Tom Tomsick

• School Saint Louis University, John Carroll University

Tom Tomsick was a batting practice and bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Indians from 1964 to 1966.

Tomsick turned down a pro offer from the Indians to go to medical school. He became a radiologist. He joined Cincinnati General Hospital in 1976 and spent many years there. He would serve as the President of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology and also was on the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association.

Tomsick later wrote Strike Three! My Years in the 'Pen, an account of the 1964-1968 Indians staff which was the first in AL history to whiff 1,100 batters, something they accomplished all five of those seasons. No other team has led the AL 5 consecutive years with over 1100 SO. The staff averaged 20% more strikeouts than the rest of the league. Their record number of 1,189 in 1967 would stand for for 30 years until 1997.They were the first to SO more than 7 batters / 9 innings. Of only 7 staffs who have averaged 7 SO / 9 inn. for 5 consecutive years, only the Indians led the rest of the AL by more then 1 SO / 9 inn. During these 5 years, the Indians led the rest of the AL by 20% in SO. '64-'68 are the only 5 years the AL has led the NL in SO in consecutive years since WW II.

Source: American Journal of Neuroradiology