Tom Sunkel, baseball player, 1937-1944

Tom Sunkel

Born: 8/9/1912 in Paris, IL, USA

Died: 4/6/2002 in Paris, IL, USA

MLB Debut: 1937-08-26 | Final Game: 1944-09-29

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Thomas Jacob Sunkel

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Biography

Tom Sunkel was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1937 to 1944. Born in 1912, Sunkel made his mark in the Major Leagues during a time when the game was transitioning through the challenges of the Great Depression and the onset of World War II. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 9 wins and 15 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.53. He recorded a total of 112 strikeouts and achieved 2 saves, showcasing his ability to contribute both as a starting pitcher and in relief roles. Sunkel's playing style reflected the pitching strategies of his era, which emphasized stamina and versatility, especially as many players were called to serve in the military during the war. While he may not have posted overwhelming statistics, his contributions to the teams he played for were significant in maintaining competitive rosters during a tumultuous time in American history. After retiring in 1944, Sunkel remained a part of baseball history, remembered for his resilience and dedication to the sport during a pivotal period.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
9 15 63 29 6 2 2 220.3 218 111 11 133 112 4.53 0

Career ERA 4.53 vs. league average 3.86 across their career seasons — 17.4% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1937 STL NL 0 0 9 1 0 0 1 29.3 24 9 11 9 2.76 4.34 (+36%) -
1939 STL NL 4 4 20 11 2 1 0 85.3 79 40 56 54 4.22 4.28 (+2%) -
1941 NY1 NL 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 15.3 7 5 12 14 2.93 3.94 (+25%) 159.2
1942 NY1 NL 3 6 19 11 3 0 0 63.7 65 34 41 29 4.81 3.57 (-35%) -1694.9
1943 NY1 NL 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2.7 4 3 3 0 10.12 — 0.0
1944 BRO NL 1 3 12 3 0 0 1 24.0 39 20 10 6 7.50 3.57 (-110%) -238.4

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
63 66 8 14 2 0 0 1 0 1 22 0.212 0.224 0.242 0.466 0.0

Career AVG .212 vs. league average .264 across their career seasons — 19.6% below league average.

Career OBP .224 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — 32.5% below league average.

Career SLG .242 vs. league average .370 across their career seasons — 34.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.466 vs. league average 0.701 across their career seasons — 33.5% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1937 STL NL 9 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.111 — — — — 0.0
1939 STL NL 20 28 5 9 2 0 0 1 0 1 7 0.321 — — — — 0.0
1941 NY1 NL 2 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.333 — — — — 0.0
1942 NY1 NL 19 19 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0.105 — — — — 0.0
1943 NY1 NL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1944 BRO NL 12 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 63 0 7 22 2 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1937 SLN P 9 0 2 5 0 0
1939 SLN P 20 0 2 9 1 2
1941 NY1 P 2 0 1 1 0 0
1942 NY1 P 19 0 1 5 0 0
1943 NY1 P 1 0 0 2 0 0
1944 BRO P 12 0 1 0 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 63