Thomas Edgar Cheney, a right-handed pitcher, embarked on a Major League Baseball career that spanned eight seasons from 1957 to 1966. Born in Morgan, Georgia, Cheney played for three different teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Washington Senators. His career was marked by moments of brilliance, including a record-setting 21-strikeout game, but also by struggles with control and a significant injury that ultimately curtailed his
time in the big leagues. His journey reflects the challenging and often unpredictable nature of professional baseball.
Early Years and Struggles with Control
Tom Cheney began his professional baseball journey when he was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 1952 season. After several years developing in the minor leagues, he made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cardinals on April 21, 1957. In his initial four games, three of which he started, Cheney posted an 0–1 record with a high 15.00 earned run average (ERA) over nine innings. He struggled with control, walking 15 batters while striking out 10 and giving up 6 hits.
The following year, 1958, Cheney did not play baseball as he was serving in the United States military. He returned to the Cardinals for the 1959 season, primarily working as a relief pitcher in 11 games. His control issues persisted, as he walked 11 men in just 11 and two-thirds innings. He finished that season with an 0–1 record, a 6.92 ERA, 17 hits allowed, and 8 strikeouts. These early years indicated a pitcher with potential but also significant challenges in harnessing his talent.
A World Series Champion and a Trade to Washington
In 1960, Cheney joined the Pittsburgh Pirates, and although his individual statistics for that year are not detailed, he was part of the team that won the World Series. This marked a significant achievement in his early career. He continued with the Pirates into 1961, but his performance was poor, giving up 4 earned runs and walking 4 batters in less than a third of an inning. This led to a trade on June 29, 1961, when he was sent to the Washington Senators in exchange for pitcher Tom Sturdivant.
His initial stint with the Senators in 1961 also proved difficult. Serving as both a starter and reliever, Cheney again showed a lack of control. He posted a 1–3 record in 10 games (7 starts), pitching 29 and two-thirds innings, allowing 32 hits and 29 earned runs. He walked 26 batters and struck out 20, with his ERA ballooning to 8.79 for his time with Washington, resulting in a 10.00 ERA for the entire 1961 season. These struggles suggested that his Major League career might be short-lived.
The Peak Years and Career-Altering Injury
Despite his 1961 performance, Cheney remained on the Senators' roster for 1962, a season that would become his most famous. He pitched in 37 games, starting 25, and showed drastic improvement. He achieved a 7–9 record with four complete games and three shutouts, boasting a career-best 3.17 ERA over 173 and one-third innings. He allowed only 134 hits, walked 97, and struck out 147, finishing second in the American League in both strikeouts per nine innings and hits allowed per nine innings. This season culminated in his record-setting 21-strikeout game on September 12, 1962.
Cheney continued his strong performance into 1963, which is often considered his best overall season. Although he only pitched half the season, he recorded career-bests in wins (8–9 record), complete games (7), shutouts (4), and a 2.71 ERA in 23 games (21 starts). He gave up just 99 hits in 136 and one-third innings, walking only 40 and striking out 97. However, in July 1963, Cheney suffered a devastating elbow injury. This injury played a major role in prematurely ending his Major League career, just as he was emerging as one of the premier pitchers in the American League. He played minimally with the Washington Senators in 1964 and 1966, making his last MLB appearance on May 9, 1966. His daughter, Terri Cook, later reflected on the impact of this injury on his promising career.
