Faye Throneberry – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Faye Throneberry spent almost a decade in Major League Baseball as a backup outfielder, moving between three teams before he called it quits in 1961. Born in Fisherville, Tennessee, he swung left-handed and built a solid, if unspectacular, career through the 1950s and early 1960s. He appeared in 521 games across eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Los Angeles Angels.

Throneberry wrapped up his career in 1961 with the first-ever Los Angeles Angels squad. He finished with a .236 batting average, 29 home runs, and 137 RBIs. His best year at the plate came in 1959 with the Washington Senators, where he set personal records in multiple offensive stats. Faye was also the older brother of Marv Throneberry, who became a bit of a cult figure with the early New York Mets.

Let’s dig into Faye Throneberry’s baseball story, from his Tennessee roots to his time with three MLB teams and his life after baseball. He started as a standout in high school and played a role in the Angels’ first season. Throneberry’s story kind of sums up the experience of so many players who made up the backbone of mid-20th century baseball.

Early Life and Background

Maynard Faye Throneberry was born on June 22, 1931, in Fisherville, Tennessee. His family ended up producing not one, but two major league ballplayers.

His athletic abilities showed up early, but he struggled in the classroom. That struggle shaped how he got to the big leagues.

Family and Upbringing

Faye grew up in Collierville, Tennessee, with his younger brother Marv Throneberry, who arrived two years later. Both brothers chased pro baseball careers.

Marv eventually made his name with the New York Mets in the early ‘60s. Clearly, the Throneberry family fostered athletic talent, since both boys stood out in baseball from a young age.

The family focused on sports more than academics. That helped Faye develop as an athlete, but it didn’t do him any favors in school.

Education and Early Baseball Development

Faye’s academic troubles started early. He got held back twice in grade school, so it was obvious his strengths were elsewhere.

He shined on the baseball field, though. Faye left Collierville High School two years before he was supposed to graduate.

His high school stats were ridiculous—he hit nearly .500 for the Collierville High baseball team, which got the attention of scouts.

After dropping out, he kept playing with the Corbitt Motors American Legion team. He kept hitting, too, reportedly batting .480, which only made him more interesting to scouts.

By early 1950, big-league scouts were all over the 18-year-old. His amateur career had already made him one of Tennessee’s top baseball talents.

Professional Baseball Career

Faye Throneberry played nine seasons in the majors from 1952 to 1961, mostly as a backup outfielder with three teams. He put up a .236 average, 29 home runs, and 137 RBIs in 521 games.

Boston Red Sox Years

Throneberry kicked off his pro career with the Boston Red Sox after signing as an amateur free agent in 1950. He made his MLB debut on April 15, 1952, when he was just 20.

He got 310 at-bats his first season and showed some promise. The Red Sox used him off and on over several seasons.

He played for Boston in 1952, then again from 1955 to 1957. During those years, he tried to carve out a spot as a reliable backup in the outfield.

Boston moved him around all three outfield spots. That versatility made him a useful bench player during the mid-‘50s.

Washington Senators Era

The Washington Senators picked up Throneberry in 1957, and he finally got more regular playing time. This was the high point of his career.

His top season came in 1959, when he hit 10 home runs and racked up 82 hits. That year, he showed he could contribute to the Senators’ lineup.

He played for Washington from 1957 to 1960, sticking around for four seasons. He became a regular part of their outfield rotation.

The Senators gave him chances to develop, and since he batted left-handed and threw right-handed, he was a strategic option in certain matchups.

Los Angeles Angels and 1961 Season

The Los Angeles Angels grabbed Throneberry on December 14, 1960, in the expansion draft. That move brought him to a brand new franchise.

He played in the Angels’ first-ever season in 1961, joining a team that leaned on veterans like him for experience.

Faye played his last MLB game on July 19, 1961. He wrapped up his big-league run with the Angels after nine seasons.

He finished the 1961 season with career totals of 307 hits in 1,302 at-bats. He also tallied 152 runs, 48 doubles, 12 triples, and 23 stolen bases over his career.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Faye Throneberry’s eight years in the majors brought him modest but memorable moments with three teams. His best numbers came during his 1952 rookie season, and he showed the most power in 1959 with the Senators.

Notable Games and Seasons

Throneberry’s breakout year was 1952 with the Red Sox. He hit .258 with 80 hits in 98 games, which ended up being his best single-season average.

He played all over the outfield that year, logging time in right, left, and center. That kind of flexibility definitely helped his case.

His career paused for military service from 1953-54. When he came back in 1955, he hit 6 home runs in only 60 games, showing a bit more pop.

In 1959 with Washington, he played 117 games and drove in 42 runs, both career highs. He also hit 10 home runs that season, his best power year.

Batting and Fielding Milestones

Throneberry finished with a .236 average and 29 home runs over 521 games. He collected 307 hits across eight seasons, making contact pretty consistently.

His fielding was steady in the outfield. During his rookie year, he posted a .955 fielding percentage with 141 putouts.

He totaled 137 RBIs and scored 152 runs. He stole 23 bases and got caught 14 times, so he had some speed but wasn’t exactly a burner.

He hit 17 home runs with Washington, his best power stretch. Throneberry hit better against right-handed pitchers, which fit the typical left-handed batter profile.

