Former Phillie of the Day - Tom Underwood

Pitchers today are usually big guys–your prototypical starter is about 6-4, 200 pounds. Today's Former Phillie of the Day, Tom Underwood, was not prototypical. Underwood was undersized by today's standards.

The 5-11, 170-pound lefty was the Phillies second-round pick in the 1972 draft out of high school in Kokomo, Indiana. Underwood's father was also drafted by the Phillies, but he chose to join the military and fight in World War II. The younger Underwood rose quickly to the majors, winning 27 games at 3 levels in 1973 and 1974. The Phils found the then-20-year-old polished enough to join the big club in August 1974.

So Underwood, 2 years removed from high school, found himself pitching in the big leagues. On Aug. 19, Phillies starter Wayne Twitchell was hit hard by the Cincinnati Reds. Twitchell only lasted 2 innings, giving up 5 runs and 5 hits. Underwood was summoned from the bullpen.

I can't even imagine what was going through his mind. He's 20 years old and his first major league appearance is against the Big Red Machine. Things started out well–he struck out third baseman Dan Driessen for the first out. But Cesar Geronimo singled, Dave Concepcion doubled, and George Foster was intentionally walked to load the bases. Pitcher Don Gullett singled to right, and 2 runs scored. Pete Rose walked to load the bases, and Joe Morgan chased Underwood after hitting a grand slam. His ERA for the day was 162.00. Underwood went back to the minors and was back in Philadelphia in September.

He made the team out of spring training the next year. In his first start against the Cardinals on April 13, 1975, Underwood pitched a complete game 5-hit shutout. He'd throw another shutout on May 13 for revenge against the Reds, limiting them to just 6 hits. He started 60 games in 1975 and 1976, going 24-18 with a 3.89 ERA in 375 innings.

Underwood was moved to the bullpen in 1977 and was traded to the Cardinals along with Dane Iorg and Rick Bosetti on June 15 for outfielder Bake McBride and pitcher Steve Waterbury. McBride would be a key member of the pennant-winning Phillies teams for the rest of the decade and the 1980 World Series champs.

The Cardinals moved Underwood back into the rotation but was traded to Toronto after the season. He spent 2 years with the Blue Jays before being dealt to the Yankees in 1979. He was in New York until May 1981 when he was traded to Oakland. He signed with the Orioles as a free agent in 1984 and pitched his last game on Sept. 23.

He retired after the 1984 season, worked as a financial advisor, and married LPGA golfer Christine Morra. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009 and passed away on Nov. 22, 2010. He was 55.