Tom Dukes (#223)

Tom Dukes had a 6-year career (1967-72) with the Astros, Padres, Orioles, and Angels. He had baseball cards in 1968 (Astros Rookies), 1969, and 1971. Most of his playing time came in ’68 (Astros) and ’70 (Padres).

Tom was signed by the Yankees in 1962, and by mid-1965 was traded to the Milwaukee Braves for pitcher Bobby Tiefenauer. After the 1966 season he was traded to the Astros with pitcher Dan Schneider and 2nd baseman Lee Bales for 3 minor-leaguers.

Tom made his major-league debut with the Astros in August 1967, and pitched 17 games in relief that season.

In 1968, despite spending all of May in the minors he pitched in 43 games for the Astros (all in relief) and was 8th among Astros pitchers in innings pitched.

Dukes was selected by the Padres in the expansion draft. Although he initially made the team in 1969, his ERA was 13.50 after just one appearance so he spent most of the year in double-A before returning to the Padres in September.

He fared much better in 1970, pitching 53 games (all in relief) for San Diego.

After the season he accompanied pitcher Pat Dobson to the Orioles in exchange for pitcher Tom Phoebus and 3 others. Dukes appeared in 28 games for the Orioles in 1971, and pitched in games 3 and 5 of the World Series.

In late-May 1972 he was traded to the Angels, and although he pitched in 7 games for California, he spent most of his final season with the Orioles’ and Angels’ AAA teams.