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

Tom Hausman pitched for seven seasons in Major League Baseball as a right-hander, making a solid career from 1975 to 1982 with three teams. At 6’5″ and 200 pounds, this South Dakota native left his mark mostly as a swing man—he could start or come out of the bullpen, depending on what his team needed.

Hausman started out with the Milwaukee Brewers, who drafted him in 1971. He also pitched for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves before he retired in 1982.

He had some high points and rough patches, especially during his time with the Mets from 1979 to 1981. That stretch was probably his best, at least statistically.

Here’s a closer look at Hausman’s baseball story. He went from being a multi-sport high school athlete in California to pitching in the majors, moving through the minor leagues, developing his pitching, and facing a bunch of challenges along the way.

Honestly, his journey gives you a glimpse into what it’s like for a journeyman pitcher as baseball started to shift into a new era.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Thomas Matthew Hausman was born in South Dakota but grew up in California, where he became a strong multi-sport athlete. When his family moved to La Verne, that set the stage for his baseball career through high school and American Legion ball.

Birthplace and Childhood

Thomas Matthew Hausman came into the world on March 31, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota. His family moved to California when he was just a baby.

They settled in La Verne, a suburb east of Los Angeles, and that’s where Hausman spent his childhood.

That move from South Dakota to California really mattered for his growth as an athlete. La Verne had better sports programs, and the mild weather meant he could play baseball all year.

Those early years in La Verne shaped his interests. Hausman showed natural talent in a bunch of sports, not just baseball.

His family always backed him up in his athletic pursuits. That support made a difference.

High School and American Legion Baseball

Hausman went to La Verne High School in California, where he stood out as an athlete. He made All-state in both baseball and basketball.

His pitching started to catch the eye of scouts from colleges and pro teams.

While in high school, Hausman also played American Legion baseball in La Verne. He pitched for two years in this competitive summer league.

That experience gave him good exposure against top amateur players.

Key Amateur Baseball Achievements:

• All-state baseball player at La Verne High School
• Two years of American Legion baseball
• Right-handed pitcher with solid velocity
• Caught the attention of pro scouts

The American Legion program helped him sharpen his pitching mechanics. He faced older, tougher hitters regularly.

That level of competition got him ready for pro ball.

Early Athletic Achievements

Hausman didn’t just play baseball—he got All-state honors in basketball too. His height and athleticism helped him in both sports.

Scouts from several MLB teams noticed his baseball skills. The Milwaukee Brewers, in particular, seemed interested in his right-handed arm.

His fastball and developing off-speed pitches made him stand out.

He kept performing well in American Legion games, which helped his draft chances. He struck out plenty of hitters and kept his control.

With his size—6-foot-4 and a strong arm—plus his success at different levels, Hausman was a pretty appealing draft pick for pro teams.

Professional Beginnings and Minor League Development

Tom Hausman’s road to the majors started in 1971 when the Milwaukee Brewers picked him in the amateur draft. He moved up through the minors, playing everywhere from short-season ball up to Triple-A.

1971 June Amateur Draft and Signing

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Thomas Matthew Hausman in the 10th round of the 1971 MLB Amateur Draft, 217th overall. That came after his standout run at La Verne High, where he made a name for himself in both baseball and basketball.

Even though they drafted him late, Brewers scouts liked his size and pitching talent. They saw him as a project with potential.

Signing that first pro contract kicked off Hausman’s career at just 18. He then began working his way up through the Brewers’ minor league system.

Minor League Progression

Hausman started his pro career in 1972 with the Newark Co-Pilots in the Class A New York-Penn League. In his first season, he pitched in 13 games and logged 74 innings with a 2.68 ERA.

He struck out 54 batters, gave up 54 hits, and walked 30. The Co-Pilots finished fourth in the league that year.

After a decent season at Newark, Hausman moved up to Single-A Danville. But then he hit a snag—an injury landed him on the disabled list, and he missed half the year.

