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

Tom Cheney owns one of baseball’s wildest records, but honestly, most casual fans have never even heard of him. The right-handed pitcher grew up in Morgan, Georgia, and played nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1957 to 1966. He wore uniforms for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Washington Senators.

On September 12, 1962, Cheney struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles batters in a 16-inning complete game, setting a single-game strikeout record that still stands today.

Even with that insane achievement, Cheney struggled with control and injuries throughout his career. Those issues kept him from ever really reaching his full potential.

His journey through pro baseball is the story of a pitcher whose big moment happened in the middle of years filled with inconsistency and personal challenges. He wrapped up his career with a 19-29 record, but that legendary night in Baltimore made sure he’d never be forgotten by baseball diehards.

From growing up on a Georgia farm to his record-breaking performance and, eventually, retirement because of arm trouble, Cheney’s story feels like a snapshot of how brief athletic glory can be. Sometimes, one night really does leave a mark that lasts forever.

Tom Cheney’s Baseball Career Overview

Tom Cheney pitched in Major League Baseball from 1957 to 1966. He played for three teams and carved out a reputation as a right-handed pitcher with real skill.

His career highlights included a World Series appearance and, of course, that ridiculous strikeout record.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Thomas Edgar Cheney was born October 14, 1934, near Morgan, Georgia. He grew up working on his family’s peanut and dairy farm in Calhoun County.

Cheney played shortstop and pitched in American Legion and high school baseball. After graduation, he headed to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College planning to be a veterinarian.

When he was just 18, Cheney helped lead the Stallions to a state junior college championship in 1952. He only weighed 150 pounds at 5-foot-11, but his pitching already caught the eye of major league scouts.

He tried out for the Boston Braves in Atlanta but took a $1,500 bonus from scout Mercer Harris to join the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Cheney started his pro career with the Cardinals’ Class D team in Albany, Georgia. That signing kicked off his long climb through the minors toward the big leagues.

Major League Baseball Debut and Teams

Cheney made his Major League Baseball debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. He threw four shutout innings in his first game, but control issues popped up right away.

The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up Cheney from the Cardinals on December 21, 1959. They traded for him and outfielder Gino Cimoli, sending pitcher Ronnie Kline the other way.

Team Timeline:

• 1957, 1959: St. Louis Cardinals
• 1960-1961: Pittsburgh Pirates
• 1961-1964, 1966: Washington Senators

Cheney pitched in the 1960 World Series with Pittsburgh. He came out of the bullpen three times against the Yankees, striking out six batters—including Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.

The Pirates sent him to the Washington Senators on June 29, 1961. That move reunited Cheney with Mickey Vernon, his old Pirates coach, now managing in Washington.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Cheney finished his career with 19 wins and 29 losses over 121 games. He played in the majors from 1957 through 1966.

His most famous moment came on September 12, 1962. Cheney struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles in a 16-inning complete game, setting a major league record that’s still on the books.

Notable Career Highlights:

• 21 strikeouts in a single game (MLB record)
• 1960 World Series appearance
• Three career shutouts
• 3.17 ERA in the 1962 season

Cheney’s best year was 1962 with Washington. He threw 173⅓ innings and posted a 3.17 ERA, good for seventh in the American League.

In July 1963, a brutal elbow injury basically ended his career. That happened during a game against Baltimore, and after that, he only pitched 63 more major league innings before calling it quits.

Setting the Single-Game Strikeout Record

Tom Cheney made baseball history on September 12, 1962, when he struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles in a 16-inning game. More than 60 years later, nobody has topped that record.

September 12, 1962: Historic 21-Strikeout Game

The Washington Senators played the Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium on a chilly Wednesday night. Only 4,098 fans bothered to show up for a game between the sixth-place Orioles and the last-place Senators.

Cheney came in with a 5-8 record and a 3.27 ERA. He threw an unbelievable 228 pitches over 16 innings, mixing his fastball, curveball, slider, and even a knuckler now and then.

He struck out his first batter in the second inning. Then he fanned the side in both the third and fifth. By the sixth, he’d already racked up nine strikeouts.

