Tom Ferrick (baseball)

Thomas Jerome Ferrick (January 6, 1915 — October 15, 1996) was a pitcher, pitching coach and scout in American Major League Baseball. Born in New York, New York, he stood 6'2½" (189.2 cm) tall and weighed 220 pounds (99.8 kg) in his playing days. He batted and threw righthanded.

Ferrick spent four years in a seminary in Glenclyffe, New York, before signing his first professional contract with the New York Giants, who released him after three minor league seasons.

Primarily a relief pitcher, Ferrick eventually reached the major leagues at the age of 26. He pitched for five American League clubs, the Philadelphia Athletics (1941), Cleveland Indians (1942; 1946), St. Louis Browns (1946; 1949-50), Washington Senators (1947-48; 1951-52), and New York Yankees (1950-51). He appeared in 674 innings over 323 games, splitting 80 decisions with an earned run average of 3.47 and 56 saves. As a Yankee, he was credited with the win in Game 3 of the 1950 World Series. Called into action in the top of the ninth inning of a 2-2 tie, Ferrick shut down the Philadelphia Phillies, then was awarded the victory when Jerry Coleman's hit won the contest in the bottom of the frame.

After his playing career ended, Ferrick was the pitching coach of the Cincinnati Redlegs, Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics during the period of 1954-65. He later scouted for the A's and the Kansas City Royals.

Tom Ferrick died from heart failure at age 81 in Lima, Pennsylvania. His son, Tom Jr., is a newspaper columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

External links

* [http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Ferrick.Tom.Obit.html The Dead Ball Era]

References

*Spink, C.C. Johnson, editor, "The Baseball Register". St. Louis: The Sporting News, 1965.