Tom Veryzer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tom Veryzer spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop, playing for four different teams from 1973 to 1984. This Long Island native made his mark in the big leagues not with his bat, but with steady defensive play during an era when glove work could still get you a starting spot.

Veryzer hit .241 with just 14 home runs over 996 career games, but managers kept him in the lineup because of his reliable fielding skills. He started more than 100 games in five different seasons, mostly with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. He proved his value as a defensive specialist in the middle infield.

His journey took him from a three-sport high school star to a pro ballplayer, and it really shows how the game changed in the 1970s and early 1980s. From learning under veteran Ed Brinkman to wrapping up his career with the Chicago Cubs, Veryzer’s story reflects how expectations for shortstops shifted and why defensive fundamentals mattered so much in baseball’s pre-analytics days.

Early Life and Background

Thomas Martin Veryzer was born in Port Jefferson, New York, on February 11, 1953. He grew up in a sports-minded family and became a standout three-sport athlete at Islip High School.

His rise to professional baseball started with an exceptional high school career that caught the eye of major league scouts.

Family and Origins

Thomas Martin Veryzer grew up in a family with deep athletic roots. His father, John Harold Veryzer, starred in basketball at Manhattan College in the 1940s and served as team captain.

John later joined the US Navy during World War II. After the war, he became the athletic director at Islip High School and coached the varsity basketball team.

The Veryzers moved to Islip on Long Island’s southern shore when Tom was young. The household included three older brothers—John Jr., Jim, and Jerry—and a younger sister, Pat.

The family name, pronounced “və-RYE-zer,” has Dutch origins tracing back to Johannes Verijzer, who moved his family to America in 1887.

James Veryzer, Tom’s older brother, played college baseball at Georgia Southern before going pro. Jim, four years older, played in the Detroit Tigers organization at Batavia in the New York-Penn League.

This family connection to baseball would later influence Tom’s own career.

Islip High School Achievements

Tom Veryzer excelled in three sports at Islip High School, earning varsity letters in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He made varsity as a sophomore.

Basketball was actually his favorite sport growing up. As a baseball player, he starred at shortstop for three seasons with the Buccaneers.

His senior year was a standout—he hit .467 with five home runs and 32 RBIs. Teammates called him “The Fox” for his quick reflexes and smart play.

In 1971, Veryzer took home the Yastrzemski Award, honoring Suffolk County’s top baseball player. His defensive skills impressed scouts just as much as his offense.

Up to seven professional scouts regularly showed up at Islip games to watch him. He finished high school with 10 varsity letters across all three sports, showing off his all-around athleticism.

Path to Professional Baseball

The Detroit Tigers picked Veryzer 11th overall in the first round of the 1971 amateur draft on June 8, 1971. He reportedly got a $50,000 signing bonus.

The Tigers passed on local pitcher Frank Tanana, who went to California two picks later. Veryzer had other options besides pro baseball.

Both Florida State and Clemson offered him scholarships. Clemson mainly wanted him for basketball, which was still his favorite at the time.

His brother Jim’s experience with college baseball played a big role in Tom’s decision. “My brother Jim played college baseball before turning pro, and then he was considered too old,” Veryzer said. “The Tigers had a lot of other prospects who were younger.”

Rabbit Jacobson, Detroit’s scout for New York and New Jersey, pushed for the Tigers to draft Veryzer. The young shortstop’s mix of offensive potential and defensive skills made him an appealing first-round choice.

Professional Baseball Career

Tom Veryzer played 12 seasons in the majors from 1973 to 1984, appearing in 996 games, mostly as a shortstop. He spent the most time with the Detroit Tigers, then moved through Cleveland, New York, and finished up with the Chicago Cubs.

MLB Debut and Detroit Tigers Years

Veryzer made his MLB debut on August 14, 1973, at Metropolitan Stadium against the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers lost 12-1, but Veryzer picked up an RBI single in his first at-bat in the eighth inning.

After some time in the minors, Veryzer became Detroit’s starting shortstop in 1975 after Ed Brinkman was traded. He landed on the All-Rookie Team by both Topps and Baseball Digest that year.

His best offensive season came in 1975 when he hit .252 with five home runs and 48 RBIs. Even though his bat was never a big threat, his defense kept him in the lineup.

Key Tiger Stadium moments included breaking up Ken Holtzman’s no-hit bid on June 8, 1975, with a ninth-inning double. Veryzer played alongside pitcher Mark Fidrych during the Bird’s magical 1976 rookie season.

An ankle injury in August 1976 ended his season early, which gave prospect Mark Wagner a shot. Veryzer stayed with Detroit through 1977, starting 115 games at shortstop in his last season there.

