Tommy Neill

Thomas White Neill

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut September 10, 1946
• Final Game May 12, 1947
• Born November 7, 1919 in Hartselle, AL USA
• Died September 22, 1980 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Alabama native Tommy Neill spent fifteen seasons in professional baseball from 1938 to 1954. The outfielder played until 1946 before getting his first shot at the major leagues. He put together three good seasons before his chance arrived - the first came in 1940 in a split-season affair with the Hartford Bees of the class A Eastern League and the Jersey City Giants of the class AA International League, when he hit .313 in 119 games. Tommy was with the Hartford Bees again in 1943 and appeared in 135 games and hit at a .308 clip.

1946 arrived and Tommy started the season with the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association and had his best numbers to date, appearing in 139 games and hitting at a .374 average with 12 home runs. Neill got the call he had been waiting for and on September 10th, he made his debut with the Boston Braves, appearing in 13 games. He picked up 12 hits in 45 at-bats for a .267 average. He was back with the Braves to start the 1947 season and appeared in 7 games, managing only 2 hits in 10 at-bats and playing his final game in the Show on May 12th.

Tommy was back in the minors with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1947, where he appeared in 134 games and hit .285 with 13 round-trippers. Neill didn't get another chance in the major leagues and spent the next seven years in A ball and higher. He hit over .300 two more times in his run, hitting .309 with 15 homers for the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association in 1948. Neill had a very good year in 1950, when he hit .346 with 10 homers for the Nashville Volunteers of the same league.

Neill stayed in baseball until 1954 at the age of 34, finishing up his 15-year minor league run with the Lincoln Chiefs of the class A Western League, hitting at a .282 clip with 11 home runs. This gave him final minor league numbers that showed him appearing in 1,981 games with 7,283 at-bats and 2,163 base-hits that included 125 home runs and a .297 batting average.

As of 2011, little is known as to Neill's activities after baseball. He passed away on September 22, 1980 in Houston, TX at the age of 61.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page