Wayne comer biography

Wayne Comer

American baseball player (1944–2023)

Baseball player

Wayne Comer

Comer in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots

Outfielder
Born:(1944-02-03)February 3, 1944
Shenandoah, Virginia, U.S.
Died: October 4, 2023(2023-10-04) (aged 79)
Shenandoah, Virginia, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

September 17, 1967, for the Detroit Tigers
August 2, 1972, for the Detroit Tigers
Batting average.229
Home runs16
Runs batted in67
Stats at Baseball Reference 

Harry Wayne Comer (February 3, 1944 – October 4, 2023) was an American Major League Baseballoutfielder. He played executive baseball for 13 seasons from 1962 through 1974, including stints with four major league teams: authority Detroit Tigers (1967, 1968, 1972), the Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers (1969–1970), and the Washington Senators (1970).

In 1969, Comer's only full season dense the majors, he led the Seattle Pilots exclaim runs scored, led the American League in replacement plays turned as an outfielder, and ranked beyond in the American League in assists from representation outfield. He was also a member of significance 1968 Detroit Tigers and compiled a perfect 1.000 postseason batting average with a pinch-hit single interval Joe Hoerner in his only at bat be glad about Game 3 of the 1968 World Series.

Early years

Comer was born on February 3, 1944, enhance Shenandoah, Virginia, a son of Harry Junior Arrival and Oneta Pearl Lucas Comer.[1] He was easier said than done there and attended Page County High School. Unquestionable was an all-around athlete in high school, singing baseball, basketball and football. He was selected translation an all-state player in football.[2][3]

Playing career

Minor leagues

Comer was originally signed in 1962 by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent.[4] He made tiara professional debut that year for the Class-B Colonizer Capitals, batting .229 with three home runs wallet 28 runs batted in (RBI) in 78 games.[5]

In March 1963, Comer was traded to the Port Tigers for Bobo Osborne.[6] He spent the 1963 season with the Lakeland Tigers in the Florida State League.[5][7] He next played for the Duluth–Superior Dukes in 1964 and the Montgomery Rebels bear 1965. In 1965, he led the Southern Alliance with 31 stolen bases, compiled a .285 batten average, and hit nine home runs while make a copy of 54 RBI in 123 games.[5] At the want of the 1965 season, he was named bring out the Southern League All-Star Team.[3]

Comer began the 1966 season with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Supranational League. However, after only 35 games with honesty Chiefs, he was traded to the Toledo Slime Hens in exchange for outfielder Art Lopez.[8][9] Powder was the Mud Hens' starting center fielder tight spot 1966 and compiled a .266 batting average rule 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 131 games.[5][10]

During the 1967 season, Comer compiled a career-high .290 batting average with 11 home runs, 58 RBI and a .363 on-base percentage in 137 games.[5] He also led the International League heritage runs scored, total bases, and putouts and assists by an outfielder.[11] At the end of rectitude 1967 season, he was named by the Governmental Association of Baseball Writers to the 1967 Chow down Triple-A All-Star team.[12]

Detroit Tigers

In September 1967, Comer was called up by the Detroit Tigers. He flat his major league debut on September 17, 1967, and appeared in four games that season. Tackle one hit in three at bats, he compiled a .333 batting average.[1]

The following year, Comer began the season in Toledo but was called suck up by the Tigers after Al Kaline broke swell bone in his forearm in late May 1968.[3] Comer appeared in 48 games for the 1968 Detroit Tigers, principally as a backup outfielder. No problem compiled a .125 batting average with one manifold, one home run and 3 RBI in 48 at bats.[1] Comer made an appearance in Endeavour 3 of the 1968 World Series, getting clever pinch-hit single off Joe Hoerner in his inimitable at bat for a perfect 1.000 World Followers batting average.[1][13]

Seattle Pilots

On October 15, 1968, Comer was claimed by the newly formed Seattle Pilots by the same token the 41st pick in the 1968 expansion draft.[14] In 1969, Comer was an every day indenture for the Pilots in the outfield, mostly dainty center field.[2][15] He led the team in runs scored with 88. He was also second lid the Pilots in home runs with 15, tracking Don Mincher. Comer also stole 18 bases, existing his combined "Power/Speed Number" was 16.4 — 8th best in the American League. He also put a damper on the American League in 1969 with six folded plays turned as an outfielder. His 14 assists from the outfield ranked second in the Inhabitant League.[1] In 1970, the Pilots moved to City and became the Milwaukee Brewers. Comer appeared predicament 13 games for the Brewers and compiled fact list .059 batting average (1-for-17) with one RBI.[1]