That setback didn’t last, though. He bounced back with 12-win seasons at both Double-A and Triple-A over the next couple of years.

Key Minor League Teams and Leagues

Hausman spent time with several different clubs in the minors. After Milwaukee released him in November 1977, he pitched for Triple-A Spokane in the Pacific Coast League, making 48 starts over two seasons.

Then the New York Mets signed him, and he played for the AAA Tidewater Tides. That stint let him move between the big leagues and minors in 1978 and 1979.

Later, he played in a few different organizations:

• Pirates organization (Triple-A)
• Dodgers system (Triple-A)
• Padres organization (Triple-A)

He got pretty familiar with the Pacific Coast League during his attempts to make it back to the majors. Those Triple-A years kept his pro career alive, even after his MLB days ended.

Major League Baseball Career

Tom Hausman pitched in Major League Baseball from 1975 to 1982. He started out with the Milwaukee Brewers and later had his best years with the New York Mets, working both as a starter and a reliever.

Milwaukee Brewers Debut (1975–1976)

Hausman made his MLB debut on April 26, 1975, coming in for relief during a 10-1 loss to the Yankees. He was just 22 when he first took the mound in the big leagues.

He picked up his first win on May 27, 1975, against the White Sox. He came in during the second inning with Milwaukee down 3-0, pitched 6.2 innings, and gave up three runs. The Brewers rallied for eight runs and got him the win.

The Brewers put Hausman in the rotation halfway through the season. He went 3-2 with a 3.92 ERA as a starter.

Back injuries started to bother him, though, and the team shut him down for the last month of 1975.

His 1976 season was short. He pitched in just three relief games for Milwaukee, throwing three innings and allowing three hits, three walks, and two earned runs.

Most of that year, he played for the AAA Spokane Indians.

New York Mets Tenure (1978–1982)

The New York Mets signed Hausman as a free agent on November 21, 1977, making him their first-ever free agent signing. He started 1978 in AAA Tidewater before getting called up.

Hausman made his Mets debut on July 7, 1978. His best outing that year came against the Braves—he threw eight shutout innings before handing the ball to closer Skip Lockwood.

He finished 1978 with a 3-3 record and a 4.70 ERA.

In 1979, things got tough. Hausman started 0-4 even though his ERA was a solid 2.84. He notched his first career save on July 8 against the Padres, tossing 3.1 innings of one-hit relief.

Six days later, he earned his first win with a complete game over Vida Blue and the Giants.

Hausman’s best year came in 1980, when he became a reliable swing man. After a rocky start as a starter, he moved to the bullpen and really found his groove.

From June 6 to July 18, he went 4-1 with a 0.94 ERA. His most impressive game was a three-inning save against the Phillies on June 27—he didn’t allow a single hit.

1980 Season Stats:

• Record: 6-5
• ERA: 3.98
• Innings: 122 (career high)
• Strikeouts: 53
• Walks: 26

Injuries started to pile up in his last years with the Mets. An elbow injury limited him to 20 relief appearances in 1981, but he still had a strong 2.18 ERA in 33 innings.

Shoulder and elbow problems kept bothering him in 1982, and he never really got back to full strength.

Atlanta Braves and Final Season (1982)

On September 10, 1982, the Mets traded Hausman to the first-place Atlanta Braves for Carlos Diaz. That move put him back with Joe Torre, who managed the Braves.

Hausman pitched in three games for Atlanta, throwing four innings as they chased a playoff spot. He gave up six hits and four walks in that short stint.

The 1982 season turned out to be his last in the big leagues. His final appearance came on September 30, 1982, against the Dodgers. He pitched 1.2 innings, allowed two hits, a walk, and one earned run, and struck out one.

Career MLB Stats:

• Record: 15-23
• ERA: 3.80
• Strikeouts: 180
• Games: 160

Hausman tried to make comebacks in 1983 with the Pirates and again in 1985 with the Padres and Dodgers minor league teams, but he never made it back to the majors.

