Tom Hilgendorf

Born: 3/10/1942 in Clinton, IA, USA

Died: 3/25/2021 in Iowa City, IA, USA

MLB Debut: 1969-08-15 | Final Game: 1975-09-28

Bats: B | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 187 lbs

Full name: Thomas Eugene Hilgendorf

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Biography

Tom Hilgendorf, born in 1942, was a professional baseball pitcher who had a notable career in Major League Baseball from 1969 until his retirement in 1975. Over the course of his six-season career, Hilgendorf compiled a record of 19 wins and 14 losses, showcasing his ability as a reliable arm on the mound. With an earned run average (ERA) of 3.04, he demonstrated solid control and effectiveness, striking out 173 batters while also contributing with 14 saves. Hilgendorf played during a transformative era in baseball, navigating the shifts in strategy and player development that characterized the late 1960s and early 1970s. His playing style reflected the era's shift towards more specialized pitchers, as he balanced starting and relief roles. Although he may not have reached the heights of some contemporaries, Hilgendorf's contributions on the mound were significant, and he remains a respected figure for his performance in a competitive landscape.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
19	14	184	6	2	0	14	313.7	302	106	25	127	173	3.04	0

Career ERA 3.04 vs. league average 3.64 across their career seasons — 16.5% better than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1969	STL	NL	0	0	6	0	0	2	6.3	3	1	2	2	1.42	—	-
1970	STL	NL	0	4	23	0	0	3	20.7	22	9	13	13	3.92	3.89 (-1%)	-
1972	CLE	AL	3	1	19	5	1	0	47.0	51	14	21	25	2.68	3.26 (+18%)	-766.0
1973	CLE	AL	5	3	48	1	1	6	94.7	87	33	36	58	3.14	3.75 (+16%)	-159.6
1974	CLE	AL	4	3	35	0	0	3	48.3	58	26	17	23	4.84	3.63 (-33%)	-891.1
1975	PHI	NL	7	3	53	0	0	0	96.7	81	23	38	52	2.14	3.71 (+42%)	449.1

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
184	27	0	5	2	0	0	5	0	1	15	0.185	0.207	0.259	0.466	0.0

Career AVG .185 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — 26.8% below league average.

Career OBP .207 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 35.8% below league average.

Career SLG .259 vs. league average .372 across their career seasons — 30.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.466 vs. league average 0.694 across their career seasons — 32.8% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1969	STL	NL	6	1	1	1	1	0	0	1.000	—	—	—	—
1970	STL	NL	23	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—
1972	CLE	AL	19	13	1	0	1	0	11	0.077	—	—	—	—
1973	CLE	AL	48	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1974	CLE	AL	35	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1975	PHI	NL	53	12	3	1	3	1	4	0.250	—	—	—	—