The Curley baseball field in Baltimore is a little quieter this week. The dugout feels emptier. The players are missing a fundamental part of their foundation. The close-knit Friar community is grappling with the sudden loss of a man who was far more than just a coach.
Tom Middlecamp, a devoted mentor in the Archbishop Curley High School baseball program for six years, died on Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack. The news sent shockwaves through the halls of the East Baltimore school, leaving players, parents, and faculty heartbroken. For half a decade, Coach Tom’s voice was a constant on that field, guiding young athletes not just in sport, but in character.
His connection to Curley ran deep through family. His son, Garrett, graduated from Curley just last year, in 2023, after being a dedicated, four-year member of the same baseball program his father helped to shape. For the Middlecamps, the diamond was a shared space of growth, hard work, and passion. Tom’s investment in the team was both professional and profoundly personal.
Those who knew him describe a coach who led with a steady hand and a generous heart. He wasn’t just focused on wins and losses. Former players and parents recall a man deeply committed to turning boys into respectful, resilient young men. He was a fixture in the Friar community, known for his positive attitude and his unwavering support for every kid on the roster.
The school’s announcement of his passing highlighted this legacy, calling him “a mentor, a leader, and a true example for our young men.” In the world of high school sports, where influence extends far beyond the game, Coach Tom’s impact is measured in the lessons he instilled and the respect he earned from everyone around him.
As the community begins to process this grief, the focus has turned to supporting the Middlecamp family. The school has asked the public to keep Tom’s wife, his son Garrett, and all their loved ones in their prayers during this unimaginably difficult time. A void has been left both at home and on the field that cannot be easily filled.
For now, the memories are what remain. The crack of the bat during practice, the firm but encouraging advice from the third-base line, the pride in watching his own son and so many others grow up on the same grass. Coach Tom Middlecamp’s story in Baltimore wasn’t just about baseball. It was about building a community, one player, one lesson, at a time. He will be terribly missed.
