Tom Brookens
Born: 8/10/1953 in Chambersburg, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1979-07-10 | Final Game: 1990-09-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Thomas Dale Brookens
Biography
Tom Brookens, born in 1953, was a versatile position player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1990. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,336 games, accumulating 950 hits and achieving a batting average of .246. Known for his solid defense and ability to contribute in various roles, Brookens recorded 71 home runs and drove in 431 runs, showcasing his capability as a reliable run producer. His speed on the bases was evident with 86 stolen bases, adding a dynamic element to his game.
Brookens spent a considerable portion of his career with the Detroit Tigers, where he was an integral part of the team's success during the 1980s. He played in an era marked by significant changes in the game, including the rise of power hitters and the increasing importance of defensive versatility. His contributions helped the Tigers compete at a high level, culminating in a memorable run during the 1984 season when the team won the World Series. Brookens' work ethic and adaptability on the field left a lasting legacy, earning him respect among teammates and fans alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1336 | 3865 | 477 | 950 | 175 | 40 | 71 | 431 | 86 | 281 | 605 | 0.246 | 0.296 | 0.367 | 0.663 | -6059.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | DET | AL | 60 | 190 | 23 | 50 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 40 | 0.263 | -219.4 |
| 1980 | DET | AL | 151 | 509 | 64 | 140 | 25 | 9 | 10 | 66 | 13 | 32 | 71 | 0.275 | 82.2 |
| 1981 | DET | AL | 71 | 239 | 19 | 58 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 5 | 14 | 43 | 0.243 | -449.7 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 140 | 398 | 40 | 92 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 58 | 5 | 27 | 63 | 0.231 | -1039.4 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 138 | 332 | 50 | 71 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 32 | 10 | 29 | 46 | 0.214 | -1109.0 |
| 1984 | DET | AL | 113 | 224 | 32 | 55 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 6 | 19 | 33 | 0.246 | -68.6 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | 156 | 485 | 54 | 115 | 34 | 6 | 7 | 47 | 14 | 27 | 78 | 0.237 | -1035.8 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 98 | 281 | 42 | 76 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 11 | 20 | 42 | 0.270 | -340.6 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 143 | 444 | 59 | 107 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 59 | 7 | 33 | 63 | 0.241 | -970.7 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 136 | 441 | 62 | 107 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 4 | 44 | 74 | 0.243 | -374.7 |
| 1989 | NYY | AL | 66 | 168 | 14 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 27 | 0.226 | -394.1 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 64 | 154 | 18 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 14 | 25 | 0.266 | -139.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 1984 | WS | DET | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1984 | ALCS | DET | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2B | 162 | 121 | 256 | 344 | 16 | 89 |
| 3B | 1065 | 867 | 728 | 1833 | 155 | 171 |
| C | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 7 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 119 | 66 | 119 | 225 | 13 | 37 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | DET | 2B | 19 | 17 | 37 | 42 | 3 | 10 |
| 1979 | DET | 3B | 42 | 38 | 39 | 99 | 8 | 11 |
| 1980 | DET | 2B | 9 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980 | DET | 3B | 138 | 129 | 112 | 279 | 29 | 27 |
| 1980 | DET | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | DET | 3B | 71 | 70 | 58 | 139 | 10 | 13 |
| 1982 | DET | 2B | 26 | 18 | 37 | 57 | 2 | 7 |
| 1982 | DET | 3B | 113 | 80 | 72 | 206 | 18 | 20 |
| 1982 | DET | SS | 9 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | DET | OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | DET | 2B | 10 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 1 | 4 |
| 1983 | DET | 3B | 103 | 72 | 54 | 164 | 17 | 21 |
| 1983 | DET | SS | 30 | 17 | 35 | 62 | 4 | 9 |
| 1984 | DET | 2B | 26 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 14 |
| 1984 | DET | 3B | 68 | 22 | 32 | 63 | 3 | 10 |
| 1984 | DET | SS | 28 | 22 | 38 | 76 | 5 | 11 |
| 1985 | DET | C | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | DET | 2B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 | DET | 3B | 151 | 134 | 123 | 261 | 23 | 26 |
| 1985 | DET | SS | 8 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | DET | 2B | 31 | 25 | 67 | 61 | 2 | 18 |
| 1986 | DET | 3B | 35 | 31 | 26 | 59 | 4 | 4 |
| 1986 | DET | SS | 14 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 1 | 4 |
| 1986 | DET | OF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | 2B | 11 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 3 | 10 |
| 1987 | DET | 3B | 122 | 110 | 85 | 208 | 14 | 15 |
| 1987 | DET | SS | 16 | 11 | 14 | 28 | 2 | 8 |
| 1988 | DET | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | DET | 3B | 136 | 126 | 101 | 234 | 17 | 16 |
| 1988 | DET | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | NYA | 2B | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | NYA | 3B | 51 | 36 | 17 | 70 | 7 | 4 |
| 1989 | NYA | SS | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | NYA | OF | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | 1B | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | CLE | 2B | 21 | 18 | 40 | 48 | 1 | 14 |
| 1990 | CLE | 3B | 35 | 19 | 9 | 51 | 5 | 4 |
| 1990 | CLE | SS | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1 |
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 163 |
| Third Base | 1063 |
| Shortstop | 120 |
| Center Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 6 |
| Designated Hitter | 23 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Player of the Week | Week of 1980-08-22 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | CLE | AL | $425,000 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | $475,000 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | $350,000 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $360,000 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | $325,000 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | $250,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $2,185,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield | PA | 1972, 1973, 1974 |