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

Thomas Earl Dixon wrapped up his baseball career in 1983 after playing six seasons in Major League Baseball. That journey took him from Orlando, Florida all the way to the pitcher’s mound for the Houston Astros and Montreal Expos.

He was born on April 23, 1955. Dixon threw his final pitch on September 23, 1983, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Montreal uniform.

Dixon finished his career with 9 wins and 14 losses, posting a 4.33 ERA across 62 games from 1977 to 1983. He pitched both as a starter and a reliever, showing off his versatility as a right-hander.

His story has a lot in common with other pro pitchers from the late ’70s and early ’80s. The stats tell you about a guy who made it to the top level and stuck around for a while.

He started out drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, then moved through a few organizations before ending up with the Expos. Dixon’s career gives you a real look at what it’s like to be a professional athlete trying to survive in the world of Major League Baseball during a time when the sport was changing fast.

Tom Dixon’s Professional Baseball Career

Thomas Earl Dixon pitched in the majors from 1977 to 1983. He put up a 9-14 record and a 4.33 ERA in 62 games for the Houston Astros and Montreal Expos.

His career kicked off after he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. That happened after the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him.

Early Career and Minor Leagues

The Dodgers picked Dixon in the 18th round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft out of William R. Boone High School in Orlando, Florida. But he didn’t sign with them at first.

He started his pro journey in February 1974, signing a minor league deal with the Cardinals. Dixon spent a few years developing his pitching in their farm system.

Eventually, he landed in the Houston Astros organization. Dixon climbed through the minors, working on his pitching and getting better each year.

By 1977, Dixon had shown enough to get a look for a major league call-up. At 22, he was finally ready to make his MLB debut after all that time in the minors.

MLB Debut and Time With Houston Astros

Dixon made his big league debut on July 30, 1977, with the Houston Astros at age 22. That rookie season looked promising—he posted a 3.26 ERA in 9 games, starting 4 of them.

He completed one game and went 1-0 over 30.1 innings. Not a bad way to start.

The 1978 season was his busiest in the majors. Dixon pitched in 30 games, starting 19 times for Houston.

He threw 140 innings, completed 3 games, and even tossed 2 shutouts. His record that year: 7-11 with a 3.99 ERA.

1978 Season Statistics:

• Games: 30 (19 starts)
• Record: 7-11
• ERA: 3.99
• Innings: 140.0
• Strikeouts: 66

Dixon had a rougher time in 1979. He pitched in 19 games, starting just once, and his ERA ballooned to 6.66 over 25.2 innings.

He finished 1-2 that year and struggled with his control.

Transition to the Montreal Expos

After three years with Houston, Dixon left the Astros following the 1979 season. The records don’t really say what led to his exit.

He didn’t pitch in the majors at all in 1980, 1981, or 1982. That three-year gap probably means he was either in the minors or dealing with injuries.

The Montreal Expos gave him another shot in 1983. At 28, Dixon joined the Expos for what would be his final MLB season.

Final MLB Season: 1983 Performance

Dixon’s return to the majors with Montreal in 1983 was short and honestly, pretty rough. He pitched in only 4 games, all in relief.

He just couldn’t get on track.

1983 Final Season:

• Games: 4 (all relief appearances)
• Record: 0-1
• ERA: 9.82
• Innings: 3.2

He gave up 6 hits and 4 runs in 3.2 innings. Dixon did strike out 4 and walked just 1, but he also allowed a home run.

His last big league appearance came that season.

After 1983, Dixon’s professional baseball career was over. He left with 9 wins, 14 losses, and a 4.33 ERA over 199.2 innings.

Statistical Highlights and Career Achievements

Tom Dixon put together a decent Major League career over six seasons. His 4.33 ERA in 199.2 innings with the Astros and Expos was pretty solid middle-relief performance for that time.

Pitching Records and Notable Games

Dixon’s 9-14 record in 62 games doesn’t really tell the whole story. His best year was 1978, when he went 7-11 with a 3.99 ERA in 30 games, starting 19 times.

That season, he was a real contributor to Houston’s rotation. He pitched 140 innings, struck out 66, completed three games, and even had two shutouts.

His rookie year in 1977 also showed promise. Dixon posted a 3.26 ERA in nine appearances, made four starts, and completed one game.

He struck out 15 in 30.1 innings.

The right-hander didn’t last long in Montreal in 1983. He pitched just four games with a 9.82 ERA over 3.2 innings before calling it quits.

Career ERA and Performance Metrics

Dixon’s career 4.33 ERA was about average for pitchers in his era. He struck out 94 batters in 199.2 innings, which works out to a strikeout rate of 4.24 per nine innings.

His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was 1.44. So he let about 1.4 baserunners on each inning.

Dixon’s best ERA came in his rookie season at 3.26. His toughest year was his last, with a 9.82 ERA in just a few innings.

He threw right-handed, stood 5’11”, and weighed 175 pounds. Dixon kept up his velocity over the years, even if control sometimes got away from him.

Comparisons in Baseball Almanac

Baseball Almanac puts Dixon among the 1,500 oldest living former players. His career stats place him somewhere in the middle tier of relief pitchers from the late ’70s and early ’80s.

He pitched in 62 games, started 24, and even recorded a save. Dixon closed out 13 games as the final pitcher.

Born in Orlando, Florida, Dixon’s career ran from age 22 to 28. The Dodgers drafted him in the 18th round in 1973, but he made the majors with Houston.

Baseball Almanac lists him as a player who suited up for two franchises. Playing for both the Astros and Expos gave him a bit of geographic variety in his pro experience.

Significant 1983 Events and Legacy

Tom Dixon’s last MLB season is mostly remembered for his role during Montreal’s tense pennant race. His outings directly affected the Expos’ postseason hopes.

