Phil Tomney

Philip Howard Tomney
(Buster)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 155 lb.

• Debut September 7, 1888
• Final Game October 14, 1890
• Born July 17, 1863 in Reading, PA USA
• Died March 18, 1892 in Reading, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Phil "Buster" Tomney played shortstop for three years with the Louisville Colonels. He was a regular in 1889 and 1890.

Tomney's team went 27-111 in 1889. More than half of the starting position players turned over, but Tomney was one who stayed when the 1890 team went 88-44 to win the American Association pennant.

In 1891 he played for Lincoln.

He died young in March 1892 from a lung infection. Tom's obituary in Sporting Life (March 26, 1892) stated as follows:

"Phil Tomney was a well-known and popular shortstop of excellent habits and gentle manly deportment. He was a fine fielder and good base-runner . . . He was a native of Reading Pa., where he commenced his ball playing career. . . His best work was done for the Louisville Club, for which he was secured by Manager Davidson in the summer of 1888. Tomney finished out that season and re-signed for the following season. In 1890, when Manager Chapman was secured to manage the Louisville Club, he retained Tomney, and his brilliant work in the field during that season helped the Cyclones to roll up the many victories that gave them the first place. Last year Tomney signed with the Sioux Citys, the winners of the Western Association pennant. He played with the team until the middle of last sum­mer, when he was compelled to retire on ac­count of the dread disease which finally caused his death."