He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Robins between 1920 and 1925.

Tierney had a .345 batting average during the 1922 season, finishing fifth in the National League, and a .515 slugging percentage, good for fourth.

[8][9] In 1923, Tierney tied George Grantham for second in the NL in doubles with 36, trailing only Edd Roush, and finished seventh in home runs with 13.

[12] Before the 1926 season, in what was considered "one of the most remarkable deals ever made between a major and a minor league club", the Robins traded Tierney to the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association with Ford, Dick Loftus, Bonnie Hollingsworth, and their choice of Del Bissonette, Babe Herman, and Chuck Corgan in order to acquire Johnny Butler.

[15] Tierney returned to Kansas City, where he operated a bowling alley with Baseball Hall of Fame member Zack Wheat.