RIP Tommy Byrne

http://tinyurl.com/35rywp

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (AP) -- Tommy Byrne, who fulfilled a boyhood dream by pitching for the New York Yankees and won a game during the 1955 World Series, has died. He was 87.

Byrne, who served two terms as Wake Forest mayor, died Thursday, his son John said Saturday. Tommy Byrne had congestive heart failure and was in declining health the last six weeks. He was surrounded by his family and priest when he died, his son added.

After two years at what was then Wake Forest College, Byrne signed with the Yankees in 1940. In his rookie year of 1943, he had an 11-2 record.

Byrne eventually was traded to the St. Louis Browns and also pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Senators. He returned to the Yankees in 1955, when he pitched a complete-game victory in Game 2 of the World Series, but was the loser in Game 7 to Johnny Podres and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

 

Lucky. To. Be. A. Yankee.