Tom graduated from Chemawa Junior High (1961), Ramona High School (1965), and Riverside City College (1966). Tom was all CIF at Ramona High School in 1965 and MVP at Riverside Community College in 1966. Tom was drafter by Manager, Bill Rigney in 1966 and played 11 years in professional baseball with the Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Kansas City Royals. In the 1972 World Series, his ERA was 0.00. He holds the Major League record of 8 1/3 scoreless innings by a reliever in World Series play. Tom was the first Riverside native to win a World Series ring. He was nicknamed “The Blade” because of his 6’0”, 148 pound frame. He had a career 52-33 won-loss record, with 63 saves in 358 game appearances.
After completing twelve years of baseball Tom retired in 1978 and began a new career at Rohr Aero Space as a prefit supervisor for three years. Due to economic cutbacks he was laid off in 1981. Tom then began a new career with the United States Post Office where he was a mail carrier for over twenty years. His territories included Hemet , Riverside , La Sierra and Rubidoux. In November 2002, Tom retired from the working force to spend more time with his family and became more involved with the community. His hobbies include, but are not limited to, bowling with his son at Tava Lanes, fishing and taking trips with his wife, Grace, to Morro Bay. Tom has two adult children, Kristi Hall and T.J. Hall. The pride of his life is his new grandchild, Kadin, and he is thoroughly enjoying his new role as “Grandpa.”
