Tony Curry

For other people with the same name, see Tony Currie.

Tony Curry
Outfielder
Born: (1937-12-22)December 22, 1937
Nassau, Bahamas
Died: October 16, 2006(2006-10-16) (aged 68)
Nassau, Bahamas
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 12, 1960, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
July 16, 1966, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average.246
Home runs6
Runs batted in40
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

George Anthony Curry (December 22, 1937 – October 16, 2006) was a Bahamian professional baseball outfielder, who appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1960–61) and Cleveland Indians (1966). He was the second Bahamian to reach the major leagues[1] (after André Rodgers). He was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg) (13 stone, 3 pounds); Curry threw and batted left-handed.[2]

Curry grew up playing cricket in the Bahamas before moving on to softball and eventually baseball which he played against visiting U.S. Navy personnel. He caught the attention of the Phillies while playing in Miami, signed a contract and began his professional career with the Tampa Tarpons.[3]

Curry's 12-year (1957–68) professional career got off to a promising start. He batted .333, .293, and .313 during his first three Minor League Baseball (MiLB) seasons, with extra-base power. In 1959, in the Class A Eastern League, Curry belted 49 doubles, nine triples and 23 home runs, with 90 runs batted in (RBI). He led the Eastern League in runs scored and hits,[4] and was named Most Valuable Player.[1]

The following year, 1960, Curry spent the entire season on the Phillies' major league roster and appeared in 95 games — 55 of them as a starting outfielder. Benefitting from a torrid start, he was second in the National League (NL) batting race on May 14, peaking at .388 before striking out in his last at bat that day for .380; in that same game, Curry hit his first- and second-MLB homer, at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, against Jay Hook[5] — and was still at .336, after his first 42 games (through June 23). Curry held on above .300 on July 6, but slumped at the plate and ended the season batting .261 with 64 hits, six home runs, and 34 RBI.

However, 1960 was to be Curry’s only full season in the big leagues. During spring training in 1961, he briefly walked out of the Phillies' camp in a contract dispute.[1] Then, when the regular season began, Curry collected only seven hits in 36 at bats before being demoted to Triple-A. As events turned out, his Philadelphia career was over.

Curry was traded to the Cleveland Indians' organization in March 1962, and he spent much of the rest of his pro career in Triple-A. A strong performance for the Portland Beavers in 1966 earned Curry a six-week call-up to Cleveland in June, but he collected only two hits and three bases on balls in 19 plate appearances as a pinch hitter, in Curry’s last appearance in the major leagues.

In all or parts of three big-league seasons, Curry played in 129 games, with 297 at bats, 33 runs, 73 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 40 RBI, 20 walks, .246 batting average, .295 on-base percentage, .374 slugging percentage, 111 total bases, one sacrifice hit, one sacrifice fly, and two intentional walks.[2]

On October 16, 2006, Curry died in his home city of Nassau at the age of 68.[2][1]

  1. ^ a b c d Costello, Rory. "Tony Curry". SABR.org. SABR. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Tony Curry Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Cricket to Softball then to Baseball for Tony Curry". The York Dispatch. UPI. May 27, 1960. p. 13. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "Tony Curry Minor and Mexican Leagues Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "Phillies Stop Reds As Curry belts 2". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 15, 1960. p. 23. Retrieved April 10, 2020.