Births on February 11

Tom Veryzer

Born on February 11, 1953

Tom Veryzer, American baseball player (d. 2014)

Thomas Martin Veryzer: A Defensive Stalwart in Major League Baseball

Thomas Martin Veryzer (pronounced vuh-REYE-zer), born on February 11, 1953, and passing on July 8, 2014, was an acclaimed American professional baseball shortstop whose career spanned over a decade in Major League Baseball (MLB). Known for his exceptional defensive prowess, Veryzer carved out a reputation as one of the era's most reliable middle infielders, embodying the critical role of a shortstop with remarkable skill.

A Distinguished Major League Career

Veryzer’s impactful MLB journey stretched for 12 seasons, during which he showcased his talents in 979 games. His career trajectory saw him contribute to four different franchises, leaving his mark on each team's infield:

Detroit Tigers (1973-1977): Veryzer began his professional career with the Tigers, where he spent his first five seasons, establishing himself as a promising young shortstop.
Cleveland Indians (1978-1981): He then moved to the Cleveland Indians, playing for four years and continuing to solidify his reputation as a defensive specialist.
New York Mets (1982): A brief stint with the New York Mets added another chapter to his professional journey.
Chicago Cubs (1983-1984): Veryzer concluded his distinguished career with two seasons playing for the Chicago Cubs.

Throughout his extensive career, Veryzer's primary value lay in his defensive capabilities, a trait highly prized in a position as demanding as shortstop.

The Unparalleled Defensive Excellence of Thomas Veryzer: Mastering the Range Factor

Thomas Veryzer's legacy is most significantly defined by his outstanding defensive metrics, particularly his "range factor." The range factor is a statistical measure designed to evaluate a player's defensive efficiency by quantifying how much ground they cover and how many plays they are involved in. It is calculated by summing a player's putouts and assists and dividing that total by the number of innings they played in the field, typically normalized per nine innings. Unlike fielding percentage, which primarily measures a player's ability to successfully convert plays they reach, the range factor assesses a player's ability to get to the ball in the first place, highlighting their agility, speed, and positioning.

Elite Performance in 1977

Veryzer's defensive brilliance shone particularly bright in the 1977 season. That year, he ranked an impressive third in the American League with a range factor of 5.16 per nine innings at shortstop. This top-tier ranking among his peers underscores his exceptional ability to cover significant ground and consistently contribute to defensive plays, making him one of the most effective shortstops in the league during that period.

A Career Among the Defensive Elite

Beyond individual season highlights, Thomas Veryzer's career-long defensive consistency places him in an exclusive group of Major League shortstops. His remarkable career range factor of 4.841 per nine innings at shortstop ranks as the 25th best in Major League history. This extraordinary achievement solidifies his standing as one of the premier defensive shortstops to have ever played the game. To be ranked among the top 25 all-time in a key defensive metric for such a critical position is a testament to his sustained excellence, fundamental skills, and deep understanding of the game's defensive intricacies. Veryzer's ability to consistently make plays and cover a wide area of the infield was a defining characteristic of his impactful Major League Baseball career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas Veryzer's Career

What position did Thomas Veryzer play in Major League Baseball?: Thomas Veryzer played shortstop throughout his 12-year Major League Baseball career.
Which MLB teams did Thomas Veryzer play for?: He played for the Detroit Tigers (1973-1977), Cleveland Indians (1978-1981), New York Mets (1982), and Chicago Cubs (1983-1984).
What is a "range factor" in baseball, and why was Thomas Veryzer known for it?: The range factor is a defensive statistic calculated by adding a player's putouts and assists and dividing by the innings played (usually per nine innings). It measures how much ground a player covers and how many plays they get to, making it a key indicator of defensive prowess. Thomas Veryzer was renowned for his range factor because his career mark of 4.841 per nine innings at shortstop ranks as the 25th best in MLB history, showcasing his exceptional ability to field balls and contribute defensively.
How many games did Thomas Veryzer play in MLB?: Thomas Veryzer appeared in 979 games during his Major League Baseball career.
When was Thomas Veryzer born and when did he pass away?: Thomas Martin Veryzer was born on February 11, 1953, and passed away on July 8, 2014.

References

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Events on 1953

28 Feb

Francis Crick
James Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; the formal announcement takes place on April 25 following publication in April's Nature (pub. April 2).
6 Mar

Joseph Stalin
Georgy Malenkov succeeds Joseph Stalin as Premier of the Soviet Union and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
8 Apr

Jomo Kenyatta
Mau Mau leader Jomo Kenyatta is convicted by British Kenya's rulers.
19 Aug

1953 Iranian coup d'état
Cold War: The CIA and MI6 help to overthrow the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran and reinstate the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
30 Oct

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Cold War: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally approves the top secret document National Security Council Paper No. 162/2, which states that the United States' arsenal of nuclear weapons must be maintained and expanded to counter the communist threat.