Former New Jersey Born Mets Outfielder: Tom O'Malley (1989-1990)

Thomas Patrick O’Malley was born Christmas day 1960 in West Orange, New Jersey. The Irish American family moved to Montoursville, Pennsylvania where Thomas would grow up. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 16th round of the 1979 draft, becoming a Texas League All Star at age 20 leading all third baseman in fielding. By 1982 after 26 games he was batting .446 at AAA when the Giants made room for his bat, by moving veteran Darrel Evans over to first base.
The Giants had high hopes for Tom; he hit .275 with 12 doubles, 2 HRs & 27 RBIs in 92 games. But 1983 would prove to be his only full season, batting .259 with just 5 HRs, 16 doubles & 45 RBIs. Over the next two seasons he hit around .120 and spent most of his time in the minors. He went to Baltimore & hit .254 in 56 games for the ‘86 O’s, then hit .274 from August through the end of 1987 in Texas. He got traded to the New York Mets for Steve Frey at the end of Spring Training 1989. Frey had come over from the AL New York club in a trade after the 1987 season.

At Tidewater in the Mets organization O’Malley hit .295, leading the International League in on base percentage & RBIs (84). His 15 HRs were 5th in the league, and he won the International League MVP Award. He also got the role as starting third baseman in the AAA All Star game.

He got a September call up to the Mets 1989 squad & in his second game as a Met, drove in two runs with a pinch hit at Philadelphia. O’Malley had a good month, batting .545 (6-11) while driving in eight runs, and hitting two doubles. By 1990 his averaged fell to .223, but he hit 3 HRs, 7 doubles & drove in 14 runs in just 121 at bats. He was often used as a pinch hitter against lefties but only hit .175 in 44 tries in that role.

In 1991 his contact was purchased by the Yashin Tigers in Japan. There he became an All Star & Best Nine MVP winner. He also won a Championship title, while leading the league in walks three times, intentional walks twice & on base percentage once. He was among the league leaders in many categories for five seasons in Japan.

Retirement: After his playing days he coached the Newark Bears in his home state of New Jersey in the Independent league. He then coached & scouted in Japan.