Tommy de la Cruz was a professional baseball pitcher born in 1911, whose career spanned a brief but impactful period in the 1940s. He made his Major League debut on April 20, 1944, during a transitional time in baseball, as the sport was navigating the challenges of World War II and the changes it brought to the game. De la Cruz played until September 26, 1944, and during that time, he showcased his skills on the mound with a career record of 9-9 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.25. His ability to strike out batters was evident, as he recorded 65 strikeouts over his playing tenure, complementing his performance with a single save.
Although de la Cruz's time in Major League Baseball was relatively short, he contributed to a unique era in the sport's history, characterized by a mix of established stars and emerging talent due to the war's impact on player availability. His contributions on the field, particularly as a dependable pitcher, highlighted the depth of talent that existed during this time, and he remains a notable figure in the history of the game.