Cleveland Indians Tenure

The Indians traded for Veryzer before the 1978 season, and he spent four years as their main shortstop. This was his longest continuous stretch with any team besides Detroit.

Veryzer gave Cleveland steady defense from 1978 to 1981. His offense stayed modest, but he appeared in over 100 games in multiple seasons.

Those Cleveland years showed off Veryzer’s durability and consistency. He handled the everyday shortstop job while the team went through a lot of roster changes.

His defensive reliability made him valuable to Cleveland’s coaches. Veryzer’s quiet leadership and work ethic earned respect in the clubhouse, even though he kept a pretty low profile.

New York Mets Season

Veryzer joined the New York Mets for the 1982 season, coming back to play in his home state. This was his only season in the National League until his last years.

The Mets mostly used him as a utility infielder and backup shortstop. His role was pretty different from his starting jobs with other teams.

Playing for a New York team meant a lot to the Long Island native. Veryzer had grown up rooting for the Yankees before turning pro.

Final Years with Chicago Cubs

Veryzer finished his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs from 1983 to 1984. He was part of the Cubs’ historic 1984 NL East Championship team.

During the 1984 NLCS against the San Diego Padres, Veryzer appeared in three games, going 0-for-1 in what turned out to be his last postseason action. The Cubs lost the series, despite their strong regular season.

His career statistics: a .241 batting average, 687 hits, 14 home runs, and 231 RBIs in 996 games. He struck out 329 times and walked 143 times, with a .283 on-base percentage.

The Cubs years wrapped up a 12-year career that started in Detroit’s farm system. Veryzer’s defense and professionalism helped him keep a starting role, even though his bat never really took off.

Position and Playing Style

Tom Veryzer built his 12-year MLB career mostly as a shortstop. He earned a reputation as a defensively skilled player who could handle the demands of the position at the major league level.

His value came from solid fielding, which kept him in starting lineups even though he didn’t hit much.

Shortstop Performance and Fielding

Veryzer played shortstop for most of his 996 career games from 1973 to 1984. He showed the range and arm strength you need to handle the position.

Detroit manager Billy Martin really liked Veryzer’s defensive abilities early on. “This kid is a sensational shortstop,” Martin said. “Veryzer can make all the major league plays now, he’s that good.”

His fielding skills earned him starting jobs with several teams. Veryzer started more than 100 games in a season five times.

He learned a lot from veteran Ed Brinkman, who taught him big league techniques. “I used to throw every ball as hard as I could, and I made quite a few throwing errors,” Veryzer recalled. “Brinks said that wasn’t necessary, that I should take my time when I can.”

His steady defense helped him keep roster spots, even when his batting average dipped. At a time when shortstops could start based mainly on their glove, Veryzer’s fielding kept him valuable.

Defensive Records and Recognition

Veryzer never won a Gold Glove, but people around the league noticed his defense. He made the All-Rookie Team by Topps and Baseball Digest in 1975.

Groundball pitchers like Mark Fidrych especially valued his fielding. The 1976 AL Rookie of the Year leaned on his infield defense, with Veryzer anchoring shortstop.

Detroit general manager Ralph Houk even made some bold comparisons. In 1974, Houk said he “wouldn’t trade Tom even up for Robin Yount,” calling both “excellent fielders with good range and great arms.”

Some folks noticed he could be inconsistent. Detroit columnist Joe Falls wrote that Veryzer “makes the great plays and botches the easy ones,” but still respected his ability to handle tough defensive chances.

His glove was always his main asset, letting him keep starting jobs across four teams, even with a .241 career batting average.

Notable Achievements and Honors

Tom Veryzer picked up recognition early in his career with rookie honors and minor league awards. His defense at shortstop helped his teams, especially during the 1984 Chicago Cubs playoff run.

Topps All-Star Rookie Recognition

Veryzer landed on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team in 1975 after his first full season with the Tigers. He also made the Baseball Digest All-Rookie Team that year.

His rookie season numbers: .252 average, five home runs, and 48 RBIs. Those were career highs for both homers and RBIs.

The honors came even though his offense was nothing flashy. His defense at shortstop was what earned him the rookie nods at a time when fielding still meant a lot.

Minor League Awards

Veryzer’s biggest minor league honor came in 1971 with the Bristol Tigers of the Appalachian League. He was named Most Valuable Player of the league, sharing the award with Terry Whitfield.

The MVP award was impressive since his offense was modest—he hit .225 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in the short season.

His defense drew comparisons to Mark Belanger. The Louisville Courier-Journal rated him the best shortstop in the Appalachian League since Belanger played there.