Pitching Style and Key Career Highlights

Tom Hausman changed up his pitching approach during his seven years in the majors. He started as a starter but became a reliever with the Mets in 1980.

His best season came in 1981, when he put up a 2.18 ERA in 20 relief outings.

Starting Versus Relieving Roles

Hausman started out as a starting pitcher for the Brewers in 1975. He made 9 starts out of 29 games during his rookie year.

Early in his career, he focused on building up as a starter.

He switched to the bullpen with the Mets in 1980. That year, he pitched in 55 games but started only 4. The move to relief seemed to help him.

As a reliever, Hausman threw a career-high 122 innings in 1980. He went 6-5 with a 3.98 ERA in that role.

The shorter outings helped him stay healthier.

Relief work let him focus on getting outs in shorter stints. That fit his injury-prone body better than starting every fifth day.

Complete Games and Notable Matches

Hausman threw 2 complete games in his seven-year big league career. Those came while he was starting for the Brewers and early on with the Mets.

He pitched a total of 441 innings, showing how he split time between starting and relieving.

He racked up 180 strikeouts and handed out 121 walks over his career. His strikeouts picked up once he moved to the bullpen.

Shorter relief outings let him pitch with more energy.

His best numbers came in 1981, when he posted a 2.18 ERA in 20 games. He struck out 13 and had a 1.061 WHIP that year.

An ankle injury from tripping over a drainage cover at Shea Stadium kept him off the mound for a while.

Hausman finished with 15 wins and 23 losses in the big leagues. He also notched 3 saves during his time in the Mets bullpen.

Memorable MLB Moments

Hausman had one of his most memorable moments when he gave up Pete Rose’s 3,500th career hit in August 1980. That night, Hausman’s name landed in the baseball record books with Rose’s milestone.

When the Mets traded him to the Atlanta Braves in September 1982, Hausman felt a real jolt of excitement. “This is the greatest thing since butter. It’s the greatest thing since birth,” he told the Daily News, sounding thrilled to join a contender.

The Braves finished first in the NL West that year, but Hausman couldn’t pitch in the postseason because the trade came too late. He managed just 3⅔ innings over 3 games for Atlanta.

That short stint with the Braves wrapped up his MLB career. Still, joining a division winner meant a lot to the South Dakota native.

Career Statistics and Performance Analysis

Tom Hausman pitched in the majors for seven years, putting up a 15-23 record and a 3.80 ERA over 441 innings. He found his stride with the New York Mets, where he became a steady middle reliever.

Season-by-Season Statistical Overview

Hausman started out with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975, going 3-6 with a 4.10 ERA in 29 games. He struck out 46 batters in 112 innings as a rookie, and there was definitely some promise there.

After a quick look in 1976, Hausman joined the Mets. He returned to the majors in 1978, starting 10 games for New York.

Peak Performance Years (1979-1981):

• 1979: 2-6 record, 2.75 ERA, 133 ERA+
• 1980: 6-5 record, 3.98 ERA, 55 games
• 1981: 0-1 record, 2.18 ERA, 162 ERA+

In 1979 and 1981, Hausman had his best seasons. That 2.75 ERA in 1979 came with a 1.068 WHIP and 2.3 WAR, his top mark.

In 1982, he split time between the Mets and Braves. He posted a 4.46 ERA in 24 relief outings before calling it a career.

Advanced Metrics and Achievements

Hausman’s career WAR of 3.3 shows he was a solid middle reliever. In 1979, he hit his high point with 2.3 WAR, which is pretty respectable.

Key Advanced Statistics:

• Career WHIP: 1.270
• Strikeout Rate: 3.7 per nine innings
• Walk Rate: 2.5 per nine innings
• ERA+: 96 (career average)

He posted a 1.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which was decent for his era. Hausman kept the ball on the ground and limited home runs, giving up just 0.8 per nine innings.

His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was 3.88, very close to his 3.80 ERA. That tells you his results pretty much matched his pitching, not just his defense.

He struck out 180 and walked 121 in 160 games. All three of his career saves came with the Mets.

