Tom Borland

Thomas Bruce Borland
(Spike)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 172 lb.
• School Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College
• High School McAlester High School
• Debut May 15, 1960
• Final Game April 23, 1961
• Born February 14, 1933 in El Dorado, KS USA
• Died March 2, 2013 in Stillwater, OK USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom Borland pitched briefly in the majors with the Boston Red Sox.

Born in Kansas and raised in McAlester, OK, Tom attended Oklahoma A&M from 1953 to 1955. In 1954, he went 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 110 strikeouts for a team that reached the College World Series. The next year, he posted even better numbers, going 11-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 143 strikeouts, and was named an All-American and MVP of the 1955 College World Series.

Borland began his pro career with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League in 1955 and was acquired by the Red Sox prior to the 1958 campaign. He reached the majors with Boston in 1960 and made his debut in the first game of a May 15th doubleheader. Entering against the Baltimore Orioles in the 8th inning, he walked Albie Pearson, the only batter he faced. Overall for the Red Sox that year, he was 0-4 with a 6.53 ERA and 3 saves in 26 games. He made one appearance for Boston in 1961, giving up 2 earned runs in an inning of work, but spent most of the summer with the Seattle Rainiers. Prior to the 1962 season, Borland was dealt to the expansion Houston Colt .45s for Dave Philley. However, he never made it back to the majors and spent his final two pro years with the Oklahoma City 89ers.

Related Sites

• Tom Borland at the SABR Bio Project
• Cowboy Baseball Great Tom Borland Passes Away