Chosen by his hometown California Angels in the first round of the June 1978 draft, Tom exhibited consistent power throughout his career. He signed with the Angels after Richard Nixon, a close friend of Angels owner, Gene Autry, helped negotiate a then unheard of - $125,000 contract.

Tom played 11 games with the Angels before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1981 for Rob Wilfong and Doug Corbett. He was the right fielder on the 1982 All-Rookie Team and set a club record with 15 game winning RBI the following year. One of seven players with 20 or more homeruns each season from 1982 to 1987 and one of six to play in 150 or more games each of those six years, Tom's power was actually hurt by the Metrodome, which favored left handed pull hitters. He led all players in the 1987 ALCS in batting average, total bases, doubles and RBI, and tied for the lead in runs, hits and homers. He was also Minnesota's active home run leader, fourth overall, when he was traded to the Cardinals for Tommy Herr in April of 1988.

Tom was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1985 and will always be remembered by Twins fans as the power hitting right fielder on the Twins first ever World Series Championship Team! Tom retired with 271 career homers, 919 RBI, and a lifetime batting average of .245.  In 2011 he accepted the job of hitting coach in the Twins minor league system, where he spent the 2012 season with their AAA Rochester Red Wings team.  In the fall of that same year he was named as the Hitting Coach for the Minnesota Twins for the 2013 season.

Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Born: August 20, 1960 - Covina, California
Major League Teams:
California Angels (1981)
Minnesota Twins (1982-1988)
St. Louis Cardinals (1988-1990)
Boston Red Sox (1990-1992, 1994)
Milwaukee Brewers (1993-1994)