Manager Mickey Vernon kept checking if Cheney wanted to come out. “I started the damn game and I’m going to finish it,” Cheney told him.

Cheney didn’t realize he was on a record pace until the stadium announcer told the crowd that his 18th strikeout in the 14th inning tied the old mark. He broke it with his 19th, fanning pitcher Dick Hall on a slider.

The game finally ended when Cheney struck out pinch-hitter Dick Williams looking at strike three for number 21, right before midnight.

Details of the Game and Opponents

Bud Zipfel hit a home run in the top of the 16th, giving the Senators a 2-1 win and sealing the marathon pitching duel.

Baltimore’s starter, Milt Pappas, allowed just one run in seven innings before Dick Hall came in. Hall struck out three times against Cheney that night.

Key Game Statistics:

• Innings Pitched: 16
• Hits Allowed: 10
• Earned Runs: 1
• Walks: 4
• Strikeouts: 21

Four Orioles—Jim Gentile, Marv Breeding, Russ Snyder, and Dick Hall—struck out three times each. Boog Powell was the only Baltimore starter who didn’t strike out at all.

Brooks Robinson, who struck out once, walked twice, and singled, admitted, “At times, I never saw the ball.” Powell called Cheney’s curveball “devastating.”

Only six of the 21 strikeouts came on called third strikes. Veteran umpire Bill McKinley called balls and strikes that night.

Impact on MLB History

Cheney’s 21-strikeout game broke the old record of 19 set by Hugh Daily in 1884. The modern record had been 18, set by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax in nine-inning games.

No one has matched Cheney’s feat, not even in today’s strikeout-heavy era. Roger Clemens fanned 20 batters twice in nine-inning games. Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer also reached 20 in regulation.

These days, with pitch counts and few complete games, Cheney’s record seems safer than ever. Starters rarely go past 100 pitches, nowhere near Cheney’s 228-pitch effort.

That performance probably wrecked Cheney’s arm for good. His daughter later said he blamed that game for his career’s early end.

“Records are made to be broken,” Cheney said in 2001. “But the way they treat pitchers now, taking them out of games early, I think 21 strikeouts may stay around for a while longer.”

Professional Teams and Notable Seasons

Tom Cheney played for three major league teams from 1957 to 1966. His early days with the St. Louis Cardinals were marked by control problems. His trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates brought a World Series ring and some improvement before a nasty elbow injury ended his run with the Washington Senators.

St. Louis Cardinals Years

Cheney signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season. He spent a few years grinding in the minor leagues before finally getting his shot in 1957.

He made his major league debut on April 21, 1957, against the Chicago Cubs. The rookie struggled badly with control. He pitched in four games, started three, and finished with an 0-1 record and a rough 15.00 ERA in just nine innings.

He walked 15 batters and struck out 10. That wildness would haunt him for a while.

After serving in the U.S. military during 1958, Cheney came back to the Cardinals in 1959. He worked mostly in relief over 11 games. Control was still an issue—he walked 11 in 11⅔ innings and had a 6.92 ERA.

The Cardinals traded Cheney and outfielder Gino Cimoli to the Pittsburgh Pirates for reliever Ron Kline on December 21, 1959.

Pittsburgh Pirates Highlights

The Pirates hoped Cheney could become a reliable starter. In 1960, he finally showed some progress. He went 2-2 in 11 games with a 3.98 ERA.

His control got a little better. He allowed 44 hits, walked 33, and struck out 35 in 52 innings. That was a step up from his Cardinals days.

The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates put together a 95-59 season and made it to the World Series. Cheney pitched out of the bullpen during their title run. The Pirates beat the New York Yankees in seven games, taking their first championship since 1925.

Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in Game 7. Cheney pitched four innings in three World Series games, giving up four hits and two earned runs, and striking out six.

In 1961, things went south. Cheney gave up four earned runs and walked four in less than a third of an inning. The Pirates traded him to the Washington Senators on June 29, 1961, for pitcher Tom Sturdivant.

