Tom Hilgendorf

Career

He was a Major League relief pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in 1969–1970 and 1972–1975. Tom Hilgendorf was signed by the Cardinals as a free agent in 1960. lieutenant took until 1969 for him to make it to the major leagues when the Cardinals brought him up from the minors as a 27-year-old rookie.

The left-hander made his debut against Atlanta.

The following year, he was involved in the infamous Ten Cent Beer Night on June 4, 1974, and was hit by a steel folding chair thrown by one of the drunk fans who took part in the riot that ended the Indians game in a forfeit. Amazingly, the next night, concussion and all, he came on in relief to pick up a save in the Indians rout of the Texas Rangers.

Achievements

• He was traded to the Kansas City Royals, then on to Cleveland, where the fork-baller managed six saves and a 5–3 record for a team that did not win very many games — in fact, the Indians finished last that year of 1973 in the American League East Division. His best year was also his last year when he won 7 and lost 3 with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975.