Tim Cullen (born February 16, 1942 in San Francisco, California) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators (1966-67, 1968-71), Chicago White Sox (1968) and Oakland Athletics (1972). He batted and threw right-handed. In a six-season career, Cullen was a .220 hitter with nine home runs and 134 RBI in 700 games.
A star baseball and basketball player at JunÃpero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, Cullen was selected an All-CAL infielder twice and an All-CAL guard as a senior. Later, he was a two-sport star at Santa Clara University and played in the College World Series.
Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1964, Cullen debuted with the Senators in 1966. A Topps Rookie All-Star in his inaugural season, he appeared in the 1972 World Series with Oakland. Like Gonzalo Márquez, Cullen was a valuable utility for the World Championship team providing support from the bench during the regular season.
In his career, Cullen was a competent infielder with good instincts and an avid student of the game; but he couldn’t helped himself with the bat. Even when he hit in the low .200s, Cullen's glove was enough to get him a considerable playing time. He was an above-average major league second baseman and an adequate shortstop and third baseman as well. Nevertheless, a rare feat earned him a place in baseball's record book.
In 1968, Cullen was sent to the White Sox at midseason in a deal for shortstop Ron Hansen. In a curious movement, he was then shipped back to Washington for Hansen, making them the only two players in MLB history to be traded for one another twice in the same season.
Currently a resident of Fresno, California, Cullen serves as the vice president of special projects for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, a SF Giants minor league affiliate team.
