Tom Young

Note: This page is for 1920s-1940s catcher Tom Young; for others with a similar name, click here.

Thomas Jefferson Young
(Shack Pappy, T.J.)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 210 lb.

• Debut 1926
• Final Game 1941
• Born September 6, 1902 in Wetumpka, AL USA
• Died December 27, 1964 in Seattle, WA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The brother of Maurice Young, Tom Young broke into professional baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs at age 19. Splitting catching duty with Frank Duncan in 1926, Young hit an impressive .394 but had a crucial passed ball in a post-season match-up with the Chicago American Giants. A year later, he hit .290 while again pairing with Duncan behind the plate. He batted .254 in 1928 and .361 in 1929, finishing fifth in the Negro National League in batting average.

Moving to first base in 1930, T.J. hit .324. He hit .296 for Kansas City in 1931 and also played for the St. Louis Stars, batting .254. In a "championship series" against the Homestead Grays, Young hit .402 to lead Kansas City. He was 2 for 4 against Heinie Meine in a post-season exhibition game. Young moved around in 1932, hitting .333 for the Detroit Wolves and .250 for Kansas City. He was 0 for 3 in an exhibition game against Ralph Winegarner.

In 1933, the pull hitter was with a Kansas City team that did not play in any league. He was picked as a back-up for the 1933 East-West Game but did not get into the contest. KC remained out of league action the next two years and then Young did not play in 1936.

Young returned to regular action in 1938 with the Tampico Lightermen and hit .327/~.394/.438 in Mexican League action. The next year, T.J. hit .330/~.373/.389 and caught a no-hitter by former KC teammate Chet Brewer. Overall, Young hit .329/~.383/.411 in two years in Mexico. T.J. finished his career with the 1941 Newark Eagles, batting .258 off the bench.

Notable Achievements

• All-Star (1933)

Sources:

• The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester