Baseball Great Gets His Due
The Eastern Shore Baseball Foundation has inducted a Washington
College legend into its Hall of Fame.
The late Thomas Kibler, whose Washington College career spanned
four decades, was recognized for his abilities as a player,
a coach and  administrator
within the sport. Coach Kibler played baseball and managed ball
professionally from 1908 to 1913 in the professional Texas League.
He was an outstanding shortstop; the Cincinnati Reds eventually
purchased his contract. Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined
him from playing professional ball.
Washington College hired Kibler in 1913 to coach football, basketball,
baseball, and, briefly, track. He remained with the College
until 1958, with leaves of absence to serve in both World Wars.
He was decorated during World War I for outstanding bravery
after being wounded and gassed during combat in France and Germany.
Kibler played summer baseball for many of the Eastern Shore
community teams, often in the company of some of his college
players. He served as the League President of the Professional
Eastern Shore of Maryland during the pre-World War II years
and shortly afterwards.
Kibler made the record books as a coach as well. His 598 total
wins are the second all-time winning record, and his .614 winning
percentage ranks eleventh all-time best among head coaches with
at least 50 decisions. To honor his memory, the College named
the men’s athletic field after him.
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