Washington Senators Tenure

Cheney’s first stretch with the Washington Senators was rough. He finished 1961 with a 1-3 record and a brutal 8.79 ERA for Washington, making his season ERA an even 10.00.

But 1962 was a whole different story. Cheney pitched in 37 games, started 25, and put up a career-best 3.17 ERA with a 7-9 record. He completed four games, threw three shutouts, and struck out 147 batters in 173⅓ innings.

His big moment came September 12, 1962, when he set the major league record with 21 strikeouts in a single game. Cheney led the Senators to a 2-1 win over the Orioles.

When manager Mickey Vernon asked if he wanted out, Cheney shot back, “I started this damn game, I’m finishing it.” He even pitched eight straight hitless innings near the end of that 228-pitch marathon.

The 1963 season might have been Cheney’s best overall. He finished 8-9 with a 2.71 ERA, seven complete games, and four shutouts in 23 games. But then came the elbow injury in July, and that pretty much ended his career.

Cheney barely pitched in 1964 and 1966 before hanging it up. His last game was May 9, 1966, against the California Angels.

Pitching Style and Abilities

Tom Cheney threw right-handed and leaned on a lively fastball and a sharp curveball to attack hitters. His stamina was kind of legendary—he could keep his velocity deep into games, which set him apart from a lot of his peers.

Still, his lack of control sometimes held him back, and it’s hard not to wonder what he could’ve done with a little more consistency.

Signature Pitches and Mechanics

Cheney relied on a blazing fastball that could blow away even the top hitters. He threw from a high three-quarters arm slot, which gave his pitches natural movement.

He used his curveball as his out pitch. This breaking ball dropped sharply and fooled batters again and again.

When Cheney had both pitches working, he seemed almost unhittable.

His mechanics looked smooth and repeatable when he felt healthy. As a right-hander, he generated a lot of torque through his lower body, and that helped him keep his velocity deep into games.

Cheney’s outing on September 12, 1962, against the Detroit Tigers really showed off his arsenal. He struck out 21 batters in 16 innings, including Mickey Mantle more than once. That single-game strikeout record captured just how devastating his fastball and curveball could be together.

Control, Accuracy, and Endurance

Control and accuracy always gave Cheney trouble. His walk rates stayed higher than you’d want from a starting pitcher, and that inconsistency held him back from reaching his full potential.

Even with those control issues, Cheney had remarkable endurance. He often finished complete games and kept his stuff sharp late into contests. That 16-inning marathon in 1962 proved how much stamina he had.

His strikeouts per nine innings rate stood out for his era. Cheney averaged over seven strikeouts per nine innings at his best. Still, his hits allowed per nine innings and earned run average suffered because of walks and the occasional missed spot.

An elbow injury in the mid-1960s really hurt his control. He had to lean more on finesse than power after that. For a guy who built his game on velocity, that transition didn’t come easy.

Comparison to Other Notable Pitchers

Cheney ranked among the best strikeout pitchers of his generation. His 21-strikeout game outpaced plenty of Hall of Famers. Not many pitchers could match his mix of power and endurance.

Unlike the aces who lived on command, Cheney went right after hitters with his best stuff. He wasn’t one to nibble at the corners—he challenged guys directly.

His career path looked similar to other power pitchers who ran into arm trouble. As he lost innings, he had to move from starter to relief pitcher. A lot of talented arms from that era faced the same tough road.

At his peak, Cheney could go toe-to-toe with Cy Young Award winners. But his struggle to stay consistent over a full season kept him from true superstar status. That record-breaking night, though, still stands as one of baseball’s all-time great individual feats.

Challenges, Injuries, and Retirement

Tom Cheney’s career always seemed shadowed by arm troubles that limited his time on the mound. Even after his legendary 21-strikeout game in 1962, injuries pushed him out of baseball by May 1966, when he was just 31.

Injury Setbacks and Their Effects

Cheney battled serious arm problems his whole MLB career. His right arm just couldn’t handle the heavy workload teams expected from starters in the ’60s.

He didn’t have the benefit of modern medical care. Tommy John surgery didn’t exist yet, and teams didn’t track pitch counts or help players recover the way they do now.

