Tom Gulley Explained

Tom Gulley
Position:First Base, Right Fielder, Pinch Hitter
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Birth Date:25 December 1899
Birth Place:Garner, North Carolina, US
Death Place:St. Charles, Arkansas, US
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 24
Debutyear:1923
Debutteam:Cleveland Indians
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 22
Finalyear:1926
Finalteam:Chicago White Sox
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.207
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:0
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:9
Teams:

Thomas Jefferson Gulley (December 25, 1899 – November 24, 1966) was a professional baseball right fielder and pinch hitter.[1] He was and weighed 178lb. He went to Mississippi College. Gulley played first base for the Little Rock Travelers in the Southern Association for six seasons. He holds the Travelers' highest single-season batting average at .378 in 1925.[2]

He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on August 24, 1923 and remained with the Indians for the 1924 season. Over those two seasons Gulley played in five games. He did not play in the major leagues in 1925. Gulley joined the Chicago White Sox on April 13, 1926, playing in 12 games. Just over a month after joining the team he played his last major league game on May 22, 1926.[3] He returned to the Travelers in 1927.[4]

Gulley became sheriff of Pulaski County, Arkansas, in 1947 and served 12 years. While serving as Pulaski County sheriff, he organized Little Rock's Junior Deputy baseball program in 1947.[5] It was the first youth league organization in the state. His work with the Junior Deputy program was recognized by the community as he was voted first place as the "Little Rockian of the Year" for 1948.[6]

Gulley was sheriff during the events of the Little Rock Nine.[7] He was elected Pulaski County Judge in 1966 but died before taking office.

On November 25, 1966, Gulley died of accidental drowning after his car rolled down a ramp while crossing a ferry. He was on a deer hunting trip near Saint Charles, Arkansas.[8]

Gulley was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Gulley 1924 Batting Game Logs . Baseball Reference . 18 August 2020.
  2. Web site: Past Inductees arksportshalloffame . Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame . 18 August 2020.
  3. Web site: WSC Vintage: Tom Gulley . White Sox Cards . September 2013 . 18 August 2020.
  4. Book: Turner . Terry . Baseball in Little Rock . 2004 . Arcadia . United States . 10, 25 . 9780738533001 . 18 August 2020.
  5. Web site: About Our Club . Junior Deputy Babe Ruth Baseball . 18 August 2020.
  6. Pulaski County Junior Deputy Sheriffs League . FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin . September 1952 . 21 . 9 . 21–22 . 18 August 2020.
  7. Web site: The Panama American (September 13, 1958) . UFDC . University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC) . 18 August 2020.
  8. Book: Arkansas Highways . 1982 . State Highway Commission . United States . 3 . 18 August 2020.