Tom O'Brien (o'brito02)

Thomas J. O'Brien

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut May 10, 1897
• Final Game October 13, 1900
• Born February 20, 1873 in Verona, PA USA
• Died February 3, 1901 in Phoenix, Arizona Territory USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom O'Brien spent four seasons in the majors, playing every position except pitcher and catcher. In his best years with the bat, he came close to .300 in both 1899 and 1900.

Born in Pennsylvania, O'Brien played for teams in the general area like Wheeling, New Castle and Canton before coming to the majors.

He died a young man. A popular player with the New York Giants, O'Brien played for Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Brooklyn Superbas in the fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water he'd be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both O'Brien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but O'Brien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered.

He is not to be confused with another Tom O'Brien or with Tommy O'Brien.

Related Sites

• Tom O'Brien at the SABR Bio Project