Tommy Herrera

Tommy Herrera
Pitcher / Manager
Born: (1931-11-09)November 9, 1931
Laredo, Texas, U.S.
Died: December 14, 2016(2016-12-14) (aged 85)
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Member of the Mexican Professional
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2023
Herrera's Minor League Contract

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
Games Won Lost Tied Pct. Finish Won Lost Pct. Notes
1963 MEX 132 71 61 0 .538 2nd – – – –
1964 MEX 140 82 58 0 .586 1st – – – –
1965 MEX 140 66 74 0 .471 5th – – – –
1966 MEX 140 74 66 0 .529 3rd 2 4 .333 Lost Final Series (Tigres)
1967 MEX 140 75 63 2 .543 3rd – – – –
1968 MEX 140 82 58 0 .586 1st – – – –
1969 MEX 154 74 80 0 .481 5th – – – –
1970 SLT 150 67 83 0 .447 5th in North – – – –
1971 SLT 146 86 59 1 .592 1st in North 3 4 .429 Lost Final Series (Jalisco)
1972 SLT 140 89 51 0 .636 1st in North 2 4 .333 Lost Final Series (Córdoba)
1973 PUE 133 71 62 0 .534 4th in South – – – –
1974 COA 138 59 77 2 .435 7th in North – – – –
1975 COA 134 57 77 0 .425 7th in North – – – –
Total 1827 953 869 5 .523 7 12 .368

References

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