Buddy Groom was a left-handed relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 13 seasons. He was born on July 10, 1965, in Dallas, Texas, and attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Groom was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the 1987 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 1992, but he struggled in his first few seasons and was traded to the Florida Marlins in 1995.
Groom bounced around several teams over the next few years, including the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Colorado Rockies. He found success as a left-handed specialist, often coming in to face just one or two batters in a game.
Groom's best season came in 2002 with the Orioles, where he posted a 2.64 ERA in 77 appearances. He also recorded his first and only save that season.
Groom retired from baseball in 2005 with a career record of 35-52 and a 4.64 ERA. He appeared in 786 games, striking out 487 batters in 792 innings pitched.
Off the field, Groom was known for his charitable work. He founded the Buddy Groom Foundation, which raised money for children's charities in his hometown of Dallas.
Overall, Buddy Groom had a successful career as a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. While he never became a star player, he was a reliable and effective pitcher who contributed to several teams over his 13-year career.
⚾