Tommy Herrera
(Redirected from Tomás Herrera)
Tomas Herrera (Olachea) Jr.
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 172 lb.
- Born November 9, 1931 in Laredo, TX USA
- Died December 14, 2016 in Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico
Biographical Information[edit]
Tommy Herrera had a long career as a professional baseball player and manager.
Herrera played in the minor leagues for ten seasons, never reaching the major leagues - though he did spend parts of four seasons at the Open designation, which was created to help build the Pacific Coast League into a major league, and in the Mexican League, the highest-level professional league in Mexico.
Tommy debuted in 1953, appearing for the Temple Eagles, San Diego Padres (4.37, 15 BB in 22 2/3 IP) and two Longhorn League clubs (a combined 3-10, 5.03, 95 BB in 118 IP). In '54, he was with the Padres (1-4, 5.44) and Salem Senators (8-4, 2.73). He spent all of 1955 with San Diego and showed good progress, going 5-8 with a 3.60 ERA and walking 39 in 122 1/3 innings. He had a lower ERA than teammates Charlie Bishop, Al Lyons and Steve Ridzik, all of whom would spend part of their careers in the majors. The right-hander split 1956 between San Diego (6-6, 5.00) and the Reading Indians (4-3, 2.32). It was his final season playing in the USA.
Tomas went across the border from his hometown in 1957 with the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo and had a 9-8, 3.41 record. He was 7-8 with a 4.29 ERA in 1958, split between Nuevo Laredo and the Mexico City Tigers. He played for both the Tigers and Mexico City Red Devils in 1959, with a 12-7, 3.80 record, his career high for wins. In 1960, the veteran hurler fell to 7-12, 5.16 for the Diablos Rojos. He turned in a 9-8, 4.50 record for the club in '61 and wrapped up his career by going 5-1, 2.79 in 1962. Overall, he had a 49-44, 4.14 record in 167 Mexican League games (91 starts, 40 of those complete).
From 1963 to 1969, Herrera managed the Mexico City Reds, leading them to first place finishes and de facto league championships in 1964 and 1968. No one had a longer run as the manager of the Red Devils before him; Benjamin Reyes would later surpass his record for the longest run as head of Mexico's most prominent club. He managed the Saraperos de Saltillo from 1970 to 1972, the Pericos de Puebla in 1973 and the Mineros de Coahuila in 1974 and 1975.
He served in the United States Army from 1948 to 1952.
His birth year has also been listed as 1932.[1]
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
Sources include The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros
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