Tommy Heath/pagetext

From SABR Encyclopedia

Contents 1 Profile 1.1 Personal 1.2 Contract signing 1.3 Career notes 2 Sources

Profile

Personal

• Resided in Ventura, California in 1952 and 1953.
• Self-identified as being of English-Irish ancestry.
• Was the father of three children, Bob age 13, Arlene age 9 and Billy age 7.
• His father was an oil man in Ventura.
• Started managing after being discharged from the U.S. Army in 1947 and he promptly won the Inter State League title with Trenton.
• In 1951 he managed Minneapolis and developed a great many outstanding performers including Willie Mays, who was named the National League "Rookie of the Year" with the New York Giants.
• Resembled (in 1952) Dick (Kewpie) Barrett, veteran Pacific Coast League hurler for many years.

Contract signing

• Signed with the Mission Reds of the Pacific Coast League in 1929 when he was only 16 years of age but never played a game and was then on summer vacation from high school.

Career notes

• In the Army during the 1945 and 1946 seasons.

Sources

• 1952 Pacific Coast League Thumbnail Sketches.
• 1953 Pacific Coast League Sketch Book.