Wayne Comer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Wayne Comer found his own spot in baseball history during a 13-year professional run. His major league journey didn’t exactly wrap up in 1972, but that year did mark his last appearance in the big leagues. Born and raised in Virginia, Comer spent most of his career grinding it out in the minors. Still, his short stints with four major league teams between 1967 and 1972 gave fans some moments they’re not likely to forget.

Comer’s biggest moment? That came with the 1968 Detroit Tigers World Series championship squad, where he came through with a pinch-hit single in Game Three of the Fall Classic. He only played 316 major league games over six seasons, but he managed to be a part of two of Detroit’s best years—1968 and 1972. Sure, his career batting average sits at .229 with 16 homers and 67 RBIs, but honestly, those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Comer carved out a niche as a versatile bench guy and reliable pinch-hitter.

He started at Page County High School in Virginia and finished up with the Phillies’ AAA club in 1974. Comer’s baseball story really highlights the grit and skill it takes to hang at the top levels of the sport.

You see the challenges right there—plenty of time in the minors, but when his number was called, he stepped up for major league teams.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Harry Wayne Comer was born on February 3, 1944, in Shenandoah, Virginia. His parents, Harry and Pearl Comer, raised him there.

He grew into a standout multi-sport athlete at Page County High, excelling in baseball, football, and basketball. Scouts from several Major League teams noticed his talent.

Family Background

Harry Wayne Comer entered the world in the little town of Shenandoah, Virginia, about 100 miles from Washington, D.C.

Harry and Pearl Comer kept the family rooted in Shenandoah as Wayne grew up. That small-town life gave him the stability he needed to chase his athletic dreams.

After his pro baseball days, Wayne came back home. He stayed close to his Virginia roots, raising his own family in the same community he grew up in.

High School Athletics at Page County High School

Wayne Comer stood out as a rare three-sport star at Page County High in the early ‘60s. He earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and basketball all four years.

He picked up all-district honors in each sport, proving just how versatile he was.

Football took center stage his senior year in 1961, when he earned all-state honorable mention. His talent showed up on the football field as much as on the baseball diamond.

Even with all that, baseball remained his main focus. His play on the baseball team drew the attention of pro scouts.

Development as an Outfielder

Scouts from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics, and Washington Senators tracked Comer during high school.

He impressed them with his speed, arm, and bat. Comer had the tools teams wanted in an outfielder.

The Washington Senators ended up winning the race for him. Scout George McQuinn, a former major leaguer himself, signed Comer as an amateur free agent in 1962.

At 18, Comer left high school behind and jumped into pro baseball. His multi-sport background at Page County had him ready for the physical and mental grind of the pros.

Entrance to Professional Baseball

Wayne Comer’s pro career kicked off in 1962 when the Washington Senators signed him as an 18-year-old fresh out of Virginia. He worked his way through the Senators’ farm system before a trade sent him to the Detroit Tigers in 1963.

Signing with the Washington Senators

Comer’s multi-sport success at Page County caught the eyes of MLB scouts. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Athletics, and Washington Senators all wanted him.

Senators scout George McQuinn signed Comer in 1962, and he started his career with the Raleigh Capitals in the Class B Carolina League.

His first year wasn’t easy. Comer hit just .228 in 61 games, facing tough competition, including future Yankees All-Star Mel Stottlemyre.

He struggled with plate discipline, striking out 46 times and walking just 26. Only 17 of his 61 hits went for extra bases, so power wasn’t really there yet.

Minor League Progression

Comer’s life changed a lot in early 1963. On January 11, he married Joyce Nauman. Two months later, the Senators traded him.

The Washington Senators sent Comer to the Detroit Tigers for infielder Bobo Osborne. Now he was in Detroit’s minor league system.

In 1963, Comer joined the Lakeland Tigers in the Florida State League. He improved, hitting .264 with better plate discipline, and managed a 62-to-67 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The next year, he played for the Duluth-Superior Dukes. Comer batted .279 with 26 extra-base hits and stole 20 bases in 99 games. He walked 75 times and struck out just 54.

Trade to Detroit Tigers

The March 1963 trade to Detroit really helped Comer develop. The Tigers gave him better coaching and a clearer path forward.

Bobo Osborne, the guy Detroit traded away, had played parts of five seasons for them. Comer got the benefit of Detroit’s stronger player development.

Detroit’s staff helped Comer sharpen his approach at the plate. His walk-to-strikeout ratio improved in the seasons that followed.

The trade put Comer in an organization that would eventually bring him up to the majors. Detroit’s investment in him paid off as he climbed the minor league ladder toward an MLB debut.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Wayne Comer played six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1967 to 1972, appearing in 316 games for four different teams. He started with the Detroit Tigers and later joined the Seattle Pilots through the 1969 American League expansion draft.

