Saturday, April 30, 2016
#477 Tom Phoebus
Pronounced Fee-Bus.....diminutive curveball
specialist and hometown product of Baltimore.....Enjoyed limelight with several
good campaigns in the late 60’s....started out going 2-1 with 1.27 ERA in 1966
call up...proceeded to racked up 14, 15, and then 14 win seasons respectively
in years 1967-69....took a back seat in rotation during 1970 sharing the #5 spot with Jim
Hardin....claimed a 5-5 win loss record....highlight of season was winning game 2 of
WS.... came in relief his first and only WS appearance ....it was also his last
time in a Oriole uniform....traded to Padres for 1971 season...bittersweet for
the Baltimore native....fared poorly in Yellow and Brown going 3-11 and was
eventually ushered out of rotation to
mop up in lost games the last two months....Resurfaced as a Cub for 1972 to shore
up their relief corp.... did a reasonable job with 6 saves...traded to Atlanta
for an Hall of Fame Manager, Tony LaRussa....spent 1973 in AAA Richmond
before retiring....was a draftsman in off season.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Phoebus really stepped up for the Orioles in 1967, when McNally, Palmer, and Bunker were all sidelined with injuries after their fine 1966 seasons.
ReplyDeleteThe 60's were by large very good for the Orioles between a very strong farm systems shrewd trades, and little luck (expansion teams passing on Jim Palmer as damaged goods). Although both Baltimore and LA had losing records after 1966 WS, I beleive the Orioles did better despite having more adversity.
ReplyDeleteIn 1968 he pitched a no-hitter against the Red Sox. He passed away in 2019.
ReplyDelete