Tom Matchick
Tom Matchick | |
---|---|
Infielder | |
Born: Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | September 7, 1943|
Died: January 4, 2022 Sylvania, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 78)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 2, 1967, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 3, 1972, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .215 |
Home runs | 4 |
Runs batted in | 64 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
John Thomas Matchick (September 7, 1943 – January 4, 2022) was an American professional
Matchick appeared in 80 games for the
Early life
Matchick was born on September 7, 1943, in
Professional career
St. Louis Cardinals
In 1962, Matchick was signed by scout
Detroit Tigers
Minor leagues
In November 1962, Matchick was drafted by the
Matchick next played for the
1967 season
Prior to the 1967 season, the Tigers swapped Triple-A farm teams with the
Matchick was called up by the Tigers late in the 1967 season. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Tigers on September 2, 1967. He appeared in eight games at the end of the 1967 season, tallying one hit and one run in six at bats.[3]
1968 season
In 1968, Matchick appeared in 80 games for the Detroit Tigers team that won the 1968 World Series. While Matchick hit only four home runs in his entire major league career, three of them were hit in 1968. He compiled a .203 batting average with 14 RBIs in 227 at bats.[3]
On July 19, 1968, Matchick hit a
Matchick also participated in a triple play for the Tigers on September 1, 1968. Detroit pitcher Denny McLain caught a line drive off the bat of Baltimore slugger Boog Powell, threw to Matchick who forced out Curt Blefary at second, and Matchick completed the play by throwing to Norm Cash who forced out Frank Robinson at first base. McLain recorded his 27th win of the season in the game.[8] The play was the Tigers' first triple play since 1965.[9]
1969 season
During the 1969 MLB season, Matchick played at all four infield positions for the Tigers, appearing in 94 games, and compiling a .242 batting average with 32 RBIs. In 16 pinch hit appearances in 1969, he had eight hits for a .500 batting average as a pinch hitter.[10]
Boston Red Sox
In December 1969, the Tigers traded Matchick to the
Kansas City Royals
In May 1970, the Red Sox traded Matchick to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for first baseman Mike Fiore.[13][14] Matchick appeared in 55 games for the Royals, including 37 as the team's starting shortstop and five as the starting second baseman. He compiled a .196 batting average in 158 at bats with the 1970 Royals.[3]
Milwaukee Brewers
In May 1971, Matchick was traded by the Royals to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Ted Savage. He was assigned by the Brewers to their Evansville farm club where he played at third base, shortstop, and second base, and compiled a .332 batting average in 85 games. He was called up by the Brewers in late July 1971.[15][16] He appeared in 42 games for the Brewers, including 32 games as the team's starting third baseman. He compiled a .219 batting average and a .254 on-base percentage in 122 plate appearances with the Brewers.[3]
Baltimore Orioles
On October 22, 1971, the Brewers traded Matchick and Bruce Look to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Mike Ferraro and a prospect.[3] Matchick spent most of the 1972 season with the Orioles' Rochester Red Wings farm club in the International League. He appeared in 126 games with the Red Wings, primarily at third base, committed only four errors, and compiled a .251 batting average with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs.[17] He received an award as the top third baseman in the minor leagues in 1972.[18]
In September 1972, the Orioles called up Matchick from their Rochester farm club.[19] He appeared in only three games for the Orioles, totalling two hits in nine at bats. His final Major League game was on October 3, 1972, as a member of the Orioles.[3]
New York Yankees
In March 1973, the Orioles traded Matchick to the
Personal life and death
Matchick married Linda Lang, a native of Toledo, Ohio. They had a son, Brian Thomas Matchick, on February 5, 1969.[21] They had a daughter, Heather, the following year.[6] Matchick and his wife settled in Holland, Ohio, where they served as foster parents to more than 30 children. Matchick worked over the years as a car salesman, in the sporting goods business, and later as an executive with Great Lakes Aerocam, an aerial photography business in Woodville, Ohio.[1][6]
Matchick died at Regency Hospital of Toledo, on January 4, 2022, after a two month battle with COVID-19. He was 78 years old.[22][23]
References
- ^ a b c d e Mike Lassman (2008). "Tommy Matchick Biography". Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
- ^ a b c "Matchick hits homer to give Detroit victory". The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon (UPI story). July 20, 1968.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tommy Matchick". Baseball-reference.com.
- ^ a b c "Here's A Tiger Lakeland Style". Lakeland Ledger. May 17, 1963.
- ^ a b c d e "Tommy Matchick Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c "Former Tiger part of 1968 magic: Mud Hens all-star settled here in Holland". Toledo Blade. May 14, 2006.
- ^ Fred Down (July 20, 1968). "Unknown Tiger Keys Win". The Deseret News (UPI story). p. 6A.
- ^ "McLain Starts Triple Play, Wins 27th Game". Lewiston Morning Tribune. September 2, 1968.
- Toledo Blade. September 2, 1968. p. 56.
- ^ Tom Loomis (January 29, 1975). "Matchick Recalls '68". Toledo Blade.
- ^ "Tigers send Matchick to Bosox". The Windsor Star. December 15, 1969.
- ^ "Red Sox Trade for Matchick". Toledo Blade. December 15, 1968.
- ^ "Fiore Traded For Matchick". Toledo Blade. May 29, 1970.
- ^ "Matchick for Fiore doesn't shake up the baseball world". Boston Globe. May 30, 1970. p. 18.
- ^ "Brewers Call Up Tom Matchick". The Reading Eagle. July 29, 1971.
- ^ "Brewers Send Ellis to Evansville Farm". The Milwaukee Journal. July 1971.
- ^ "Matchick Added To Bird Roster". Florence Times - Tri Cities Daily. September 10, 1972. p. 20.
- ^ a b "Yanks Get Matchick". The Morning Record, Meriden, Conn. March 28, 1973.
- ^ "Orioles Buy Matchick from Rochester". Chicago Tribune. September 10, 1972. p. D9.
- ^ Lou Hatter (March 28, 1973). "Birds get Baker for Matchick". The Sun, Baltimore, Md. p. C1.
- ^ Loomis (March 30, 1969). "Frustrating!!! Matchick, Tigers Have Problems". Toledo Blade.
- ^ Crawford, Kirkland (January 4, 2022). "Former Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series champ Tommy Matchick dies at 78". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "Former Toledo Mud Hens shortstop Tom Matchick dies at 78". The Blade. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Tommy Matchick at SABR (Baseball BioProject)