Tom Dunbar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Dunbar |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 24, 1959 Graniteville, South Carolina |
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| Died: March 16, 2011 (aged 51) Aiken, South Carolina |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 1983, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 13, 1985, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .231 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| RBI | 18 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Thomas Jerome Dunbar (born November 24, 1959 – died March 16, 2011) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers. He was part of the team for three seasons, from 1983 to 1985. Tom was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 192 pounds. He threw and batted left-handed. Before playing professionally, he played college baseball at Middle Georgia College.
Contents
Baseball Journey
Starting His Career
Tom Dunbar was first chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 1979 baseball draft. This was in the 11th round. He decided not to sign with them that year.
The next year, in the 1980 draft, the Texas Rangers picked him. They chose him in the 1st round. After this, he signed with the Rangers and began his professional career.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
In 1984, Tom played for the Oklahoma City 89ers. This team was part of the American Association. He was a great hitter that year. He won the league's batting title with an average of .337. He also had the best on-base percentage in the league, which was .417.
Time in Major League Baseball
Tom Dunbar played a total of 91 games in Major League Baseball. His first game was on September 7, 1983, when he was 23 years old.
During his time in the MLB, he hit for a .231 batting average. He also hit three Home runs and had 18 RBI. He played his last MLB game on July 13, 1985. Even after that, he kept playing in the minor leagues until 1991.
One of his most memorable games was in 1984. He played in a game where pitcher Mike Witt threw a "perfect game." This means no player on the other team reached base. Tom went to bat three times in that game and didn't get a hit.
Tom was good at hitting a special kind of pitch called a knuckleball. He had good success against famous pitchers like Phil Niekro. He also faced other great players who are now in the Hall of Fame, such as Rollie Fingers and Bert Blyleven.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Tom Dunbar became a coach. He worked for the Cincinnati Reds organization. He coached and managed teams in the minor leagues.
Later Years
Tom Dunbar passed away on March 16, 2011. He was 51 years old. He died in Aiken, South Carolina.