Statistical Overview and Performance

Faye Throneberry’s eight years in the majors added up to a .236 batting average, 29 home runs, and 137 RBIs in 521 games. His defense in the outfield was a mixed bag, and his fielding percentage often lagged behind league averages.

Career Batting Statistics

Throneberry’s .236 average put him below what you’d want from a regular big leaguer. His best offensive year was 1955, when he hit .257 with 6 home runs and 27 RBIs in 60 games for Boston.

He notched 307 hits in his career but also struck out 284 times. His on-base percentage was .307, and his slugging sat at .358, for an OPS of .665—definitely below average.

Key Career Numbers:

• Games: 521
• At-bats: 1,302
• Hits: 307
• Home runs: 29
• RBIs: 137
• Stolen bases: 23

He never hit more than 10 home runs in a season, reaching double digits just once in 1959.

Fielding Records

Throneberry’s defensive stats were inconsistent. In his rookie year, he had a .955 fielding percentage, which was well below the league average of .980.

He mostly played right field, but he also got time in center and left. His range factor in 1952 was 1.74 per game, compared to the league’s 2.40.

He made 7 errors in 157 chances as a rookie. His glove improved a bit later on, but he never really stood out on defense.

Throneberry’s ability to play several outfield spots helped keep him on rosters, even if his bat and glove weren’t top-tier.

Retrosheet and Baseball Reference Analysis

Modern stats put Throneberry’s career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) at -3.7, which means he played below replacement level overall. His OPS+ was 79, so he hit 21% worse than the league average.

Baseball Reference shows his best season came in 1955, when he managed a 0.6 WAR. His worst was 1957, when he ended up with a -2.0 WAR playing for two teams.

Advanced metrics back up the struggles at the plate. He posted a .311 rOBA and 74 Rbat+, both pointing to below-average production.

All in all, Throneberry was a depth guy—someone teams could use off the bench but not really count on as a starter. His negative career WAR just shows how tough it is to stick in the majors if you’re not excelling somewhere.

Personal Life and Family

Faye Throneberry grew up in a tight-knit Tennessee family and stayed connected to his roots. His relationship with his younger brother Marv was a big deal in baseball circles, and after baseball, he found a new calling working with animals.

Relationship with Marv Throneberry

Faye and Marv Throneberry shared a pretty unique bond. Marv was born in 1933, just two years after Faye. The brothers grew up together in Collierville after being born in nearby Fisherville.

Both made it to the majors. Faye played as a backup outfielder, while Marv got famous for his quirky run with the early Mets.

It’s not every day you see two brothers both reach MLB. Their Tennessee upbringing and family support clearly helped them handle the ups and downs of pro sports.

Faye got to pro baseball first, so he probably gave Marv some good advice and a sense of what to expect. The family connection stayed strong throughout their careers.

Interests and Activities Outside Baseball

When Faye’s baseball days ended in 1961, he found a new passion—he became a professional bird dog trainer. He worked with hunting dogs, which fit perfectly with his love for the outdoors.

This new career matched his rural Tennessee background and his comfort with animals. Bird dog training isn’t easy; it takes patience and skill, both things he developed during his playing days.

He stayed active and involved for years after leaving baseball, training dogs and enjoying work that felt meaningful. That switch from athlete to animal trainer showed he could adapt and chase new challenges.

Retirement and Legacy

Faye Throneberry played his last major league game on July 19, 1961, with the Los Angeles Angels. He spent two more years in the minors before stepping away from pro baseball in 1963 and then worked as a professional bird dog trainer until he passed away in 1999.

Transition from Major League Baseball

Throneberry’s exit from the majors happened in stages. After not playing much with the Angels in 1961, he landed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in July.

Toronto was the first step out of the big leagues. He finished 1961 there and kept playing in the minors through 1963.

His last stop was with the Tacoma Giants in the Pacific Coast League. The organization released him in 1963, which closed the book on his 13-year pro baseball run.

At 32, Throneberry faced the tough reality that most aging players run into. His batting average had slipped in his last major league seasons, and his defense wasn’t what it used to be.

Post-Baseball Career

After he left professional baseball, Throneberry took a surprising turn in his career. He decided to become a professional bird dog trainer and spent the rest of his working life with hunting dogs.

Switching careers like that really pulled him away from his athletic roots. He trained pointer and setter breeds, teaching them how to find and retrieve game birds.

Throneberry stuck around the Memphis, Tennessee area after his baseball days ended. He lived a quiet life, far from the spotlight that once followed him.

He kept that same work ethic from his playing days. The patience and persistence needed for dog training seemed to fit the qualities he’d picked up in baseball.

Legacy in Baseball History

Throneberry made his mark in baseball as a utility outfielder through the 1950s and early 1960s. He put up a .236 batting average with 29 home runs and 137 RBIs in 521 games.

In 1955, he had his best season, batting .362 in April for the Red Sox. That month really stood out as the highlight of his major league career, though injuries later slowed him down.

Throneberry spent time with three teams: the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Los Angeles Angels. Managers valued his ability to handle all three outfield spots, so he often filled in as a backup.

He also had a family tie to the game—his brother Marv Throneberry gained fame with the New York Mets. Faye Throneberry passed away on April 26, 1999, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, when he was 67, after suffering heart failure.