Tom Prince
Born: 8/13/1964 in Kankakee, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1987-09-22 | Final Game: 2003-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Thomas Albert Prince
Biography
Tom Prince, born in 1964, was a professional baseball player who had a career spanning from 1987 to 2003. Primarily serving as a position player, Prince displayed his talents in 519 games over his time in Major League Baseball. He was known for his gritty playing style and versatility on the field, contributing to various teams as both a starter and a reliable backup. His career statistics include 248 hits, 24 home runs, and 140 RBIs, with a batting average of .208. Additionally, he showcased his speed on the bases with 9 stolen bases throughout his career.
Prince played during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the rise of power hitters and the increasing importance of specialized roles in the game. While he may not have been a household name, his contributions to teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers provided valuable depth to the rosters he was part of. His experience and resilience made him a respected figure in the clubhouse, and he left a lasting impact on teammates and fans alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 519 | 1190 | 113 | 248 | 66 | 4 | 24 | 140 | 9 | 105 | 252 | 0.208 | 0.286 | 0.331 | 0.617 | -3536.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | PIT | NL | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | PIT | NL | 29 | 74 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0.176 | -469.7 |
| 1989 | PIT | NL | 21 | 52 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 0.135 | -326.9 |
| 1990 | PIT | NL | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | PIT | NL | 26 | 34 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0.265 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | PIT | NL | 27 | 44 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0.091 | -400.2 |
| 1993 | PIT | NL | 66 | 179 | 14 | 35 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 13 | 38 | 0.196 | -716.8 |
| 1994 | LAD | NL | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | LAD | NL | 18 | 40 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | LAD | NL | 40 | 64 | 6 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 0.297 | 48.8 |
| 1997 | LAD | NL | 47 | 100 | 17 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0.220 | -304.3 |
| 1998 | LAD | NL | 37 | 81 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 24 | 0.185 | -411.8 |
| 1999 | PHI | NL | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | PHI | NL | 46 | 122 | 14 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 13 | 31 | 0.238 | -275.3 |
| 2001 | MIN | AL | 64 | 196 | 19 | 43 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 3 | 12 | 39 | 0.219 | -563.0 |
| 2002 | MIN | AL | 51 | 125 | 14 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 26 | 0.224 | -117.5 |
| 2003 | KCR | AL | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | MIN | AL | 24 | 40 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | ALDS2 | MIN | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 2002 | ALCS | MIN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 478 | 332 | 2267 | 214 | 19 | 25 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | PIT | C | 4 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | PIT | C | 28 | 21 | 108 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | PIT | C | 21 | 15 | 85 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | PIT | C | 3 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | PIT | C | 19 | 8 | 52 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | PIT | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | PIT | C | 19 | 10 | 76 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | PIT | C | 59 | 50 | 271 | 31 | 5 | 6 |
| 1994 | LAN | C | 3 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | LAN | C | 17 | 12 | 71 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 | LAN | C | 35 | 15 | 161 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | LAN | C | 45 | 23 | 221 | 25 | 1 | 5 |
| 1998 | LAN | C | 32 | 22 | 175 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | PHI | C | 4 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | PHI | C | 46 | 36 | 250 | 20 | 1 | 2 |
| 2001 | MIN | C | 64 | 60 | 380 | 41 | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 | MIN | C | 50 | 40 | 272 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| 2003 | KCA | C | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | MIN | C | 22 | 11 | 83 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 478 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | MIN | AL | $450,000 |
| 2002 | MIN | AL | $450,000 |
| 2001 | MIN | AL | $400,000 |
| 2000 | PHI | NL | $300,000 |
| 1999 | PHI | NL | $300,000 |
| 1998 | LAN | NL | $350,000 |
| 1997 | LAN | NL | $350,000 |
| 1996 | LAN | NL | $325,000 |
| 1995 | LAN | NL | $306,000 |
| 1994 | LAN | NL | $275,000 |
| 1992 | PIT | NL | $140,000 |
| 1991 | PIT | NL | $118,000 |
| 1990 | PIT | NL | $107,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,871,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | IL | 1983, 1984 |