Friday, November 26, 2010

Tom Underwood, 1953-2010. R.I.P.

Former major league pitcher Tom Underwood passed away on November 22 after an eighteen month battle with leukemia. He was 56.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972, Underwood pitched in the bigs from 1974 to 1984 with the Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles. The Indiana born southpaw finished his career with an 86-87 record. His younger brother Pat, another lefty, also pitched in the majors for four seasons with the Detroit Tigers.

While Underwood's stats didn't make for a particularly memorable major league career he thoroughly enjoyed experience. Underwoood said, "For 10 years I saw the entire U.S. for free and had five months vacation. I just wish I could have played the game longer."

Tom Underwood lived his American Dream.

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