Tommy Herrera Explained

Tommy Herrera
Position:Pitcher / Manager
Birth Date:9 November 1931
Birth Place:Laredo, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Hofcolor:green
Hoflink:Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame
Hoftype:Mexican Professional
Hofdate:2023

Tomás Herrera Jr. (November 9, 1931 – December 14, 2016) was a Mexican-American professional baseball player and manager, beginning his professional career in 1953. Herrera spent six seasons playing in the Mexican League, and was enshrined into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023. His nickname was "Sargento Metralla".[1]

Playing career

Herrera was born on November 9, 1931 in Laredo, Texas.[2]

Herrera played in the minor leagues for at least six seasons, never reaching the major leagues - though he did spend parts of four seasons at the Open designation, which was created to help build the Pacific Coast League into a major league and in the Mexican League, the highest-level professional league in Mexico. A pitcher, Herrera won as many as 10 games in a season, per the records available.

Herrera spent six seasons in the Mexican League, from 1957 to 1962, playing for the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo, the Tigres de México and the Diablos Rojos del México, recording 167 games, 49 wins, 44 losses and an ERA of 4.14.[3]

Managerial career

After retiring, in 1963, Herrera was given the chance to manage the Diablos Rojos del México, leading them to first place finishes and league championships in 1964 and 1968; he left the team after the 1969 season.[2]

He managed the Saraperos de Saltillo from 1970 to 1972, reaching the Final Series twice, but losing against the Charros de Jalisco in 1971 and against the Cafeteros de Córdoba in 1972. In 1973 he managed the Pericos de Puebla and the Mineros de Coahuila in 1974 and 1975.[4] He was the first manager in the history of the Saraperos and Mineros.[5] [6]

Death

Herrera died on December 14, 2016 in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, aged 85.[5] In 2023, he was elected to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.[6] [7] [8]

Managerial statistics

Mexican League

Year Team Regular season Postseason
scope=colGames scope=colWon scope=colLost scope=colTiedscope=colPct.scope=colFinishscope=colWonscope=colLostscope=colPct.scope=colNotes
MEX132 2nd
MEX140 1st
MEX140 5th
MEX140 3rd Lost Final Series (Tigres)
MEX140 3rd
MEX140 1st
MEX154 5th
SLT150 5th in North
SLT146 1st in North Lost Final Series (Jalisco)
SLT140 1st in North Lost Final Series (Córdoba)
PUE133 4th in South
COA138 7th in North
COA134 7th in North
Total 1827

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Un legado invaluable; falleció Tomás Herrera. Excélsior. 15 December 2016. 24 July 2024. es.
  2. Web site: Tomás Herrera, descanse en paz. MiLB.com. 14 December 2016. 24 July 2024. es.
  3. Web site: Falleció el exmanager Tomás Herrera. El Sol de México. 15 December 2016. 24 July 2024. es.
  4. Web site: "Fallece Tomás ‘Sargento Metralla’ Herrera". Noroeste. 14 December 2016. 24 July 2024. es.
  5. Web site: Oscar. Morín. Falleció Tomás Herrera, el primer mánager en la historia de Saraperos. Vanguardia. 14 December 2016. 24 July 2024. es.
  6. Web site: Tomás Herrera, el primer mánager del béisbol profesional en Monclova, elegido como nuevo inmortal del Salón de la Fama. La Prensa de Coahuila. 17 February 2023. 24 July 2024. es.
  7. Web site: El popular Sargento Metralla. Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano. 24 July 2024. es.
  8. Web site: Fernando. Dávila Moreno. Estas son las nuevas leyendas que se unieron al Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano. Excélsior. 20 November 2023. 24 July 2024. es.