Tom Brewer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Brewer |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 3, 1931 Wadesboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died: February 15, 2018 (aged 86) Cheraw, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 18, 1954, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1961, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 91–82 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.00 | ||
| Strikeouts | 733 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Thomas Austin Brewer (September 3, 1931 – February 15, 2018) was a professional baseball player from the United States. He was a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Tom played in 241 games over eight seasons, from 1954 to 1961. He was about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed 175 pounds.
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Tom Brewer's Baseball Journey
Tom Brewer was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina. However, he lived most of his life in Cheraw, South Carolina. He signed with the Red Sox in 1951 after going to Elon College.
Starting His Pro Career
In his first professional season, Tom won 19 out of 22 games. He played in the Class D North Carolina State League. This was his only season in minor league baseball.
Serving His Country
After his first year in baseball, Tom served two years in the United States Army. This was during the Korean War. When he returned, he joined the Red Sox' main pitching team in 1954.
Success with the Red Sox
Tom Brewer had a great start with the Red Sox. He had seven straight seasons where he won 10 or more games. This showed he was a very consistent pitcher for the team.
His Best Season: 1956
Tom Brewer's best year was in 1956. He won 19 games and lost only 9. He also pitched 15 complete games. A complete game means the pitcher throws the entire game without anyone else taking over. He also had four shutouts, where the other team scored no runs.
Becoming an All-Star
Because of his excellent performance, Tom was chosen for the American League All-Star team in 1956. This is a special honor for top players. The All-Star game took place on July 10, 1956.
All-Star Game Experience
In the All-Star game, Tom entered in the sixth inning. The American League team was already behind by four runs. He allowed three runs and three hits. One of the hits was a home run by Stan Musial, a famous player. Tom also threw two wild pitches. The rival National League team won the game 7–3.
Later Career and Retirement
Tom Brewer's last season with a winning record was in 1958. After two seasons where he lost more games than he won, he started having shoulder problems in 1961. He only played in ten games that year.
Retiring from Baseball
Tom decided to retire from professional baseball at the end of the 1961 season. During his career in Major League Baseball, he won 91 games and lost 82. His earned run average was 4.00. This number shows how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings.
Career Statistics
He completed 75 games and had 13 shutouts. He also had three saves when pitching from the bullpen. In total, he pitched over 1,500 innings. He gave up 1,478 hits and 669 walks. He also had 733 strikeouts.
After Baseball
After leaving professional baseball, Tom Brewer became a pitching coach. He coached the Cheraw Braves High School baseball team in his hometown.
Honoring His Legacy
On March 21, 2009, the baseball field at the school was named in his honor. This was a way to recognize his contributions to baseball and his community.
