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Tom Veryzer
Thomas Martin Veryzer (/vʌˈraɪzər/ vuh-REYE-zer; February 11, 1953 – July 8, 2014) was an American professional baseball shortstop. He played 12 years in Major League Baseball, appearing in 979 games for the Detroit Tigers (1973–1977), Cleveland Indians (1978–1981), New York Mets (1982), and Chicago Cubs (1983–1984). He ranked third in the American League in 1977 with a range factor of 5.16 per nine innings at shortstop. His career range factor of 4.841 per nine innings at shortstop ranks as the 25th best in Major League history.
Veryzer was born in Port Jefferson, New York, in 1953. He attended Islip High School in Islip, New York. In high school, he played shortstop for Islip's baseball team and compiled a .467 batting average. He also played soccer and basketball at Islip where his father was the athletic director and basketball coach.
Veryzer was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (eleventh pick overall) of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. He signed a bonus contract with the Tigers in June 1971. His older brother, James, had been drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 49th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft, but had also moved to the Tigers' organization by 1971 as well.
Veryzer played for the Bristol Tigers upon graduating from high school in 1971. He batted just .225 with four home runs and 20 RBIs, but his defensive play earned him Appalachian League MVP honors. He was promoted to the Montgomery Rebels in the Southern League in 1972 where he hit .220.
During spring training in 1973, Veryzer received acclaim for his potential. A Detroit scout predicted that Veryzer would be the greatest shortstop since Honus Wagner. A Chicago scout predicted he would be one of the five greatest shortstops of all time. Detroit manager Billy Martin called Veryzer "the best looking young shortstop I've ever seen." Despite the acclaim, Veryzer began the 1973 season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League where he raised his batting average to .250.
In August 1973, Veryzer was called up by the Tigers. At age 20, he was the sixth youngest player in the American League when he was called up. With Ed Brinkman at shortstop, Veryzer saw little playing time in 1973; he batted .300 (six for 20) and had an RBI single off the Minnesota Twins' Dave Goltz in his first major league at-bat.
Veryzer returned to the minor leagues in 1974 season, batting .296 in 223 at bats with the Evansville Triplets. In August 1974, he was again called up by the Tigers when the team dealt Jim Northrup to the Montreal Expos. On September 20, 1974, he hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Tigers a 2–1 lead. After the Tigers surrendered the lead, he hit an RBI single in the seventh to tie the game back up. In all, he went three-for-four with a home run, two walks and four runs batted in.
The Tigers traded Brinkman in November 1974, and Veryzer became the Tigers' starting shortstop in 1975, appearing in 128 games at the position. On June 8, 1975, he doubled with two out in the ninth inning to break-up a no-hitter by Ken Holtzman. For the season, he batted .252 with five home runs and 48 RBIs (both career highs) while also hitting thirteen doubles to be named the shortstop on the Topps Rookie All-Star team. However, his 24 errors at short were fourth highest in the league.
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Tom Veryzer
Thomas Martin Veryzer (/vʌˈraɪzər/ vuh-REYE-zer; February 11, 1953 – July 8, 2014) was an American professional baseball shortstop. He played 12 years in Major League Baseball, appearing in 979 games for the Detroit Tigers (1973–1977), Cleveland Indians (1978–1981), New York Mets (1982), and Chicago Cubs (1983–1984). He ranked third in the American League in 1977 with a range factor of 5.16 per nine innings at shortstop. His career range factor of 4.841 per nine innings at shortstop ranks as the 25th best in Major League history.
Veryzer was born in Port Jefferson, New York, in 1953. He attended Islip High School in Islip, New York. In high school, he played shortstop for Islip's baseball team and compiled a .467 batting average. He also played soccer and basketball at Islip where his father was the athletic director and basketball coach.
Veryzer was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (eleventh pick overall) of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. He signed a bonus contract with the Tigers in June 1971. His older brother, James, had been drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 49th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft, but had also moved to the Tigers' organization by 1971 as well.
Veryzer played for the Bristol Tigers upon graduating from high school in 1971. He batted just .225 with four home runs and 20 RBIs, but his defensive play earned him Appalachian League MVP honors. He was promoted to the Montgomery Rebels in the Southern League in 1972 where he hit .220.
During spring training in 1973, Veryzer received acclaim for his potential. A Detroit scout predicted that Veryzer would be the greatest shortstop since Honus Wagner. A Chicago scout predicted he would be one of the five greatest shortstops of all time. Detroit manager Billy Martin called Veryzer "the best looking young shortstop I've ever seen." Despite the acclaim, Veryzer began the 1973 season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League where he raised his batting average to .250.
In August 1973, Veryzer was called up by the Tigers. At age 20, he was the sixth youngest player in the American League when he was called up. With Ed Brinkman at shortstop, Veryzer saw little playing time in 1973; he batted .300 (six for 20) and had an RBI single off the Minnesota Twins' Dave Goltz in his first major league at-bat.
Veryzer returned to the minor leagues in 1974 season, batting .296 in 223 at bats with the Evansville Triplets. In August 1974, he was again called up by the Tigers when the team dealt Jim Northrup to the Montreal Expos. On September 20, 1974, he hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Tigers a 2–1 lead. After the Tigers surrendered the lead, he hit an RBI single in the seventh to tie the game back up. In all, he went three-for-four with a home run, two walks and four runs batted in.
The Tigers traded Brinkman in November 1974, and Veryzer became the Tigers' starting shortstop in 1975, appearing in 128 games at the position. On June 8, 1975, he doubled with two out in the ninth inning to break-up a no-hitter by Ken Holtzman. For the season, he batted .252 with five home runs and 48 RBIs (both career highs) while also hitting thirteen doubles to be named the shortstop on the Topps Rookie All-Star team. However, his 24 errors at short were fourth highest in the league.