 through 1961, Daley played for the Boston Red Sox , Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators...
. He wore uniform number 15 for the Red Sox.
On December 14, 1960, he was drafted by the Senators from the Red Sox in the 1960 expansion draft. Initially he wore uniform number 35 for the Senators, but later was given the same number 47 which he had worn for the Yankees.
On June 29, 1961, he was traded by the Senators to the Pirates for Tom Cheney
Tom Cheney (baseball player)
Thomas Edgar Cheney was a Major League Baseball player. Cheney, a right-handed pitcher from Morgan, Georgia, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates, , and the Washington Senators during his 8-year major league career. Tom Cheney is most notable for striking out the highest number...
. He wore uniform number 15 for the Pirates, the same number he had worn on the Red Sox.
On May 4, 1963, he was purchased by the Tigers from the Pirates. He wore uniform number 22 for the Tigers.
On July 23, 1963, he was purchased by the Athletics from the Tigers. He wore uniform number 18 for the A's this time.
After he was released by the Athletics on May 10, 1964, he signed as a free agent with the Mets later that day. He wore uniform number 47, his old Yankees number, for the Mets. He was released by the Mets on June 27.
Post-retirement career
After his retirement from the sport, he was involved in the freight and truck leasingLeasing
Leasing is a process by which a firm can obtain the use of a certain fixed assets for which it must pay a series of contractual, periodic, tax deductible payments....
business, concentrating on the former during the 1980s. He was once part-owner
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
of R&R Trucking, Inc. He later served on the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Metro Tech in Oklahoma City and the Integris Hospice of Oklahoma County
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
.