Tom Umphlett

Thomas Mullen Umphlett (May 12, 1930 – September 21, 2012) was a center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1953 to 1955 with the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators.

The son of Daisy Mullen Umphlett and Willie L. Umphlett, he was a three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, football) at Ahoskie High School, from which he graduated in . At , 180 pounds, Umphlett – a right-hander – was originally signed by the Red Sox that year, choosing a professional baseball career over football scholarship offers to several universities. In 1950 with the Marion Red Sox, he hit .319 in 94 games. He made his big league debut on April 16, 1953 at the age of 22 and wearing the number 38. He hit .283 in his rookie season, displaying a great eye at the plate-he averaged one strikeout every 16.5 at-bats. He was #2 in Rookie of the Year voting in '53.

Umphlett hit .246 with six home runs in 360 career games (1,160 at bats). He averaged one strikeout every 10.8 at bats in his career. Never much of a threat on the basepaths, he stole only seven career bases. He had a .986 career fielding percentage. He played his final major league game on September 24, 1955. In 1954, he wore number 4. In 1955, he wore 22. According to Baseball-Reference, the player he is most similar to statistically is Art Kruger. He spent three of his seasons with Mickey McDermott—longer than any other teammate.

He managed the Short Season-Class A Auburn Twins in 1967, then moved up to full-season Class A with the Wisconsin Rapids Twins (part of 1968), Red Springs Twins (all of 1969) and the Lynchburg Twins (part of 1970).

Major transactions
On December 9, 1953, he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Mickey McDermott to the Washington Senators for Jackie Jensen.
On November 8, 1955, he was traded by the Washington Senators with Bob Porterfield, Johnny Schmitz, and Mickey Vernon to the Boston Red Sox for Karl Olson, Dick Brodowski, Tex Clevenger, Neil Chrisley, and Al Curtis (a minor leaguer).
On June 12, 1962, he was traded by the Boston Red Sox with cash to the New York Yankees for Billy Gardner.

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External links

Category:1930 births
Category:2012 deaths
Category:Baseball players from North Carolina
Category:Boston Red Sox players
Category:Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players
Category:High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms players
Category:Louisville Colonels (minor league) players
Category:Major League Baseball center fielders
Category:Marion Red Sox players
Category:Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players
Category:Minor league baseball managers
Category:People from Scotland Neck, North Carolina
Category:Richmond Virginians (minor league) players
Category:Roanoke Ro-Sox players
Category:San Francisco Seals (baseball) players
Category:Seattle Rainiers players
Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) players