Those appearances in big moments ended up being both the close of his career and a tough chapter for the Expos’ championship dreams.

Role With the Montreal Expos During the 1983 Pennant Race

Dixon joined the Montreal Expos in January 1983 after spending most of his career with Houston. At 28, he spent most of the season with the Triple-A Wichita Aeros.

He got called up in September when rosters expanded.

Dixon made his Montreal debut on September 12th at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. The Expos had a slim half-game lead over the Phillies in the National League East.

The Cubs blew the game open with a seven-run sixth. Manager Bill Virdon brought Dixon in for the eighth with Montreal trailing 8-0.

Dixon’s second appearance came on September 14th during a crucial doubleheader against the Phillies at Veterans Stadium. The Expos still held a half-game lead, so every game felt huge.

Impact on Team Standings and Postseason Hopes

Dixon’s outings in those key games had instant consequences for Montreal’s playoff race. On September 14th, he allowed a run in the seventh inning of the first game.

The Phillies won that one 9-5 and jumped ahead in the standings. Philadelphia then swept the doubleheader, winning the nightcap 5-0 and ending the day up by a game and a half.

Montreal never got back to first place after that doubleheader. They finished third in the division, eight games behind the Phillies and two behind Pittsburgh.

Dixon pitched in four games that season, going 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in 3⅓ innings. His last MLB appearance came on September 23rd against Pittsburgh, closing out his seven-year pro career.

Post-Retirement Life and Contributions

Thomas Earl Dixon walked away from professional baseball after the 1983 season. That ended a major league career that ran from 1977 to 1983.

His transition from the game started a much quieter phase, and honestly, not much is known about what he did afterward.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

Dixon retired after a tough last season with Montreal in 1983. At 28, he decided to hang up his spikes instead of continuing with the Kansas City Royals, who traded for him in December 1983.

That kind of timing wasn’t all that unusual for pitchers back then. Lots of guys faced tough choices after rough years or when opportunities dried up.

Dixon finished his career with a 9-13 record and a 4.22 ERA for Houston and Montreal. That final year was especially tough, with a 9.82 ERA in just a handful of games.

Unlike some players who move into coaching or broadcasting, Dixon went a different direction. He kept a pretty low profile after leaving baseball.

Lasting Influence and Recognition

Dixon’s big league career was short, but he still holds a unique spot in baseball history. Those appearances during the 1983 Expos’ pennant race gave him a bit of an infamous legacy with the team.

He was on the mound when the Expos lost their grip on first place twice in that crucial September series against the Phillies. The team never got the lead back and ended up third in the National League East.

Earlier, Dixon had some strong years in the minors, especially his 1977 season with the Charleston Charlies. He went 13-4 with a 2.25 ERA and threw six shutouts in the International League.

Dixon started his pro baseball journey by signing with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in 1974. His path through several organizations really shows how tough it was to stick in the majors back then.

Personal Background and Biographical Details

Tom Dixon was born April 23, 1955, in Orlando, Florida. He found his passion for baseball early on and grew up playing in central Florida.

His journey from a high school athlete to professional baseball shaped his work ethic and character for years to come.

Early Life and Education

Tom Dixon grew up in Orlando, Florida, back in the 1960s and early ’70s. He went to Boone High School, where he started turning heads as a talented baseball player.

Those high school years really shaped his pitching skills. Florida’s warm weather let him play baseball all year, which gave him an edge over kids from colder places.

Major league scouts noticed Dixon while he was still a teenager. He showed off some serious potential out on the mound, and that eventually opened the door to a pro career.

In 1973, when he turned 18, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him. They picked him in the 18th round, 426th overall, and that kickstarted his journey into professional baseball.

Family and Personal Interests

There’s not much public info about Dixon’s family or what he liked to do off the field during his playing days. Like a lot of players from that era, he kept his private life pretty separate from baseball.

His Florida roots always meant a lot to him. Growing up in Orlando gave him a solid foundation and kept him connected to his home state.

Dixon didn’t live as loudly as some of his more famous teammates. He mostly focused on his pitching and developing as a player.

Jumping from amateur ball to the pros at such a young age wasn’t easy. Dixon had to figure out how to juggle the pressures of pro sports with just growing up.

Tom Dixon in Baseball History and Media

You can find Tom Dixon’s career all over baseball reference sites and stats databases. From 1977 to 1983, his playing record shows up in major sports publications that keep tabs on historical performance.

Inclusion in Baseball Almanac

Baseball Almanac covers Tom Dixon’s major league career pretty thoroughly. They list his birth date as April 23, 1955, in Orlando, Florida, and mention his debut with the Houston Astros on July 30, 1977, when he was 22.

The almanac tracks all his stats. It shows a 4-year career, 62 games, a 9-14 win-loss record, and a 4.33 ERA.

They also include his physical stats—5-11, 175 pounds. He batted and threw right-handed.

The site even keeps his draft history on record, noting the Dodgers picked him in the 18th round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Boone High in Orlando.

References in Sports Publications and Records

Several baseball reference sites track Dixon’s career stats and biographical details. Baseball-Reference.com breaks down his pitching numbers year by year for both teams he played with.

The Baseball Cube keeps his full professional record. You’ll find his minor league stats, college performance, and summer league data there, all alongside his MLB numbers.

StatsCrew.com sums up his career, pointing out his 62 games split between the Houston Astros and Montreal Expos. They really highlight his debut season in 1977 and the last one in 1983.

BR Bullpen lists some of his career highlights. For example, he went 13-4 with a 2.25 ERA for Charleston in 1977, and he picked up his first MLB win against St. Louis on August 6, 1977.