Tommy Shields

Thomas Charles Shields

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.
• School University of Massachusetts, University of Notre Dame
• High School Conestoga High School
• Debut July 25, 1992
• Final Game October 3, 1993
• Born August 14, 1964 in Fairfax, VA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Infielder Tommy Shields played college ball at the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a degree in economics. He later earned a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him for a second time in the 15th round of the 1986 amateur draft and he played in their minor league system from 1986-1990. Shields was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the spring of 1991 and he made his major league debut with the Orioles a year later. He spent 1993-1994 playing in the Chicago Cubs organization and opened the 1993 season with the Cubs.

Following his playing career, Shield worked as a coach, manager, scout, and player development coordinator. His non-managerial jobs were:

• 1995 Coach Bluefield Orioles
• 1999-2005 Amateur scout St. Louis Cardinals (signed Reid Gorecki)
• 2005 Minor league infield instructor St. Louis Cardinals
• 2006 Minor league assistant field coordinator Atlanta Braves
• 2007-2010 Minor league field coordinator Atlanta Braves
• 2011 Minor league infield coordinator Atlanta Braves
• 2015-2021 Minor league co-field coordinator Washington Nationals with Jeff Garber
• 2022 Bench coach Omaha Storm Chasers

Shields' career path was shaped to a considerable degree by his desire to spend time with his wife and children. It also reflects his attitude towards a baseball career. After his second year of managing, he told a reporter that "'Anybody who thinks they know where they're going in baseball is a wizard ... I don't even know if I want to manage in the big leagues. Maybe, I want to be a general manager. I just worry about taking it one year at a time. You really do, but you try not to tell your wife that."

Source: Linker, A. (1997, December 16). Former Senator Shields has budding new career. The Patriot-News, C01.

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1996	GCL Orioles	Gulf Coast League	36-24	4th	Baltimore Orioles
1997	Delmarva Shorebirds	South Atlantic League	77-65	5th	Baltimore Orioles	League Champs
1998	Frederick Keys	Carolina League	64-76	6th	Baltimore Orioles
2002	New Jersey Cardinals	New York-Penn League	39-37	6th	St. Louis Cardinals
2003	New Jersey Cardinals	New York-Penn League	31-42	10th	St. Louis Cardinals
2004	New Jersey Cardinals	New York-Penn League	41-34	5th	St. Louis Cardinals
2012	Burlington Royals	Appalachian League	41-25	2nd	Kansas City Royals	Lost League Finals
2013	Burlington Royals	Appalachian League	29-38	8th	Kansas City Royals
2014	Burlington Royals	Appalachian League	28-40	9th	Kansas City Royals
2021	Wilmington Blue Rocks	High-A East	52-64	9th	Washington Nationals
2023	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Texas League	64-74	10th	Kansas City Royals
2024	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Texas League	66-71	5th	Kansas City Royals