About Buck O'Brien
Lived 1882 – 1959 (aged 77). Buck O'Brien was an American baseball player.
Thomas Joseph "Buck" O'Brien (May 9, 1882 – July 25, 1959) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.
O'Brien got a late start in professional baseball. However, as a spitballer, he did have tremendous success for a few years. In 1910, when he was 28 years old, he went 20–10 for Hartford of the Connecticut State League. In 1911, he was 26–7 for the Western League's Denver Grizzlies, leading the league in winning percentage and strikeouts. The Grizzlies won 111 games en route to the league championship. In September of that year, O'Brien made his major league debut with the Red Sox and went 5–1 with a 0.38 earned run average.
The next season, he was in the starting rotation, including the first game ever played at Fenway Park on April 20, 1912. In 34 starts and 275 innings pitched, O'Brien won 20 games with a 2.58 ERA and 115 strikeouts; he finished in the top 10 in the American League in all five categories.
The Red Sox went 105–47 to win the AL pennant. O'Brien started Game 3 of the 1912 World Series against the New York Giants, but lost. Boston eventually took a 3–1 series lead, with ace pitcher Smokey Joe Wood slated to start Game 6. However, club owner Jimmy McAleer wanted the series to go back to Boston so he could get the gate receipts; he ordered manager Jake Stahl to start O'Brien instead of Wood. Buck, not knowing that he was going to pitch, was hungover the day of the game. (hall of fame member at Boston College for pitching and quarterback, two sons Joseph and Michael), GiGi Green (three sons Joe, Patrick, and Brendan); John O’Brien (three girls Genevieve, KellyRose, and Brenna); and Thomas J. O’Brien (daughter Brehan and son Jake who was captain of BU's basketball team.)
Rose Moran had four children, Billy, Brian, Maureen, and Nancy.
Joan Murray had three, Peter, Steven, and Christine.
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Important facts
People in Buck O'Brien's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Buck O'Brien's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Buck O'Brien?
Major League Baseball pitcher
When was Buck O'Brien born?
Buck O'Brien was born on 9 May 1882 in Brockton.
When did Buck O'Brien die?
Buck O'Brien died on 25 July 1959 in Boston.
What was Buck O'Brien's occupation?
Buck O'Brien was a baseball player.
What nationality was Buck O'Brien?
Buck O'Brien was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Buck O'Brien. https://biography.guide/buck-o-brien/
MLA: "Buck O'Brien." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/buck-o-brien/.
Chicago: "Buck O'Brien." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/buck-o-brien/.
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