Detroit Tigers Tenure

Comer made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers on September 17, 1967. He notched a pinch-hit single off Frank Bertaina in his first at-bat against the Washington Senators.

He bounced between the Tigers and Triple-A Toledo for much of his time in Detroit. In 1968, Al Kaline broke his forearm after a pitch hit him on May 25, and Comer got his biggest shot.

Comer played in 48 games during the Tigers’ World Series year. He hit .125 but did launch his first big league homer on August 11, 1968.

The 1968 World Series was a career highlight. Comer made the roster and collected a pinch-hit single in Game 3—his only at-bat in the series.

Detroit purchased Comer back from the Washington Senators on December 5, 1970. He returned for a short stint from late May to early August 1972, getting into 27 games but only nine at-bats before his major league days ended.

Seattle Pilots and MLB Expansion Draft

The 1969 American League expansion opened doors for players like Comer. The Seattle Pilots picked him in the expansion draft, giving him his first real shot at regular playing time.

He took full advantage, posting his best major league season. Comer hit .245 with 15 homers and drew 82 walks for the Pilots in 1969.

He finished second on the team in home runs, trailing only Don Mincher, and ranked fourth in RBIs.

On May 16, 1969, Comer had his best game. He homered twice and drove in four runs in a wild 10-9 win at Fenway Park over the Red Sox.

The Pilots’ struggles showed up in Jim Bouton’s book “Ball Four,” which chronicled the team Comer played for in their lone Seattle season.

Milwaukee Brewers Involvement

Comer moved with the Pilots when they became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. His time in Milwaukee was tough and didn’t last long.

He started the 1970 season in a deep slump, going 0-for-15. That cost him the starting center field job.

Comer finally broke through with his first hit on May 10, 1970—a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth against the Washington Senators.

That same day, Senators catcher Paul Casanova told Comer during the game that he was about to be traded to Washington.

Even after hearing the news, Comer delivered the game-winning hit. The trade to Washington became official the next day, ending his short Brewers stint.

Washington Senators Performance

Comer’s return to the Senators brought him back to the team that first signed him in 1962. The Senators acquired him on May 10, 1970, for infielders Hank Allen and Ron Theobald.

He didn’t hit as well as he had in Seattle. Comer batted .233 for the Senators and finished 1970 with a combined .212 average between Milwaukee and Washington.

He didn’t hit a single home run with the Senators, a real drop from his 15 homers the year before.

His last major league appearance came during his brief return to Detroit in 1972. Comer picked up his 157th and final MLB hit with a pinch-single on July 19, 1972.

Detroit bought him from the Senators on December 5, 1970, but he mostly played in the minors with Toledo after that.

Highlights and Achievements

Wayne Comer’s pro baseball career had some pretty cool moments—a World Series ring with Detroit and standout defense in the American League. His best individual season came with the Seattle Pilots in 1969, when he really established himself as a solid outfielder and team leader.

1968 World Series Champion

Comer earned a World Series ring with the Tigers in 1968. He got into Game 3 of the World Series against the Cardinals as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Daryl Patterson.

In his only Series at-bat, Comer singled to center. He also served as the warm-up catcher for pitcher Mickey Lolich before games.

The Tigers beat the Cardinals in seven games to win it all. Comer’s role as a reserve mattered, especially after Al Kaline broke his forearm in May.

Career Milestones and Records

Comer’s top season came with the Seattle Pilots in 1969, when he led the team with 88 runs scored. He also led the American League in double plays turned by an outfielder that year.

His 1969 stats: a .245 average, 15 home runs, and 82 walks in 147 games. That May 16, 1969 game—two homers and four RBIs in a 10-9 win at Fenway—was the best of his career.

Comer’s first big league hit was a pinch-single on September 17, 1967, off Frank Bertaina. His last came as a pinch-single on July 19, 1972, for his 157th career hit.

Leadership and Defensive Excellence

Comer showed off his defensive chops, especially in 1969 with the Pilots. He led the International League with 306 putouts and 14 assists while playing for Toledo in 1967.

He stepped up as a leader during Toledo’s 1967 Governor’s Cup championship. Comer had three hits and an RBI in the deciding game against Richmond in the playoffs.

His versatility made him valuable—he even served as the Tigers’ third catcher in 1968. Comer’s ability to handle different roles made him a trusted reserve throughout his six years in the majors.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Wayne Comer wrapped up his baseball career in 1972 after a short return to the Detroit Tigers, closing out five seasons in the majors. After stepping away from professional baseball, he headed back to Virginia and spent over twenty years coaching high school baseball and giving back to his community.