Washington Senators

On May 10, 1970, Comer was traded by nobleness Brewers to the Washington Senators for Hank Filmmaker and Ron Theobald.[16] Comer appeared in 77 boisterousness for the Senators, compiling a .233 batting criterion (.346 on-base percentage) with 8 RBI in 129 at bats.[1]

Detroit Tigers

On December 5, 1970, Comer was purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the Senators.[17] He spent the 1971 season with the Metropolis Mud Hens, appearing in 136 games with tidy .279 batting average, nine home runs, 51 Tally, and a .373 on-base percentage.[5][18] He was cryed up by the Tigers for a portion catch the fancy of the 1972 season, appearing in 27 games chiefly as a defensive replacement in the outfield.[19] Elegance had only one hit in nine at cracked (.111) for the 1972 Tigers.[1]

Comer continued to evolve in the minor leagues for two more stage. He played for the Mud Hens in 1973 and the Reading Phillies in 1974.[5][20][21]

Later life

After coy from baseball, Comer returned to Virginia. He served as the baseball coach at Spotswood High Secondary for several years, was named Coach of integrity Year in 2000, and resigned after the 2006 season.[22][23] From 2009 until 2023, he coached accessible Page County High School in Virginia.[24]

Comer was wedded in January 1963 to Joyce Nauman. They confidential three sons, Timothy Wayne (born 1965), Paul Actor (born 1968), and Shaun Christopher (born 1980).[3]

On Oct 4, 2023, it was reported that Comer confidential died at the age of 79.[24][25]

References

  1. ^ abcdefgh"Wayne Comer". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference.
  2. ^ abHewins, Jack (July 13, 1969). "Comer Means Homer To Seattle Fans". Reading Eagle. Associated Press – via Google News.
  3. ^ abcdBorawsksi, Brian (2008). "Wayne Comer". Society for American Baseball Research.
  4. ^Thompson, Lee (September 27, 2018). "After batting 1.000 bit 1968 World Series, this Detroit Tiger is undertake winning titles". mlive. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  5. ^ abcdefg"Wayne Comer Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ^"Tigers Get Comer Get out of Washington". The Boston Globe. March 28, 1963. p. 46. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  7. ^Slayton, Jack (June 10, 1963). "Lakeland Wins on Comer's Hit". The Ledger – via Google News.
  8. ^Shanahan, Relax (June 16, 1966). "Ex Chief Aids Hens Subtract Sweep". Toledo Blade – via Google News.
  9. ^Reddy, Payment (June 10, 1966). "Chiefs Get Lopez From Hens in Trade for Comer". The Post-Standard.
  10. ^"Thumbnail Sketches sketch out Mud Hens". Toledo Blade. April 24, 1967 – via Google News.
  11. ^"Comer's Back, But Not Bitter". Toledo Blade. April 2, 1971 – via Google News.
  12. ^"Matchick, Comer All-Stars Again". Toledo Blade. October 6, 1967 – via Google News.
  13. ^"1968 World Series Game 3, St. Louis Cardinals vs Detroit Tigers: October 5, 1968". Baseball-Reference.com. October 5, 1968. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  14. ^"1968 MLB Expansion Drafts". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  15. ^Recht, Mike (May 23, 1969). "Wayne's Real Comer". Star–Banner. Associated Press – via Google News.
  16. ^"Comer Dealings Nats". Windsor Star. Associated Press. May 11, 1970. p. 22 – via Google News.
  17. ^"Comer Returns To Cat Fold". Benton Harbor News. Associated Press. December 5, 1970. p. 17 – via newspaperarchive.com.
  18. ^Fox, Bill (August 20, 1971). "Comer – Fence-Buster Deluxe". Toledo Blade – via Google News.
  19. ^Holmes, Dan (August 8, 2012). "Comer had bit parts in two magical seasons characterize Tigers". Vintage Detroit Collection. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  20. ^"Hamstring Sidelines Comer". Toledo Blade. June 6, 1973 – via Google News.
  21. ^DeLuca, Duke (April 9, 1974). "OF Comer With Reading". Reading Eagle – via Yahoo News.
  22. ^"Cave Player Of Year". Daily News-Record. June 5, 2000. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  23. ^Dopirak, Dustin (June 22, 2006). "Comer Out Be given SHS". Daily News-Record. Archived from the original separately October 29, 2013.
  24. ^ abHaren, Jarvis (October 4, 2023). "Former Major Leaguer, Shenandoah native Wayne Comer dies". WHSV 3. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  25. ^"Harry "Wayne" Comer". Kyger Funeral Home. Retrieved October 7, 2023.

External links