Tom Sturdivant threw a curveball and a knuckleball, among other pitches.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,371 |
32 Facts About Tom Sturdivant
2.
Tom Sturdivant was originally signed by the Yankees as an infielder in 1948.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,372 |
3.
Tom Sturdivant debuted with the Yankees in 1955, the first of four straight years he was on a World Series roster.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,373 |
4.
Tom Sturdivant pitched in three games for Kansas City in 1964, then pitched in 16 games for the Mets that same year before getting released on June 27.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,374 |
5.
Tom Sturdivant was the second of two boys; brother Bobby Joe was born in 1926.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,375 |
6.
Tom Sturdivant attended Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, which he graduated from in May 1948.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,376 |
7.
Tom Sturdivant played as a pitcher for Bill Mosier's Tires, an American Legion team, but he played infield positions.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,377 |
8.
Tom Sturdivant began his professional career playing third base for the Quincy Gems of the Three-I League, which was at the Class B level.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,378 |
9.
Tom Sturdivant joined several other Yankee prospects at a pre-spring training camp held by Yankee manager Casey Stengel, but he played no professional baseball that season.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,379 |
10.
Tom Sturdivant wore the number 47, which he bore throughout his time with the team.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,380 |
11.
Yogi Berra hit a home run to score him, and Tom Sturdivant picked up his first major league win in the victory.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,381 |
12.
Tom Sturdivant was part of the Yankees' roster as they faced the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,382 |
13.
In 1956, the Yankees wanted to waive Tom Sturdivant and send him to the minor leagues, but a claim by the Detroit Tigers prevented them from doing so.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,383 |
14.
Tom Sturdivant's first appearance was a start, but most of his outings in the early part of the year were in relief.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,384 |
15.
Boone started for the mound, and Tom Sturdivant approached him as the benches cleared; both players were thrown out of the game.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,385 |
16.
Tom Sturdivant received a no decision, but the Yankees lost in 10 innings.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,386 |
17.
Tom Sturdivant had a "miserable" season, according to Sports Illustrated.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,387 |
18.
Tom Sturdivant did not pitch in the series but earned his second World Series ring as New York prevailed in seven games.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,388 |
19.
Tom Sturdivant started spring training late in 1959 as he negotiated his contract, finally agreeing to the same salary as the previous year.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,389 |
20.
The Yankees, who had discussed trading him to the Washington Senators for Camilo Pascual in 1956, were rumored to be interested in making the same trade in 1959, until Tom Sturdivant threw five shutout innings in a spring game on March 23.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,390 |
21.
Tom Sturdivant was used mainly as a reliever, making only three starts.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,391 |
22.
Tom Sturdivant did not allow a hit, pitching four scoreless innings to preserve the win.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,392 |
23.
Tom Sturdivant then pitched two scoreless innings and earned the win after Kansas City rallied in the sixth.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,393 |
24.
Tom Sturdivant wore uniform numbers 35 and 47 during his tenure with Washington.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,394 |
25.
Tom Sturdivant threw me in there every fourth game, my arm got stronger, and my confidence returned.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,395 |
26.
Tom Sturdivant wore uniform number 18 for the Athletics this time.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,396 |
27.
Tom Sturdivant wore uniform number 47, his old Yankees number, for the Mets; and he was reunited with Stengel, now managing the National League ballclub.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,397 |
28.
Tom Sturdivant said he would retire from baseball if elected, but he failed to win the Senate seat.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,398 |
29.
Tom Sturdivant's curveball was difficult to face, earning him the nickname "Snake".
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,399 |
30.
On May 9,1952, Tom Sturdivant married Paula Whitten, who went by her middle name, Reba.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,400 |
31.
Tom Sturdivant remained a Yankee fan after his career ended, subscribing to a television package that allowed him to watch all the games, even in the Midwest.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,401 |
32.
Tom Sturdivant was hospitalized for a few weeks and underwent two surgeries, but the accident affected his health permanently.
| FactSnippet No. 2,308,402 |