Baseball Cards and Memorabilia

Hausman appeared on several baseball cards, starting with his rookie card in the 1976 Topps set. The 1976 Topps #452 showed him as a young Brewer.

Topps kept putting him on cards through his Mets years. Those late 1970s and early 1980s cards are still easy for team collectors to find.

His card values are low, which makes sense for a journeyman. That 1976 rookie card usually goes for under $5 if it’s in decent shape.

Donruss and Fleer also featured Hausman in their early 1980s sets. These cards give a little snapshot of his time with different clubs.

Signed memorabilia from Hausman is out there, but you don’t see it often. Game-used items do pop up at auctions every now and then.

Injuries, Trades, and Challenges

Tom Hausman’s later years in baseball were a real struggle with health issues and team changes. Recurring elbow and shoulder injuries just kept setting him back and eventually cut his career short.

Recurring Injuries and Impact

Hausman’s career really took a hit when elbow problems started cropping up in the early 1980s. These injuries made it tough for him to pitch effectively.

The elbow injury kept nagging him and messed with his mechanics. By 1982, things had gone downhill.

His shoulder started acting up too during the 1982 season, making things even worse. With both elbow and shoulder issues, he just couldn’t pitch like he used to.

He tried to adapt his style, but the pain and lack of mobility were too much.

Trades and Free Agency

Hausman bounced between teams thanks to trades and free agency. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in 1971.

After his Brewers stint, he hit free agency in November 1977, and the Mets picked him up.

In September 1982, the Mets traded him to the Atlanta Braves for Carlos Diaz.

The Braves wanted Hausman for their NL West stretch drive, but injuries held him to just three games in Atlanta.

Stints in AAA and Final Years

Hausman started 1978 in AAA with Tidewater. He pitched well, going 5-2 with a 1.22 ERA over ten games.

That strong run got him back to the majors, and the Mets used him as a swing man from 1979 to 1981.

After a short spell with Atlanta in 1982, Hausman played in the minors for a bit. He tried with two AAA teams, but things didn’t pan out.

Injuries and declining performance finally forced him to retire after 1982. His big league career ended at 29, which feels a bit too soon for a guy who showed early promise.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Life After Baseball

After baseball, Tom Hausman went back to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he’d starred in high school basketball and baseball. He threw himself into coaching youth baseball and stayed close with his family, including his son Casey, who followed his dad into sports.

Coaching and Community Involvement

When he left pro baseball, Hausman got deeply involved in youth baseball coaching in Nevada. He took on the role of pitching coach for a Little League team that went on to do something special.

That team made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Little League World Series tournament. Not bad, right? Hausman clearly knew how to pass on his experience to the next generation.

His coaching experience let him give back to the sport. Coaching Little League showed how much he cared about developing young players.

He used his seven years in the majors to mentor kids. Coaching kept him close to the game he loved, even after his playing days ended.

Family and Personal Interests

Hausman’s son Casey became a three-sport athlete in high school, showing a similar athletic flair. Casey even played a bit of baseball for Kansas State University in 2005.

The Hausmans kept strong ties to both California and Nevada. Tom moved from South Dakota to California as a baby, then went to high school in Vegas.

He didn’t just play baseball—he earned all-state honors in basketball too. That multi-sport background probably helped shape his son’s own athletic path.

Passing, Memorial, and Legacy

Tom Hausman died on January 16, 2019, at age 65 in Las Vegas, Nevada. His family stayed by his side as he faced health issues.

He played professional baseball for seven seasons, from 1975 to 1982. Hausman finished with a 15-23 record and a 3.80 ERA in 160 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves.

Family and friends gathered for a memorial service to celebrate his life and love for baseball. Davis Funeral Services in Las Vegas took care of the arrangements.

Hausman’s legacy stands out because he pushed through injuries during his career and later gave his time to coaching youth baseball. Honestly, his journey from a small town in South Dakota to major league baseball shows just how determined and resilient he was.