Thomas Michael Foley (born September 9, 1959) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
and
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
who played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
,
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
,
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
, and
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
, from to . After retiring as a player, Foley served as an on-field coach for the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
, from through , when he moved into the team's front office.
Early years
Foley was born in Columbus, Georgia. His father was in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
so he moved a lot in his childhood. When he was growing up he lived in France, Hawaii, and Japan for four years.
Foley graduated from
Miami Palmetto High School
, motto_translation = Strength through knowledge
, established =
, closed =
, type = Public secondary
, status =
, category_label =
, category ...
, where he played both football, basketball and baseball. After high school, Foley played baseball at Dade South Community College until the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
drafted him in the 7th round of the 1977 amateur draft.
Playing career
At age 23, Foley made his major league debut on April 9, 1983. In his first start 8 days later, he had a walk and a two-run double in the first inning before even taking the field.
During the 1985 season, he was traded to the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
along with
Alan Knicely and a player to be named later (
Freddie Toliver
Freddie Lee Toliver (born February 3, 1961), is former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Freddie ...
) for
Bo Diaz and Greg Simpson. Projected as the Phillies' starting shortstop in 1986, he was hit by a pitch in spring training and wound up playing sparingly (but well) behind the incumbent,
Steve Jeltz
Larry Steven Jeltz (born May 28, 1959) is a French-born American former professional baseball player. He played in parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals. Jeltz primarily played ...
. On July 24, 1986, Foley was traded to the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
along with
Lary Sorensen
Lary Alan Sorensen (born October 4, 1955) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1977–1980), St. Louis Cardinals (1981), Cleveland Indians (1982–1983), Oakland Athletics (1984), Chica ...
for
Skeeter Barnes
William Henry "Skeeter" Barnes (born March 3, 1957) is a retired Major League Baseball utility player for the Cincinnati Reds (1983–1984 and 1989), Montreal Expos (1985), St. Louis Cardinals (1987) and Detroit Tigers (1991–1994).
Biography
B ...
and
Dan Schatzeder
Daniel Ernest Schatzeder (born December 1, 1954) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from – for nine different teams. Schatzeder attended Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois then played college ...
.
As an Expo, Foley played regularly as a utility infielder over the next three seasons, attaining personal bests in games played (127 in 1988), batting average (.293 in 1987), slugging percentage (.432 in 1987), runs scored (35 in 1987), home runs (7 in 1989), and RBI (43 in 1988). While his playing time diminished over his remaining time in Montreal, his utility role expanded as he played all four infield positions during each of the 1990-1992 seasons.
Prior to the 1993 season, Foley signed as a free agent with the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
, where he continued to serve as a part-time player/utility infielder for two seasons. He returned to Montreal for the 1995 season, but played sparingly and retired after being released on July 26, 1995.
All of Foley's 13 seasons were played in the National League, and he was never part of a team that reached the postseason. A natural left-hander, he fielded/threw right-handed because as a youngster he first played baseball with his father's right-hander's glove. Foley credited his versatility afield for his longevity. "I really wasn't a great player, but I was an average major league player who did the little things. I played all of the infield positions and did what I was supposed to do. They say there are glove guys, and I was a glove guy. I could catch the ball and throw the ball, and I tried to mix in as many hits as I could."
Fielding metrics back that up—over his career, Foley compiled above league-average range factors at both second and third base, and average range factors at shortstop.
When asked what stood out to him about his 13 seasons in the majors, he responded, "Probably just making it to the major leagues."
Post-playing/coaching career
After his retirement as a player, Foley was hired in 1996 by the expansion
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
as a minor league field coordinator. Following the team's initial June amateur draft, he oversaw the first mini camp in club history. During the summer of 1996, Foley also managed the Rays' Rookie level team in
Butte, Montana
Butte ( ) is a consolidated city-county and the county seat of Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. The city covers , and, according to the ...
.
He led the
Copper Kings
The Copper Kings were the three industrialists Marcus Daly, William A. Clark, and F. Augustus Heinze. They were known for the epic battles fought in Butte, Montana, and the surrounding region, during the Gilded Age, over control of the local copper ...
to a 37-35 record and was named the
Pioneer League's Manager of the Year. After four years as field coordinator, Foley became the Rays' director of minor league operations in 2000. He also managed an
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fill ...
team, the
Maryvale Saguaros
The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Surprise, Arizona, at Surprise Stadium. The ballpark is also the spring training facility of the Kansas City Royals ...
, in 2001.
Foley was hired by the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
to be their third base coach on October 25, 2001, and served in that role through the 2014 season, working under
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae (; born July 10, 1945) is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1968, 1970–72) and Kansas City Royals (1973–87). Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRa ...
,
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella ( usually ; born August 28, 1943) is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder, he played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and ...
and
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon (born February 8, 1954) is an American former professional baseball manager and coach. He has managed the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.
Maddon began his coaching career in ML ...
. During his 13 years as the third base coach, he waved home 9,418 runs, or 77% of the 12,215 runs scored in club history to that point. On December 19, 2014, the Rays announced that Foley would move into the dugout to serve as new manager
Kevin Cash
Kevin Forrest Cash (born December 6, 1977) is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, Cash played catcher in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays, ...
's bench coach.
On October 2, 2017, the Rays announced Foley left the bench coach role in a mutual agreement and would be taking another role with the team.
He is the longest-tenured coach in Rays history.
Personal life
Foley is American of Japanese descent.
He married Marta Wright on August 28, 1981, and they have three children together, Bryan, Brett and Brooke. Brett works within the Rays organization with his father. He is an area supervisor scout covering Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
See also
*
References
External links
Tampa Bay Rays Official bio:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Tom
1959 births
American baseball players of Japanese descent
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
American expatriates in France
American expatriates in Japan
Baseball players from Columbus, Georgia
Billings Mustangs players
Cincinnati Reds players
Indianapolis Indians players
Living people
Major League Baseball bench coaches
Major League Baseball shortstops
Major League Baseball third base coaches
Montreal Expos players
Ottawa Lynx players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Reading Phillies players
Shelby Reds players
Sportspeople from Columbus, Georgia
Tampa Bay Devil Rays coaches
Tampa Bay Rays coaches
Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players
Waterbury Reds players