About the Back: The "Victoria" team that signed Tom in 1979 as an amateur free agent was the Victoria (British Columbia) Mussels of the Northwest League. They were one of two unaffiliated clubs in the low-A minor league. After he went 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 12 games, the Royals signed him the following year.
Triple Play:
1. Candiotti underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in 1981. When he debuted with the Brewers in 1983, he became the first player to pitch in the big leagues after having that surgery since Tommy John himself.
2. Tom had a brief cameo in Billy Crystal's movie 61*, which chronicled Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's 1961 race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. He portrayed Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm.
3. In 2007, he became the second celebrity inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum, following ex-Steelers running back Jerome Bettis.
11-Year-Old Kevin Says: I didn't know just by looking at this card that Candiotti was a knuckleballer. There's no mention of his rare pitching style, and the photo on the front doesn't really capture his delivery.
Bill James Said: "His offensive support, 2.53 runs per nine innings, was easily the worst in the major leagues." That's how Tom went 8-10 with a 3.12 ERA (122 ERA+) in 1993.
On This Date in 1993: January 28. British actor Will Poulter (The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Maze Runner) is born.
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