Tom Hume

Tom Hume

Thomas Hubert Hume (born March 29, 1953 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies from 1977 to 1987. Hume was drafted by the Reds with the 16th pick in the 1st round of the 1972 amateur draft (Secondary Phase).

Hume came into his own in 1979 with the Reds when manager John McNamara started using him exclusively out of the bullpen in the latter part of July. Hume responded by recording 15 Saves over the last 10 weeks of the '79 season finishing runner-up to J. R. Richard of the Houston Astros for the National League lead with a 2.76 ERA.

Hume followed up his 1979 breakout season with perhaps the best season of his career in 1980. Hume finished with a 9-10 record, however posted a 2.56 ERA and recorded 25 Saves, finishing a National League high 62 games. Hume was rewarded by being named the National League's Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News (sharing the award with Rollie Fingers).

Hume followed up his Fireman of the Year season by having another solid season in the strike shortened campaign of 1981, compiling a 9-4 record with a 3.46 ERA and chalking up 13 saves. Hume was off to a fast start to the 1982 season, heading into the All-Star break 3rd in the National League with 16 saves. Hume was named to the National League All-Star team and recorded the Save for the NL in a 4-1 victory over the American League.

Hume injured his knee and made his final appearance of the 1982 season on July 26, recording a Save against the Cubs. 1983 & 1984 were lackluster seasons for Hume as he struggled to regain his form following knee surgery and could not regain his closer's role with the Reds.

Hume rebounded back to form in 1985 with a solid season as a setup man in the Reds bullpen, however he was dealt after the season to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Gary Redus in exchange for John Denny. Hume rewarded the Phillies with a solid 1986 season sporting a 4-1 record and nifty 2.77 ERA in 46 appearances. Hume however slumped again in 1987 and was dealt back to the Reds in mid-season, finishing out his career where he started.

Read more about Tom Hume:  Coaching Career, See Also

Famous quotes containing the words tom and/or hume:

    The man that hails you Tom or Jack,
    And proves by thumps upon your back
    How he esteems your merit,
    Is such a friend, that one had need
    Be very much his friend indeed
    To pardon or to bear it.
    William Cowper (1731–1800)

    Learning has been as great a Loser by being shut up in Colleges and Cells, and secluded from the World and good Company. By that Means, every Thing of what we call Belles Lettres became totally barbarous, being cultivated by Men without any Taste of Life or Manners, and without that Liberty and Facility of Thought and Expression, which can only be acquir’d by Conversation.
    —David Hume (1711–1776)