Tom Raftery

Thomas Francis Raftery

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Weight 175 lb.

• Debut April 18, 1909
• Final Game June 27, 1909
• Born October 5, 1881 in Boston, MA USA
• Died December 31, 1954 in Boston, MA USA

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Biographical Information

Tom Raftery played eight games for the Cleveland Naps under player-manager Nap Lajoie in 1909. Tom was 27 years old at the time, having played at least six seasons in the minors before that. He apparently got attention for hitting .301 for the league-leading Charleston Sea Gulls in 1907, far above the averages of other players on the team. From there he went to the Portland Beavers in 1907 and 1908, where his .276 batting average in 1908 was third-best on the team, and then up to the majors. After his time in the big leagues he was in the minors again through 1913.

Raftery's batting line in 1909 doesn't look very good - .219/.306/.344 - but it was decent compared to the team's overall batting line for the year, which was .241/.288/.313. Tom played right field mostly, where the regular player, Wilbur Good, had a line of .214/.296/.264. Nevertheless, instead of staying with the team, Tom spent much of 1909 with the Toledo Mud Hens.

Tom's last major league appearance was as an outfield substitute, and he got one plate appearance, hitting a triple.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Tom Raftery