After that huge game in 1962, Cheney opened 1963 with four straight complete games. He even tossed a one-hitter and two games with 12 strikeouts each. But those ill-advised complete games ended up being too much for his already damaged arm.

The workload caught up to him fast. Cheney made only seven starts over his final two seasons. His arm got so bad that he could barely pitch at the big league level.

Final Seasons and Retirement in 1966

Cheney’s last years in baseball were rough. After starting 1963 strong, his performance fell off hard because of his arm.

The Washington Senators let him go in May 1966. At just 31, Cheney had to retire from professional baseball. He finished his career with 19 wins and 29 losses and a 3.77 ERA.

Over eight seasons in the majors, Cheney struck out only 345 batters in 466 innings. The end came right when modern medicine might have given him a second chance.

The timing just couldn’t have been worse. If he’d played a decade later, advances in sports medicine might’ve kept his career alive.

Life After Baseball

After baseball, Cheney faced a lot of personal struggles. He ran into financial trouble and went through three divorces.

Alcoholism became a big problem for him. Those issues just kept piling up as the years went by. Later in life, he also developed dementia.

In 1993, the Baltimore Orioles invited Cheney back to honor his 21-strikeout game. He showed up at a few baseball card shows in Atlanta, not far from his home in Rome, Georgia.

He made his last public appearance at a Washington Nationals reunion in 2001. By that point, dementia had really taken hold. He couldn’t remember anything about his famous game, though teammates and family still shared stories from that night.

Tom Cheney passed away on November 1, 2001, at age 67.

Legacy and Recognition in Baseball History

Tom Cheney’s September 12, 1962 performance set a single-game strikeout record of 21 that still stands. That feat still shapes how pitchers are developed today and remains one of baseball’s most celebrated milestones.

Standing Among Baseball’s Greats

Tom Cheney owns the Major League Baseball single-game strikeout record with 21 strikeouts in a 16-inning complete game. He did it on September 12, 1962, when the Washington Senators beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 at Memorial Stadium.

He broke Hugh Daily’s 1884 mark of 19 strikeouts. Daily pitched for the Pittsburgh Stogies way back in the old Union Association. Cheney’s record came in the modern era, facing real major league hitters.

A few things stand out about the record:

• 228 pitches thrown that night
• Only 4,098 fans saw it happen
• The game lasted four hours
• Cheney struck out future Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson

Even though his career record was just 19-29, that single-game performance puts Cheney among the game’s most memorable players. He also threw eight shutouts, showing he could dominate when he felt right.

Influence on Pitchers and the Game

Modern pitchers and coaches still look at Cheney’s 1962 game for lessons in endurance and effectiveness. Throwing 228 pitches in one outing highlights just how different baseball was before pitch counts and specialized bullpens.

That record is still the gold standard for single-game dominance. No one’s really come close in over 60 years. Kerry Wood and Roger Clemens both struck out 20 in nine-inning games, but neither matched Cheney’s total.

Cheney found success by mixing up his pitches. Catcher Ken Retzer said Cheney’s curveball and knuckler were both working perfectly that night. That kind of versatility became something pitchers tried to copy if they wanted to rack up strikeouts.

His approach changed the game by:

• Highlighting why pitch variety matters
• Showing the value of lasting deep into games
• Making people appreciate the effort of a true complete game

Media Coverage and Lasting Tributes

Baseball publications often bring up Cheney’s record when they talk about single-game achievements. You’ll see his name in record books right next to some of the sport’s biggest legends.

The Baltimore Orioles honored Cheney in 1993, inviting him back to celebrate his 21-strikeout game. That recognition came a full 31 years after his incredible performance at Memorial Stadium.

Cheney showed up at baseball card shows in Atlanta and made appearances at Nats Fest as a guest of honor. These events helped keep his legacy alive for fans and collectors.

Recognition includes:

• Baseball Reference statistical records
• Society for American Baseball Research documentation
• Memorial Stadium anniversary celebrations
• Baseball card commemorations

He also played in the World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, which added to his baseball legacy. Sure, people mostly remember him for that strikeout record, but his postseason experience showed he could handle the pressure.