Tom Henke was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and St. Louis Cardinals during his career. He was born on December 21, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended high school in Missouri before attending college at East Central University in Oklahoma.
Henke was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 1980 Major League Baseball draft and made his debut with the team in 1982. He played for the Rangers for four seasons before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985. It was with the Blue Jays that Henke had his most successful years, becoming the team's closer and earning the nickname "The Terminator" for his ability to shut down opposing teams in the late innings.
Henke was a three-time All-Star during his career, earning the honor in 1987, 1989, and 1992. He also won the Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1987 and 1992, which is given annually to the top relief pitcher in each league. Henke was known for his fastball and slider, which he used to strike out batters and keep opposing teams from scoring.
In 1992, Henke helped lead the Blue Jays to their first World Series championship, pitching in four games and earning two saves in the series. He retired from baseball in 1995 with a career record of 41-42, 311 saves, and an ERA of 2.67.
After retiring from baseball, Henke returned to his hometown of Kansas City and became involved in youth baseball coaching. He also worked as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Overall, Tom Henke was a dominant relief pitcher during his career, known for his ability to shut down opposing teams and earn saves for his team. He was a key player on the Toronto Blue Jays during their championship run in 1992 and was recognized as one of the top relief pitchers in the league during his time in the majors.
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