Final MLB Season in 1972

Comer’s final major league season unfolded with the Detroit Tigers in 1972. Detroit called him up from the Toledo Mud Hens when Willie Horton landed on the disabled list with a pulled muscle.

Between May 24 and August 2, Comer played in 27 games for Detroit. He mainly filled in as a pinch-runner or late-inning defensive sub, not really as a starter.

He only got 10 plate appearances during that stretch. Comer went 1-for-9 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly, so he didn’t get many chances at the plate.

On July 19, 1972, Comer collected his last major league hit—a pinch-hit single off Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood. That quiet moment pretty much marked the end of his MLB journey.

After 1972, Comer stayed in the minors with Toledo through 1973. He finished up with the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League in 1974, then decided it was time to retire from baseball for good.

Transition from Professional Play

Once Comer retired from pro ball in 1974, he moved back to Shenandoah, Virginia. During his playing days, he’d run a clothing store in Shenandoah in the offseasons, which honestly made the move back feel pretty natural.

His ties to Virginia stayed strong throughout his career. That deep connection made coming home after more than a decade in baseball feel comfortable.

Comer found the shift from professional athlete to community member pretty smooth. He got involved in local youth athletics right away, taking on different roles that kept him close to sports.

His time as a pro gave him plenty of knowledge to share with young athletes. Local sports circles respected Comer for his experience at the highest level.

Coaching and Community Involvement

After retirement, Comer threw himself into youth athletics, working as a basketball referee, basketball coach, and American Legion baseball coach and umpire. He didn’t just stick to one thing—he wanted to help young athletes in all kinds of sports.

He started coaching high school ball at Spotswood High School. In 2000, folks recognized his efforts and named him Coach of the Year, which really showed how much he cared about his players and their growth.

In 2007, Comer went back to Page County High School, his alma mater where he’d played baseball and basketball as a kid. He spent the last 16 years of his career there, taking over as head coach for the final nine.

Comer’s run at Page County was a big success. He picked up Coach of the Year honors more than once and even led his team to a state championship in 2018, which had to feel like a career highlight.

When Comer retired in spring 2023, he looked back on his coaching days and said: “I’ve had a good run. I get emotional. I’ve been doing it for so long. I love all these guys and love the game of baseball. I’ve had it in my blood since I was a youngster.”

Legacy and Personal Life

Wayne Comer left a mark as both a World Series champ and a dedicated educator. People remember his upbeat personality, and his coaching career influenced hundreds of young athletes in Virginia.

Reputation Among Rookies and Peers

Comer brought a jovial personality and a competitive edge to every team he joined. Teammates admired his hustle and determination, which helped him make the most of his abilities.

He had a playful streak with umpires, and sometimes it got him tossed from games. One time, minor-league umpire Tom Ravashire ejected Comer, only to find out from manager Jack Tighe that “We sent Comer to Detroit this morning.”

Mickey Lolich, the Tigers’ star pitcher, trusted Comer so much that he wouldn’t warm up with anyone else during the 1968 World Series. Comer caught for Lolich between innings in his first two starts and again in Game Seven.

His dependability earned him respect on every team. The Seattle Pilots especially valued his versatility, since he could play all three outfield spots, third base, and even catcher when needed.

Recognition in Baseball History

Comer has a quirky spot in baseball history as maybe the second-best hitter in Seattle Pilots history. He tied for the team lead in 1969 with 3.2 Wins Above Replacement, which says a lot about his value to that expansion team.

He finished his World Series career batting a perfect 1.000, thanks to a single off Joe Hoerner in Game Three of the 1968 Series. Sure, it was only one at-bat, but it’s still a nice trivia nugget tied to Detroit’s championship.

In 1969, Comer racked up 14 outfield assists, ranking second in the American League. That stat really showcased his strong arm and sharp instincts, making him valuable even when he wasn’t hitting.

Personal Life and Passing

After he retired from baseball in 1974, Comer moved back to his hometown of Shenandoah, Virginia. He married Joyce, and they stuck together for 60 years, right up until he passed away.

They raised three kids: Timmy, Paul, and Shawn. Comer jumped into community life, taking on roles as a basketball referee, coach, and American Legion baseball umpire.

He spent over 20 years coaching, with stints at Spotswood High School and Page County High School. He picked up Coach of the Year awards more than once, and in 2018, he led Page County to a state championship.

Comer passed away in Shenandoah on October 4, 2023, at 79. He had just stepped away from coaching a few months before, telling WHSV News, his voice wavering, “I’ve had a good run. I get emotional. I’ve been doing it for so long.”