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Card: 1994 Topps #83
Position: LHP
playerbio
Player Bio:
Pitcher Tom Urbani was born in Santa Cruz, CA, and played parts of four years in the majors.
Urbani was drafted three times without signing. Following his selection by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1990 amateur draft, he finally signed and began his pro career that summer.
Urbani reached the majors with the Cardinals in 1993, making his big league debut in relief against the Colorado Rockies on April 21st. Splitting time that year between the rotation and the bullpen (as well as the AAA Louisville Redbirds), he was 1-3 with a 4.65 ERA in 18 appearances. In mid-season 1996, he was dealt to the Detroit Tigers. He made 16 appearances, mostly in relief, for the Tigers that year, recording a 8.37 ERA and became a free agent after the season. He split 1997 between the Texas Rangers and Montreal Expos organization, and then pitched in the Cardinals system as well as the independent leagues in 1998.
In 1999, Urbani ended his professional career while pitching for the Rimini BBC of the Italian Baseball League as an Italian-American (oriundo) player for Rimini in Serie A1. He led the league with 12 wins and a 1.35 ERA and threw a perfect game (one of just five in circuit history through 2007). He also helped Italy earn the silver medal at the 1999 European Championship, pitching 8 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and striking out 14 in a win.
After his baseball days, Urbani briefly worked in real estate. He later started a company called Lefty Right Sports and invented a device called the Curveball Trainer, which teaches young players how to throw a curve. Tom passed away in 2022 at age 54.
(excerpted from Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)
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Tom is part of the St. Louis Cardinals Players Tour – Go to the Next Stop
Tom is also part of the Detroit Tigers Player Tour – Go to the Next Stop
See all Urbani’s baseball cards at TCDB