Impact on Team Success

Veryzer’s most memorable team achievement came with the 1984 Chicago Cubs, who won the NL East. He played in the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres.

In the NLCS, Veryzer appeared in three games and went 0-for-1 at the plate. The Cubs lost to San Diego, ending their playoff run.

His defense during the regular season helped the Cubs reach their first postseason since 1945. That playoff trip was the highlight of Veryzer’s 12-year career.

Career Statistics and Advanced Metrics

Tom Veryzer’s 12-year career from 1973 to 1984 resulted in a .241 batting average with 687 hits across 996 games. His defensive value as a shortstop stood out, even though he struggled offensively, as shown by a -3.7 career WAR.

Batting Average and Hits

Veryzer put up a .241 career batting average over 2,848 at-bats. He found his best offensive stretch in 1982 with the New York Mets, batting .333 in limited action across 40 games.

Most of his 687 career hits came while he played for Cleveland and Detroit. In 1978, he peaked with 114 hits for Cleveland.

Season-by-Season Breakdown:

• Detroit years (1973-1977): .231 average, 273 hits
• Cleveland years (1978-1981): .251 average, 364 hits
• Final seasons: Dropped to .231 with New York and Chicago

On average, Veryzer managed 112 hits per 162 games. His on-base percentage of .283 really showed his struggles with plate discipline, as he drew just 143 walks in his career.

Home Runs and RBIs

Veryzer never really hit for power, finishing with just 14 home runs and 231 RBIs. In 1975 with Detroit, he managed a career-high five home runs.

He drove in 48 runs that same year, his career high. Most years, he hovered between 25 and 35 RBIs.

Power Numbers by Team:

• Detroit: 10 home runs, 112 RBIs
• Cleveland: 3 home runs, 108 RBIs
• New York/Chicago: 1 home run, 11 RBIs

His slugging percentage sat at .294, which was definitely below league average. He managed 84 doubles and 12 triples, so he could find the gaps now and then, but rarely cleared the fence.

WAR and Sabermetrics

Veryzer finished with a -3.7 career WAR, which really puts his struggles in perspective. In 1978 with Cleveland, he posted his best WAR at 0.8, and that was the only time he finished above replacement value.

Advanced stats highlight how much more he contributed on defense than at the plate. His OPS of .577 was way below average for his era.

Key Sabermetric Indicators:

• OPS+: 61 (39% below league average)
• Defensive value: Positive at shortstop
• Offensive production: Stayed below replacement level

In 1977, he posted his worst WAR at -1.2, matching a .197 batting average. His rOBA of .278 just shows how tough it was for him to reach base over his career.

Retirement and Later Life

Tom Veryzer’s big league career ended in 1984 when the Chicago Cubs cut him during spring training. He died in 2014 at age 61, remembered as a reliable defensive shortstop who bridged baseball eras in his own quiet way.

Life After MLB

Veryzer retired suddenly in 1985 during spring training. The Cubs released him when Shawon Dunston, the number one overall pick in the 1982 draft, got the nod at shortstop.

After his 12-year run in the majors, Veryzer stepped away from the spotlight. He married Vivian Wiebalck back in 1976, and together they raised three kids: Thomas, William, and Jennifer.

He kept that modest, unassuming personality teammates always mentioned. One of his brothers once joked during Tom’s playing days, “You’d think the guy was a custodian or something. He’s not at all impressed with himself.”

Veryzer mostly stayed out of the public eye after retirement. He didn’t jump into coaching or broadcasting like a lot of former players do.

Health and Passing

Tom Veryzer died on July 8, 2014, at the age of 61. He passed away in Detroit, Michigan, the city where he spent his most productive years.

The cause of his death never really made the news. The Associated Press announced his passing, and several sports outlets picked up the story.

Injuries followed him throughout his career. He tore an ankle ligament in 1976 and suffered an eye injury in 1975 when a bad hop hit his right eye.

He died nearly 30 years after leaving professional baseball. His wife Vivian and their three children survived him.

Legacy and Recognition

Veryzer’s career stats really show he was more of a defensive specialist than a big hitter. Over 12 seasons, he played in 996 games, hit .241, smacked 14 home runs, and drove in 231 runs.

His career highlights included:

• Making the All-Rookie Team for Topps and Baseball Digest in 1975
• Playing for the 1984 NL East Champion Chicago Cubs
• Spoiling Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter in the ninth inning on June 8, 1975

Veryzer kind of embodied that era when teams kept shortstops in the lineup mostly for their defense. He started over 100 games in five different seasons, even though his offense wasn’t exactly eye-popping.

Probably his biggest impact came when he held down shortstop for Detroit before Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker came along and became that legendary double-play duo in the late 1970s.