Tom Graham
Director of Coaching Tom was selected in the third round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in 1996 by the Oakland Athletics. Tom was competed on the 1996 United States Olympic Team where he won a Bronze Medal. After playing for the Olympic Team he opted for college instead of signing a professional contract. Tom elected to play for the Fresno State Bulldogs, where he received a scholarship and received many awards during his four year stay. These awards include 3 time WAC player of the week, 2 time ESPN player of the week, and the prestigious Bulldog Award which demonstrates excellence both on and off the field. In 1999, Tom's last year with the Bulldogs, he was 2nd in the nation in innings pitched and 2nd in the WAC in strikeouts. Tom went on to receive his degree in Sociology. In 2000, Tom signed with the Texas Rangers. His success continued during his first year with the Rangers where he gained the Gulf Coast League Most Outstanding Pitching Award. He was 1st in the league in innings pitched. His 2.23 ERA was good enough to rank him 2nd in the league while he ranked 4th in strikeouts. In 2001, Tom was sent to the Class A Savannah Sand Gnats. Only 3 months into the season he was called up to the Charlotte Rangers of the Florida State League. In 2002, Tom had one of his best years as a pitcher. In one month with the Charlotte Rangers he racked up 18 saves and was moved up to the AA Tulsa Drillers. Tom's stay with the Drillers lasted only one month as he climbed up to the AAA Oklahoma City Red Hawks. In 2003, Tom began the season with the AA Frisco Rough Riders, but moved around and played the majority of the season with the AAA Oklahoma City Red Hawks. The following year he started and stayed with the AAA team in Oklahoma City. At the end of the 2004 season Tom elected to retire from professional baseball in order to pursue his dream of teaching. In addition to heading up the Grizzlies coaching staff, Tom works as a P.E. teacher at Granada High School in Livermore. Tom’s Grizzlies teams have been constantly successful dating back to their inaugural season as an 8U team in 2004. Recent accomplishments include numerous #1 power rankings in Northern California USSSA competition as well as a #9 national USSSA ranking with his 2007 11U squad. The end of the 2009 travel ball season saw Tom's 13U team achieve the #2 national ranking in Nations competition to go along with their overall record of 55-12. Tom can be reached via email at tomg@norcalgrizzlies.org |